Routledge Low Carbon Cities: Transforming Urban Systems (Earthscan Series on Sustainable Design)

Low Carbon Cities is a book for practitioners, students and scholars in architecture, urban planning and design. It features essays on ecologically sustainable cities by leading exponents of urban sustainability, case studies of the new directions low carbon cities might take and investigations of how we can mitigate urban heat stress in our cities’ microclimates. The book explores the underlying dimensions of how existing cities can be transformed into low carbon urban systems and describes the design of low carbon cities in theory and practice. It considers the connections between low carbon cities and sustainable design, social and individual values, public space, housing affordability, public transport and urban microclimates. Given the rapid urbanisation underway globally, and the need for all our cities to operate more sustainably, we need to think about how spatial planning and design can help transform urban systems to create low carbon cities, and this book provides key insights. Review ‘For too long, the international debate about ‘green’ building has been far too object-focused. That is why Low Carbon Cities: Transforming Urban Systems is of utmost importance.’ Ulf Meyer, architecture journalist, Berlin ‘From the author who gave us the tour-de-force account of urban sustainability, The Principles of Green Urbanism, comes another timely read. Steffen Lehmann has assembled some of the best environmental urban minds in this new anthology that will become essential for all those who are looking for viable and sustainable solutions. Low Carbon Cities might just be the inspiration we need in our efforts to rethink and transform our cities towards the new, ecologically sustainable and resilient future.’ Professor Tigran Haas, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm ‘The rapid urbanisation underway in Asia is a challenge and an opportunity for urban sustainability. With chapters written by experts from different parts of the world, this book is a timely addition that addresses many aspects of how low carbon cities can contribute to curbing climate change. Its essays and case studies provide useful references for students, practitioners and researchers who are interested in the global issue of sustainable urban development.’ Professor Edwin H. W. Chan, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong ‘Low Carbon Cities: Transforming Urban Systems is an inspiring guide to exploring ways to create low carbon cities. The world’s cities play a major role in climate change as both sources of problems and pioneering projects for solutions. Low carbon solutions can demonstrate thriving participatory processes of systematic urban transformation. This excellent anthology illustrates how low carbon urban design can help to reduce or mitigate climate change-related emissions.’ Professor Thomas Spiegelhalter, Florida International University, Miami ‘This book delivers a holistic view of sustainable cities, bridging a variety of practice, from architecture to environmental studies to urbanism, green building and micro climates. It's a must-read textbook for graduates seeking to understand the complexity of urban environmental issues.’ Professor Wanglin Yan, Keio University, Japan About the Author Steffen Lehmann is Founding Director of the Zero Waste Research Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour at the University of South Australia. He is a widely published author and scholar, and is Founding Director of the s_Lab Space Laboratory for Architectural Research and Design (Sydney–Berlin). A German-born architect and urban designer, he was editor-in-chief (2007–2014) of the US-based Journal of Green Building and an advisor to the Australian and German governments, city councils and industry. Since July 2014 he has been Head of School in the School of Built Environment at Curtin University, Perth.