Urban inequalities and sustainability

This editorial introduces a special collection on urban inequalities and sustainability, encompassing thirteen papers across continents and disciplines. Using Zipf’s Law to analyze recurring themes, it highlights the centrality of population, poverty, climate, housing, and digital divides in shaping urban disparities. The collection underscores cities’ dual role as engines of growth and sites of inequality, offering evidence and reflections to guide policies for more equitable and sustainable urban futures.