As climate disruption, economic instability, and social inequities converge, city governments are on the front lines of shaping resilient and thriving communities. Traditional sustainability approaches, which focus on reducing harm, are no longer enough. A regenerative approach, which seeks to restore ecological systems, repair social harms, and generate long-term well-being, offers cities a more transformative path forward.
Institutionalizing regenerative principles is not just a design or policy challenge. It is a systems change strategy. It requires cities to embed equity, inclusion, and ecosystem thinking into the core of their planning, budgeting, governance, and community engagement practices.
1. Embed Regeneration into the City’s Vision and Strategic Plan
Cities that succeed in operationalizing regenerative development begin by making it a clear, public commitment. Incorporating regenerative goals into the city’s master plan, strategic framework, or climate resilience roadmap creates a shared vision and sets the foundation for alignment across departments.
Cities such as Portland and Austin have led the way in embedding sustainability and equity into their core strategies. A regenerative model builds on that by emphasizing healing of people, communities, and ecosystems as a primary objective. This shift creates new opportunities for innovation, investment, and community empowerment.
2. Align Policy and Regulations
One of the most powerful levers city governments have is policy. Zoning codes, development incentives, procurement policies, and infrastructure investments all influence what types of projects and behaviors are valued.
To institutionalize regeneration, cities can:
- Revise land use and zoning policies to support mixed-use, walkable, biodiverse, and resilient neighborhoods.
- Require or incentivize nature-based solutions in new developments.
- Prioritize public funding for projects that deliver positive environmental and social outcomes.
- Adopt regenerative design standards in city-owned facilities and infrastructure.
These policies can be modeled on frameworks like the Just Communities Protocol, which provides guidance for integrating equity and ecology into the built environment.
3. Build Capacity Within Government
Institutionalizing regenerative practice requires internal capacity and not just good intentions. City staff across planning, housing, public works, transportation, and parks departments need training and support to adopt new mindsets and tools.
Invest in:
- Professional development on regenerative design, climate justice, and systems thinking.
- Interdepartmental working groups that share learning and coordinate implementation.
- Equity-centered leadership development for city staff and community partners.
You can begin by convening a working group dedicated to equitable and regenerative policy alignment.
4. Foster Deep Community Engagement
Regeneration is relational. It depends on ongoing partnerships between government and the communities it serves, particularly those who have been excluded or harmed by past planning decisions.
To build trust and design with, not for, communities:
- Invest in multilingual, culturally relevant engagement practices.
- Provide stipends, childcare, and transportation to remove barriers to participation.
- Partner with trusted community-based organizations to co-lead outreach and facilitation.
- Center lived experience and community knowledge as valuable sources of insight.
By grounding engagement in transparency, accountability, and reciprocity, cities can co-create policies and places that reflect shared values and needs.
6. Catalyze Regenerative Investment
Regenerative development often requires upfront investment but produces long-term returns in resilience, health, and prosperity. Cities can lead by:
- Creating green investment funds or resilience bonds.
- Offering tax incentives or grants for regenerative retrofits and new developments.
- Partnering with philanthropic and impact investors to co-fund community-led initiatives.
Institutional support can unlock capital for projects that traditional markets might overlook, such as affordable housing integrated with food sovereignty or community-owned solar microgrids.
7. Celebrate and Scale What Works
Cities that embrace regeneration have an opportunity to lead by example. Share success stories, create learning networks with other municipalities, and embed regeneration into civic culture.
Consider highlighting local projects through Just Communities’ Information Exchange or participating in regional collaboratives that accelerate learning and adoption.
Regenerative principles offer a powerful blueprint for cities to go beyond resilience and foster conditions where communities and ecosystems can thrive. Institutionalizing these principles is not a single project or program. It is a cultural shift. With bold leadership, deep partnership, and sustained investment, city governments can become engines of transformation for generations to come.