Sustainable urban infrastructure refers to engineered facilities and systems designed to facilitate urban development, from water, transport, energy, sanitation and information systems through to built environments like buildings and parks; including natural features like wetlands forests green spaces which often go overlooked when considering urban planning and design.

Building with nature is an integral component of sustainable infrastructure, and its integration should be part of city planning and project assessments. Not only can natural infrastructure provide benefits such as pollution control, public health benefits and biodiversity support but it can also mitigate climate change by mitigating extreme weather events or sea-level rise risks that disrupt traditional engineering systems.

Green infrastructure refers to initiatives that utilize sustainable construction materials and incorporate energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation measures into city infrastructure, which in turn can lower operating costs while mitigating environmental impact and increasing property values in an effort to create jobs and boost property values.

Attaining sustainability in city projects can be enhanced through private investments such as those provided by social impact bonds (SIBs). SIBs pool private funds for projects that deliver tangible environmental, economic and social results.

Many cities have made pledges to reduce their environmental footprint, which can be achieved by designing sustainable infrastructure. Boston is one such city which has implemented various strategies to cut carbon emissions and energy usage such as implementing building efficiency programs and installing public bike lanes.