Urban Sustainability in Theory and Practice: Circles of sustainability (Advances in Urban Sustainability)

Cities are home to the most consequential current attempts at human adaptation and they provide one possible focus for the flourishing of life on this planet. However, for this to be realized in more than an __ad hoc__ way, a substantial rethinking of current approaches and practices needs to occur. __Urban Sustainability in Theory and Practice__ responds to the crises of sustainability in the world today by going back to basics. It makes four major contributions to thinking about and acting upon cities. It provides a means of reflexivity learning about urban sustainability in the process of working practically for positive social development and projected change. It challenges the usually taken-for-granted nature of sustainability practices while providing tools for modifying those practices. It emphasizes the necessity of a holistic and integrated understanding of urban life. Finally it rewrites existing dominant understandings of the social whole such as the triple-bottom line approach that reduce environmental questions to externalities and social questions to background issues. The book is a much-needed practical and conceptual guide for rethinking urban engagement. Covering the full range of sustainability domains and bridging discourses aimed at academics and practitioners, this is an essential read for all those studying, researching and working in urban geography, sustainability assessment, urban planning, urban sociology and politics, sustainable development and environmental studies. Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 CONTENTS 8 List of figures and tables 11 List of contributors 13 Preface: Towards a new paradigm 16 PART I Setting the global鈥搇ocal scene 24 1 Confronting a world in crisis 26 Cities are at the centre of these crises 27 The new urban paradoxes 29 Why do our responses remain short term? 31 Towards flourishing sustainable cities 34 Case study: Melbourne, Australia 38 2 Defining the world around us 42 Sustainable and good development 43 Negative and positive sustainability 44 Cities and urban settlements 48 Globalization and localization 50 Community and sustainability 53 Case study: New Delhi, India 60 PART II Understanding social life 64 3 Social domains 66 Judging the value of any method 68 Defining social domains 74 Defining perspectives and aspects 77 Defining aspects of the social whole 78 Appendix 81 Case study: Valletta and Paolo, Malta 86 4 Social mapping 92 Researching social and project profiles 94 Defining social themes 100 Defining ontological formations 106 Case study: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 110 5 Social meaning 115 Ideas and ideologies 117 Imaginaries 119 Ontological formations 122 PART III Developing methods and tools 128 6 Assessing sustainability 130 Problems with top-down assessment processes 132 Problems with bottom-up assessment processes 133 Towards a comprehensive assessment method 136 Defining the stages of project management 141 Appendix 145 Case study: Porto Alegre, Brazil 156 7 Generating an urban sustainability profile 160 Definitions for the purpose of this questionnaire 164 The scale for critical judgement 165 Appendix: Urban profile questionnaire 166 8 Measuring community sustainability 184 Developing a social life questionnaire 186 Comparing different communities 188 Overcoming methodological limitations 191 Appendix: Social life questionnaire 195 9 Conducting a peer review 204 Building on the strengths of peer review 205 Phases in the peer-review process 206 Case study: Johannesburg, South Africa 213 10 Adapting to climate change 218 Setting objectives for adaptation 222 Cross-domain options for adaptation 225 Avoiding maladaption 229 Risk assessment methods 229 Vulnerability assessment methods 232 11 Projecting alternative futures 237 Developing a scenario projection process 238 The scenario process in action 241 Beyond the first stage of scenario development 252 12 Simulating future trends 254 Are cities actually like elephants? 255 The world of city simulators 256 Foundations of the approach 257 Simulating the future? 266 Conclusion 270 Index 276 Cities Are Home To The Most Consequential Current Attempts At Human Adaptation And They Provide One Possible Focus For The Flourishing Of Life On This Planet. However, For This To Be Realized In More Than An Ad Hoc Way, A Substantial Rethinking Of Current Approaches And Practices Needs To Occur. Urban Sustainability In Theory And Practice Responds To The Crises Of Sustainability In The World Today By Going Back To Basics. It Makes Four Major Contributions To Thinking About And Acting Upon Cities. It Provides A Means Of Reflexivity Learning About Urban Sustainability In The Process Of Working Practically For Positive Social Development And Projected Change. It Challenges The Usually Taken-for-granted Nature Of Sustainability Practices While Providing Tools For Modifying Those Practices. It Emphasizes The Necessity Of A Holistic And Integrated Understanding Of Urban Life. Finally It Rewrites Existing Dominant Understandings Of The Social Whole Such As The Triple-bottom Line Approach That Reduce Environmental Questions To Externalities And Social Questions To Background Issues. The Book Is A Much-needed Practical And Conceptual Guide For Rethinking Urban Engagement.covering The Full Range Of Sustainability Domains And Bridging Discourses Aimed At Academics And Practitioners, This Is An Essential Read For All Those Studying, Researching And Working In Urban Geography, Sustainability Assessment, Urban Planning, Urban Sociology And Politics, Sustainable Development And Environmental Studies--,this Book Responds To The Crises Of Sustainability In The World Today By Going Back To Basics. It Makes Four Major Contributions To Thinking About And Acting Upon Cities. It Provides A Means Of Reflexivity Learning About Urban Sustainability In The Process Of Working Practically For Positive Social Development And Projected Change. It Challenges The Usually Taken-for-granted Nature Of Sustainability Practices While Providing Tools For Modifying Those Practices. It Emphasizes The Necessity Of A Holistic And Integrated Understanding Of Urban Life. Finally It Rewrites Existing Dominant Understandings Of The Social Whole Such As The Triple-bottom Line Approach That Reduce Environmental Questions To Externalities And Social Questions To Background Issues. The Book Is A Practical And Conceptual Guide For Rethinking Urban Engagement-- "Cities are home to the most consequential current attempts at human adaptation and they provide one possible focus for the flourishing of life on this planet. However, for this to be realized in more than an ad hoc way, a substantial rethinking of current approaches and practices needs to occur. Urban Sustainability in Theory and Practice responds to the crises of sustainability in the world today by going back to basics. It makes four major contributions to thinking about and acting upon cities. It provides a means of reflexivity learning about urban sustainability in the process of working practically for positive social development and projected change. It challenges the usually taken-for-granted nature of sustainability practices while providing tools for modifying those practices. It emphasizes the necessity of a holistic and integrated understanding of urban life. Finally it rewrites existing dominant understandings of the social whole such as the triple-bottom line approach that reduce environmental questions to externalities and social questions to background issues. The book is a much-needed practical and conceptual guide for rethinking urban engagement. Covering the full range of sustainability domains and bridging discourses aimed at academics and practitioners, this is an essential read for all those studying, researching and working in urban geography, sustainability assessment, urban planning, urban sociology and politics, sustainable development and environmental studies"-- Provided by publisher