Creating Sustainable Cities

Modern cities make a huge impact on their environments, but if they were to dramatically reduce their consumption of resources and energy, they would still prosper. Waste recycling can reduce urban use of resources whilst creating many new jobs; new materials and architectural designs can greatly improve the environmental performance of urban buildings. Cities can also adopt imaginative new approaches to transport planning and management, and the use of urban space. We can dramatically improve the experience of urban life by the creation of new urban villages, reducing the peoples' desire to escape from the pressures of city life.How can we put the pulsing heart of conviviality back into our cities? How can we make sure of creating cities of diversity for the new millennium--places of cultural vigour and physical beauty that are also sustainable in economic and environmental terms? This Schumacher Briefing shows the way forward.

Herbert Girardet he is visiting Professor for Environmental Planning at Middlesex University, London.