The Social Dimension of Urban Ecology

Abstract

Urban ecology has to deal with two tasks. The first one is how to cope with the consequences of the industrial past. The old industrial society, which in former days created an inconceivable wealth for an incredible number of people, now withdraws from the cities leaving contaminated soil, unused industrial plants and polluted rivers. The emerging problems require technological solutions for which the necessary knowledge is not always available, and they create expenses for which the money has not yet been provided. Nevertheless, the ecological heritage of the industrial society is the easier task to cope with because it basically requires only technological knowledge and money. On the contrary the second task — the organisation of sustainable urban development — is more complex. In contrast to the repair of damage already done, the prevention of ecological damage is also a social task because it touches the way of life of urban citizens. The subject I would like to refer to is this second task of urban ecology. I would like to show why the achievement of sustainable urban development should not be considered to be just a matter of technological efficiency, economic instruments and planning competence, rather it should be considered to be a social and political challenge.