Read more
The book is organized around three central themes of urban environment in historical context; contemporary issues in urban-nature relations and; realigning urban-nature relations. The historical context situates urban development and its impact on the environment, and in turn the environmental impact on people in cities. This is important to document as it provides a foundation from which to understand contemporary issues. The second part of the book focuses on critical contemporary issues that include an examination of urban ecology, hazards and disasters, water quality and supply, air pollution and climate change, and garbage. Part three considers the discourse of sustainability and how it has been informed by different theoretical approaches. This section also documents issues of environmental justice and the role of gender and race in sustainability discourse. The last chapter explores the ways in which cities are practicing sustainability-from light "greening" efforts such as planting trees, to more comprehensive sustainability plans that integrate the multiple dimensions of sustainability.
List of contents
Chapter 1. The City and Nature: An Introduction Part I: The Urban Environment in History Chapter 2. The Pre-Industrial City Chapter 3. The Industrial City Part II: The Contemporary Urban Context Chapter 4. Global Urban Trends Chapter 5. The Postindustrial City Chapter 6. The Developing City Part III: Urban Physical Systems Chapter 7. Urban Sites Chapter 8. Hazards and Disasters Chapter 9. Urban Political Ecology Part IV: Urban Environmental Issues Chapter 10. The Urban Environmental Revolution: A Brief Context Chapter 11. Water Chapter 12. Air Chapter 13. Climate Change Chapter 14. Garbage Part V: (Re)aligning Urban-Nature Relations Chapter 15. Race, Class and Environmental Justice Chapter 16. Urban Sustainability
About the author
Lisa Benton-Short is Associate Professor of Geography at George Washington University (GWU), Washington, DC. An urban geographer, she has research interests in environmental issues in cities, parks and public spaces, and monuments and memorials. She is also Director of Academic Programs in Sustainability at GWU.
John Rennie Short is Professor of Geography and Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has published 35 books and numerous articles and is recognized as an international authority on the study of cities.
