Living sustainably is not just about preserving the wilderness or
keeping nature pristine. The transition to a green economy depends on
cities. For the first time in human history, the majority of the people
on the planet live in urban areas. If we are to avert climate
catastrophe, we will need our cities to coexist with nature without
destroying it. Many places are already investing in the infrastructure
of the future--including renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass and
personal transit, and advanced sewage and waste management--but the
modern city still has a long way to go.
In The Sustainable City, Steven Cohen provides a broad and engaging
overview of the urban systems of the twenty-first century, surveying
policies and projects already under way in cities around the world and
pointing to more ways progress can be made. Cohen discusses the
sustainable city from an organizational-management and public-policy
perspective that emphasizes the local level, looking at case studies of
existing legislation, programs, and public-private partnerships that
strive to align modern urban life and sustainability. From waste
management in Beijing to energy infrastructure in Africa to public space
in Washington, D.C., there are concrete examples of what we can do right
now. Cohen synthesizes the disparate strands of sustainable city
planning in an approachable and applicable guide that highlights how
these issues touch our lives on a daily basis, whether the
transportation we take, where our energy comes from, or what becomes of
our food waste. Providing recommendations and insights with immediacy
and relevance, this book has invaluable lessons for anyone seeking to
link public policy to promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
