Team

Scott Edmondson, AICP

Scott Edmondson, AICP, is a planner–economist and founder of Regenerative Sustainability 21 (RS21), where he advances the emerging practice of regenerative systems sustainability for cities and regions. Building on more than 40 years of work advancing urban planning and sustainability, his focus is developing a clear, systems‑based understanding of the global sustainability challenge—and designing practical planning methods capable of responding effectively systemically at any scale.

He recently retired as a Senior Planner from the San Francisco Planning Department. He first worked in the Citywide long range planning group and later in the department-wide Data & Analytics Group (DAG). In Citywide, he helped develop a strategic approach to its recently launched sustainability planning program and also supported its information and analysis group (IAG). In both IAG and DAG, he worked on complex strategic analysis of long‑range urban and regional growth issues and spearheaded a digital modernization initiative, especially for his growth policy analysis work. Throughout his career, he explored how to integrate sustainability principles into planning— a career‑long line of practitioner R&D that evolved into his current formulation of regenerative systems sustainability, advancing the field of regenerative urbanism.

At RS21, he synthesizes decades of exploring community sustainability frameworks into a new approach that argues for a necessary shift from conventional “parts sustainability” to integrated systems sustainability to address both climate change and the broader unsustainability crisis. He co‑authored the EcoCity World Summit 2022 white paper, Regenerative Urbanism—A Synopsis (link), which distilled these core ideas and outlined a platform for regenerative planning. He has since expanded this work through additional publications, applied projects, and a growing body of strategic planning tools (link).

He also provides advisory support to initiatives advancing regenerative development. Most recently, he collaborated with the American Planning Association’s International Division and the Ukraine Rebuilding Action Group (URAG) on their Environmental Sustainability Planning Guidelines (link). He authored Part 2: Regenerative City (link), which offers a strategic method for linking near‑term reconstruction with a long‑term regenerative future. This work led to organizing the 2024 Regenerative City Symposium (link), which convened leading international experts, and subsequently to guest-authoring the 2025 special issue of InterPlan (link) developed as a key resource for planners exploring regenerative approaches.

Foundational work in SF Planning’s Citywide division included two planning studies: Living Community Patterns (link) to increase neighborhood sustainability and the Regenerative City Assessment (link).  Earlier contributions include serving as planner–economist and advisor for the 1996 San Francisco Sustainability Plan; participating in the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development; co‑founding the APA Sustainable Communities Division; serving on the APA California Northern Section Board and founding its Sustainability Committee; and helping launch the Biophilic Cities Network. He has presented at APA national and state conferences, an EcoDistrict Conference, Biophilic Cities events, Esri’s GeoDesign Summit, and international sustainability forums.

He holds a Master of Arts in Architecture & Urban Planning from UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from UC Berkeley, along with doctoral studies in urban/regional development (UCLA) and a GIS Certificate from San Francisco State University. Outside of work, he is an avid skier, climber, and enjoys a good cappuccino.

Other Team Members forthcoming.

Also, see the Partners page.