Cities and Nature illustrates how the
city is part of the environment, and how it is subject
to environmental constraints and opportunities. The city
has been treated in geographical writings as only a
social phenomena, and at the same time, environmental
scientists have tended to ignore the urban. This
book reconnects the science and social science
through the examination of the urban. It critiques the
dominant academic discourse which ignores the
environmental base of urban life and living, and
discusses the urban natural environment and how this is
subjected to social influences.
The book is
organized around three central themes:
- urban environment in historical context
- issues in urban-nature relations
- realigning urban-nature relations.
Ideas such as pollution as a physical
environmental fact, often created or impacted by
economic, cultural and political changes are discussed,
as well as viewing pollution as a social act: consuming
patterns of everyday activities - driving, showering,
shopping, eating - and how this has an environmental
impact. The authors reintroduce a social science
perspective in examining urban nature, the city and its
physical environment.
Cities and Nature
clearly illustrates the physical and social elements of
the urban environment and shows how these are important
to examining the city. It includes further reading and
boxed case studies on Bangladesh, Paris, Delhi, Rome,
Cubatao, Thailand, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and
Toronto. This book would be an asset to students and
researchers in environmental studies, urban studies and
planning.
