Routledge Local Sustainable Urban Development in a Globalized World (Urban Planning and Environment)

'Sustainable development' is a key issue of concern to urban planners across the globe. How it is defined, implemented and measured at the local level remains highly contested and subject to a wide range of external cultural, political and economic pressures. Bringing together leading experts from North America, Europe, the Middle East and SE Asia, this book provides a timely overview of the various methods for understanding and implementing sustainable practices at local levels. In doing so, they present the wide range of local action alternatives available to planners that may be pursued in spite of the constraints generated by globalization processes and highlight the array of public policy options that could reduce the external pressures shaping the possible local alternatives. The book argues that, while local planners and local authorities are willing to act, many are unaware of the range of options available to them. In bringing together these case studies, not only diverse in geographic terms, but also reflecting very different levels of income, general population education, cultural norms, legal systems and government structures, it points out innovations and examples of best practice. Review 'This volume, addressing the key local public sector issue of our time, offers educational and inspirational, albeit uneven, examples from across the world of successful local pursuit of sustainability despite global pressures. The editors’ opening and closing essays and the overview by Pinderhughes constitute major contributions to the debate on the promise of locally-led sustainability practices.' Peter B. Meyer, University of Louisville, USA '...the book provides a number of excellent contributions ranging from single disciplinary approaches in economic, sociology, geography, and political science to interdisciplinary contributions in urban, transport and regional planning.' European Spatial Research and Policy About the Author Dr Lauren Heberle is a lecturer at the Center for Environmental Policy and Management, University of Louisville, USA and Susan M. Opp is from Texas Tech University, USA.