Environmentally friendly planning and design are part of the green city principles. The green city concept is one of the latest responses to various efforts to address problems caused by expansive urban development models, while helping cities become more sustainable, less dense, and more livable. A green city is closely related to the theory of sustainability, which includes social, economic, and environmental aspects, as well as health, greening, resilience, and equity.

Sustainable streetscape design is an important part of urban planning and design. Several aspects must be considered in sustainable streetscape design, including functional, ecological, social, and economic dimensions. This study aims to analyze the streetscape in commercial areas and develop a sustainable streetscape design that can be applied to achieve a zero-emission green city.

This research used a quantitative method with observation and survey techniques. Observations were conducted in Medan, Indonesia, and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to assess current streetscape conditions. Subsequently, questionnaires were distributed to 200 respondents each in Medan and Johor Bahru. Respondents were asked to choose one of six alternative streetscape designs as input for formulating an appropriate sustainable streetscape design. Data were analyzed descriptively and using multiple linear regression.

The findings indicate that a sustainable streetscape must be equipped with street furniture, vegetation, lighting, bicycle lanes, interconnected sidewalks, and an adequate drainage system.