Community-led Sustainable Cities

The Community-led Sustainable Cities project explored how local knowledge, lived experience, and collaborative design can drive more inclusive, place-based sustainability transitions. Led by the Social Impact Lab at UTS’s Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, the year-long initiative engaged over 80 community members across Glebe, Haymarket, Pyrmont, and Ultimo through a series of participatory workshops, storytelling activities, and co-design processes.Rather than beginning with top-down policies, the project centred the voices of residents – surfacing aspirations, barriers, and everyday actions that shape sustainable living in the inner city. Through creative methods such as narrative inquiry, visual facilitation, and arts-based engagement, participants spoke of their deep connection to place and nature, the importance of collective action, and the need for equity, accessibility and culturally relevant engagement. These insights helped define a shared vision for a more just and sustainable neighbourhood.This foundation of knowledge led to the development and activation of three community-led projects focused on sustainable food, waste reduction and climate resilience:A neglected garden in a social housing block was transformed into a thriving hub for connection, learning and sustainable food growing. It has become a shared space where tenants can connect, learn and build a sense of ownership and pride.A vibrant clothing swap and hands-on textile repair workshop brought generations and cultures together to tackle fashion waste. Led by older migrant residents, the zero-waste events fostered cross-cultural connection, built practical sustainability skills, and empowered community members to step into leadership roles.A climate action forum brought together residents, researchers, and local organisations to share knowledge and develop practical, suburb-specific initiatives, such as collective solar purchasing and the formation of a local climate action network.