For centuries, urban or town planning has been a principal means to organize, structure, and standardize infrastructure, dwellings, and life within a city. As we move toward an urban century, a critical question is: What forms of urbanization are most environmentally and socially sustainable? Which forms of urban development promote stronger, more vibrant communities? What are the consequences of different patterns of urban development? What urban forms minimize use of resources such as water, energy, concrete, steel, and other raw materials? What are the social trade-offs of three billion new urban dwellers living in megacities of 10 million rather than in small cities? Urban Imprints: City PlansĮvery great city starts with a vision. The impact of cities on the environment has expanded from local to global. From the design of neighborhoods and street layout, how and where urban areas develop affects resource use, biodiversity, human health, social cohesion, and ultimately, sustainability. The use of irrigation and major water diversion projects have allowed urban settlements to grow to immense sizes. They break up habitats and transform local climates, rivers, water bodies, and air quality. Cities themselves transform natural habitats. Urbanization transforms landscapes - from vegetated surfaces to buildings, pavement, sidewalks, and other artificial impervious surfaces. Modification of Earth’s surface through urban development is fundamentally changing the way living organisms and systems interact with each other and our planet. How and where we build cities matters for the residents, for the environment, and for global sustainability. With Trillions In Build Back Better Funds in the Works, Here’s Some of What We’re WatchingĬities are the most visible and long-lasting human imprint on the land.
Want to Bridge the Inequality Divide? Build Bridges Where Low-Income People Live, Study Says.Planning for Innovative Urban Mobility in Jersey City.
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