Sustainability professionals’ roles in advancing action for climate change and sustainable cities

Achieving the goals and actions of SDG11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ requires targeted sustainability and climate policies, and skilled and focused implementation. What are the roles and required skills of sustainability professionals in this implementation? In-depth interviews with 20 Australian sustainability professionals in public and private sector roles examined barriers and facilitators for implementation of SDG11-related climate and sustainability policies and programs. Results indicate that sustainability professionals, with their high levels of knowledge of climate science and actions, are relied on for specialist advice. Sustainability professionals were found to act as facilitators or intermediaries, linking and championing action within their organisations and between built environment sectors. Likewise, sustainability professionals were found to act as change agents facilitating transitions towards stronger urban sustainability and climate action. While they are pivotal for many organisations’ effectiveness, their work is often reliant on their ‘intervention’ skills of persuasion, as much as wider organisational power.