Cities are amongst our greatest creations. Yet, with cities now home to over half the world's population, there is increasing concern over their unchecked expansion and the detrimental effect this is having on the planet. This unfettered growth is affecting every ecosystem on Earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, as induced climate change and ever increasing demands upon the world's resources take effect. As the pace of urbanisation quickens, how can we make the world's cities more sustainable? Ian Douglas tells the story of cities. He shows why they exist, how they have evolved and the problems they have encountered, revealing how from the very beginning environmental management played a key role in urban life. He addresses specific problems, such as noise and air pollution, water supply and waste management, as well as the vulnerability of cities to hazards such as earthquakes and flooding. And he considers strategies to make cities more sustainable and help them adapt to climate change, such as waste recycling, energy conservation, dual water systems, sustainable housing, as well as initiatives to retrofit existing cities.
Written by an acknowledged international authority, this unique volume will be welcomed by students and specialists in environment, planning, geography, ecology and the built environment.

Ian Douglas is Emeritus Professor of Geography in the School of Environment and Development, Manchester University. He is Past-President of the Society for Human Ecology, President of the International Council for Ecopolis Development; Chairman of the UK UNESCO MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Urban Forum; and Chairman of the UNESCO SCOPE Expert Group on Urban Futures. He is a member of the editorial boards of Catena, Ecological Processes, Geographical Research, and Land Degradation and Development. His books include The Urban Environment (1983), Humid Landforms (1977) and (as co-editor) Companion Encyclopaedia of Geography (2007) and Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology (2011).