The world is experiencing an unprecedented rate of urbanization. In China alone each year 10 million people migrate from rural to urban areas, a flow predicted to add up to 350 million new residents in urban areas by 2030 (Balula and Bina 2015). Globally, cities already account for 70% of wealth creation, but also for 60% of total energy consumption, 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 70% of global waste (UN Habitat 2015). It is a global imperative to develop urban systems that integrate all aspects of sustainability to promote equity and shared prosperity, together with urban development patterns that improve the livability of cities while reducing resource consumption.