Urban policy for sustainable development: Taking a wide-angle view

Abstract

In this review of literature relevant to urban policy for sustainable development, we consider both empirical writings and more "visionary" work. The two aspects that will be considered in our review of urban policy for sustainability are population size and the built environment. In considering the issues raised by both empirical and the visionary literatures, we arrive at five broad goals or areas of concern which we feel urban policy for sustainable development should address or at least be mindful of. These include: the maintenance of ecological integrity; achieving the cultural preconditions for sustainability; fostering the livability/equality of the built environment; reducing environmental impacts and resource use; and maximizing the fiscal efficiency of urban form/infrastructure.