Green Towns and Cities

Abstract

Although the term ‘green cities’ is often used as a surrogate for the general sustainability agenda, there are sufficiently distinctive features associated with the ‘literal’ greening of cities to consider it as a separate theme in urban development with its own policies. A review of the motives that lie behind support for the actual greening of cities is followed by some highlights of the emergence of green and natural ecology policies in the past. This is followed by surveys of the variety of green infrastructure in cities and the policies being adopted that are creating greater levels of environmental restoration and revitalization. These examples are followed by a discussion of the more recent trends that are leading to green policies being adopted in production not only in conservation terms, not only in the growth of three-dimensional approaches, such as the development of green walls and roofs. Recognition of the additional need to improve the cleanliness and tidiness of some towns and cities is followed by a summary of the development of the more holistic, biophilic approaches to urban places that show a new appreciation of the need to expand the role of nature in urban development and the advantages that it can bring.

Our old views of cities, towns, and communities are incomplete and must be substantially expanded to incorporate ecology and more ecologically responsible forms of living and settlement.

T. Beatley 2000, p. 5