Skip to main content

Introduction: Creating Eco-Cities—From Sustaining to Thriving

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Enabling Eco-Cities
  • 1115 Accesses

Abstract

How can eco-cities underpin urban thriving? Starting from the legacy of urban development to date, the chapter critiques current approaches to urban sustainable development. It reviews various definitions of eco-cities and outlines how these could contribute to a shift to ideas of thriving and abundance. Cities are places of potential with the bulk of humanity and its wealth within their boundaries. Cities need to develop in ways that harness this potential, through understanding how innovation, creativity, policy, planning and practice can create irresistible narratives of the future. Capturing people’s hearts and minds will be key to transitioning to a more ecologically responsible and socially just future. This chapter introduces each of the book’s chapters and how they contribute to the ability to achieve this shift.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andersson, E., S. Barthel, S. Borgström, J. Colding, T. Elmqvist, C. Folke, and A. Gren. 2014. Reconnecting Cities to the Biosphere: Stewardship of Green Infrastructure and Urban Ecosystem Services. Ambio 43 (4): 445–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0506-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birkeland, Janis, and John Schooneveldt. 2003. Mapping Regional Metabolism: A Decision-Support Tool for Natural Resource Management. Canberra: Land and Water Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capra, Fritjof. 1997. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. London: Flamingo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downton, Paul. 2017. Seven Things you Need to Know About Ecocities. The Nature of Cities. https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2017/03/05/seven-things-need-know-ecocities/. Accessed November 9, 2017.

  • Elgin, Duane, and Coleen LeDrew. 1997. Global Consciousness Change: Indicators of an Emerging Paradigm. San Anselmo, CA: Millennium Project.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmqvist, Thomas, Michail Fragkias, Julie Goodness, Burak Güneralp, Peter J. Marcotullio, Robert I. McDonald, Susan Parnell, Maria Schewenius, Marte Sendstad, Karen C. Seto, Cathy Wilkinson, Marina Alberti, Carl Folke, Niki Frantzeskaki, Dagmar Haase, Madhusudan Katti, Harini Nagendra, Jari Niemelä, Steward T.A. Pickett, Charles L. Redman, and Keith Tidball. 2013. Stewardship of the Biosphere in the Urban Era. In Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities. A Global Assessment, ed. Thomas Elmqvist, Michail Fragkias, Julie Goodness, Burak Güneralp, Peter J. Marcotullio, Robert I. McDonald, Susan Parnell, Maria Schewenius, Marte Sendstad, Karen C. Seto, and Cathy Wilkinson, 719–746. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith, E. 1988. Rethinking Man and Nature: Towards an Ecological Worldview. Ecologist 18 (4–5): 118–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hes, Dominique, and Chrisna du Plessis. 2015. Designing for Hope: Pathways to Regenerative Sustainability. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHarg, Ian. 1969. Design with Nature. New York: Natural History Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • MEA. 2005. Environmental Degradation and Human Well-Being: Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Population and Development Review 31 (2): 389–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, Paul. 2011. The Sustainable Self: A Personal Approach to Sustainability Education. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Register, Richard. 1987. Ecocity Berkeley. Building Cities for a Healthy Future. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006. Ecocities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature. Rev. ed. Gabriola, BC: New Society Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, Zhenghong, and Ting Wei. 2010. Introduction. In Eco-city and Green Community: The Evolution of Planning Theory and Practice, ed. Zhenghong Tang. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, Tai-Chee, and Belinda Yuen. 2011. Understanding the Origins and Evolution of the Eco-City Development: An Introduction. In Eco-City Planning: Policies, Practice and Design, ed. Tai-Chee Wong and Belinda Yuen, 1–14. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Worldwatch Institute. 2013. State of the World 2013. Is Sustainability Still Possible? Washington: Island Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hes, D., Bush, J. (2018). Introduction: Creating Eco-Cities—From Sustaining to Thriving. In: Hes, D., Bush, J. (eds) Enabling Eco-Cities. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7320-5_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7320-5_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-7319-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-7320-5

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics