The authors in this book claim that contrary to conventional wisdom, that cities distort natural processes, just the opposite is true. Cities are far more than the sinks of energy, vast drains of natural resources, and obstacles to sustainable development. Properly managed, they claim, cities can be transformative arenas in which raw materials may be rationally and economically developed to support people decently, and whole regions sustainably.
This volume provides new ideas for managing the mega-cities of our future. The editors' goal is to shape a new way of thinking about mega-cities - one that promotes their function in modern societies as engines of the ideas, technologies, and loci of political will needed to build a new regime of global sustainability.
Cities - Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability, B. Liddle, F. Moavenzadeh. I Resource Management on a Regional Scale: Restructuring Urban Systems, P. Baccini, et al; Carbon Management in Future Cities - Long-Term Scenarios for the Transition to a Second Solar Society, D.B. Muller, et al; Sustainable Water Management, T. Aramaki. II Urban Activities - Local and Global Impacts: A Multisystems Analysis of Sustainable Development - Brook Revitalization in Zurich, M. Hugentobler, S. Gysi; Environmental Loading of Resources and Heat Recovery, K. Hanaki; Towards Sustainable Urban Transport - Finding Synergies Between Lowering Local and Global Impacts, B. Liddle, F. Moavenzadeh; The Urban Heat Environment and Urban Sustainability, S. Dhakal; "Green" Buildings - Private and Public Gains, B. Liddle, M. Finch. III Developing and Developed Countries - Challenges and Cooperation: the Sustainability Challenge for Climate Change - Balancing Inter- and Intragenerational Equity, B. Liddle, F. Moavenzadeh; Megacities and Global Accords, N. Choucri; Research Partnerships with Developing Countries - Applying Material Flux Analysis in Tunja, Colombia, C. Binder.
From the reviews: "Future Cities: Dynamics and Sustainability, is an edited volume that consists of theoretical and analytical articles. ! The editors are optimistic that despite all the impacts cities are making on natural processes, cities are not necessarily in conflict with the environment. ! the book presents articles with a highly academic focus that should prove useful to students and researchers who are interested in urban metabolism and its sustainability linkages." (Xuemei Bai, Journal of Industrial Ecology, Vol. 7 (2), 2003)