Co-Creating Sustainable Cities

This chapter examines the critical imperative of authentic youth participation in urban planning, governance, and service delivery to create resilient, sustainable, and inclusive cities. Through a systematic mixed-methods approach combining comprehensive literature analysis, case study examination, and empirical research, the study identifies key domains where youth contributions can substantively transform urban environments: urban planning and design, environmental sustainability, infrastructure and service provision, technology innovation, and governance accountability. The study concludes by proposing an integrated framework for mainstreaming youth participation in urban development processes, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and civic organizations to leverage youth potential in addressing contemporary urban challenges and realizing the vision of sustainable urban futures.