The Environmental Impact of Cities: Death by Democracy and Capitalism

The Environmental Impact of Cities assesses the environmental impact of cities and their inhabitants, demonstrating that current political and economic systems are not sustainable. It examines a broad selection of cities covering a range of political systems, geography, cultural backgrounds, and population size, using ecological footprint and carbon emissions to calculate the results. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of sustainability, urban planning, urban design, environmental sciences, geography, and sociology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Environmental Impact of Cities delves into the profound ecological consequences stemming from urbanization and its inhabitants, highlighting the inherent flaws in our current political and economic systems that promote unsustainable growth within a finite system. Extensive evidence already exists regarding the influential role of political, economic, and social forces in shaping the development, expansion, gentrification, re-population, industrialization, or de-industrialization of cities. However, the quantitative connection between these forces and the environmental impact they exert on urban areas remains largely unexplored. Consequently, it becomes challenging to establish a clear understanding of how our cities are impacting the environment, hindering our ability to correlate their economic, political, and social systems with their environmental performance.

To address this gap, this book undertakes a comprehensive examination of a diverse array of cities, encompassing a wide range of political systems, geographical locations, cultural backgrounds, and population sizes. Employing the ecological footprint and carbon emissions, two widely recognized indices for measuring environmental impact, the environmental impact of these selected cities is calculated. The findings are then analyzed in the context of political, economic, and social factors to assess their role in either facilitating or impeding the reduction of human-induced environmental impact.

This book holds immense appeal to students and scholars engaged in the fields of sustainability, urban planning, urban design, environmental sciences, geography, and sociology. Its insights shed light on the complex interplay between urbanization, environmental sustainability, and social dynamics, offering valuable perspectives and methodologies for addressing the pressing challenges facing our cities and societies.

Weight: 517g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367493424