Sustainable Economic Transformation in Resource-Based Cities
Summary
Resource-based cities are those whose economic foundations rest chiefly on the extraction and processing of natural resources such as minerals, timber or hydrocarbons. Many of these urban areas face the twin challenges of resource depletion and environmental degradation, compelling a transition towards diversified, knowledge-intensive and low-carbon economies. Sustainable economic transformation in this context encompasses strategies to decouple growth from resource consumption through industrial upgrading, technological innovation and environmental stewardship. Core elements include upgrading traditional extractive industries via greener production methods, fostering new service or manufacturing sectors, mobilising financial and human capital, and integrating circular economy principles to minimise waste and emissions. Global experience demonstrates that success depends on coherent policy frameworks, inclusive stakeholder engagement and targeted investments in research and infrastructure. Practical applications range from redirecting fiscal revenues into clean-energy start-ups to establishing institutional mechanisms for community participation in urban planning. The transformed urban trajectory can yield resilient economies, enhanced ecological integrity and improved social welfare across diverse geographic and institutional settings.
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Sustainable Economic Transformation in Resource-Based Cities publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sustainable economic transformation in resource-based cities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Resource-based city: An urban area whose economy is predominantly built upon the extraction and primary processing of natural resources.
Industrial transformation: The structural shift of a regional economy from resource-intensive activities towards diversified, value-added and knowledge-driven sectors.
Green economic growth: Expansion of economic output that is achieved in harmony with environmental protection and sustainable resource use.
Digital inclusive finance: The provision of financial services—such as credit, savings and insurance—through digital channels to populations and regions underserved by traditional banking.
Ecological resilience: The capacity of an urban ecosystem to absorb disturbances and reorganise while undergoing change so as to retain essential functions and structure.
References
- Does digital inclusive finance promote industrial transformation? New evidence from 115 resource-based cities in China. PLOS ONE (2022).
- Does Innovative Development Drive Green Economic Growth in Resource-Based Cities? Evidence From China. Frontiers in Environmental Science (2022).
- Industrial Structure, Environmental Pressure and Ecological Resilience of Resource-Based Cities-Based on Panel Data of 24 Prefecture-Level Cities in China. Frontiers in Environmental Science (2022).
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