As the human population grows and an increasing number of people move to urban areas, cities around the world are considering options for improved sustainability. Because its climate is similar to other cities experiencing population booms, Phoenix is in a unique position to exemplify resilience in the face of climate change.

Recognizing this opportunity, local city officials and ASU researchers - such as those at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability - are working to provide a digestible definition of sustainability, as well as frameworks that can be easily implemented by policymakers. Through projects on campus, partnerships with municipalities and faculty-led investigations, these researchers are developing innovative solutions to complex challenges like feeding and transporting the population, reducing sprawl and preserving cultural identity.