Definition
Increasingly, across the globe, cities are referring to themselves as Green. This chapter explores the concept of Green Cities as set out in the academic literature and then examines the claims made by a number of cities, relating these to the theory. It argues that these claims to greenness are often partial in practice and in some instances are driven by the need to project a Green image for economic reasons. In reality, few cities are able to provide hard evidence to support their claims. Nevertheless, a shift towards a greener urban future is vital if cities are to flourish in coming decades. The chapter argues for a stronger evidence base against which cities’ claims to green credentials might be rigorously assessed.
Introduction
Cities are widely acknowledged as the cradle of civilization; however, they are also identified as the epicenter of several global challenges....
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Kellett, J., Larbi, M. (2021). Green Cities in Theory and Practice. In: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51812-7_115-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51812-7_115-1
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