Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously: Economic Development, the Environment, and Quality of Life in American Cities (American and Comparative Environmental Policy) [Paperback]

Kent E. Portney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262661322 | ISBN-13: 978-0262661324 | Publication Date: January 3, 2003

Today at least twenty-five major U.S. cities have pursued some form of sustainability initiative. Although many case studies and "how-to" manuals have been published, there has been little systematic comparison of these cities' programs and initiatives. In this book Kent Portney lays the theoretical groundwork for research on what works and what does not, and why.Distinguishing cities on the basis of population characteristics and region for his analysis, Portney shows how cities use the broad rubric of sustainability to achieve particular political ends. Cities that take sustainability seriously, such as Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle, use broad definitions that go well beyond concern for the physical environment or creating jobs. They pursue sustainability at many levels and integrate concern for economic development, the environment, and quality of life across all activities of city government. Cities that take sustainability less seriously, such as Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando, confine it to such issues as solid waste disposal, brownfields, redevelopment, and neighborhood beautification. Still other cities, such as New Haven, Brownsville, and Milwaukee, do considerably less to work toward sustainability.Portney begins by reviewing the conceptual underpinnings of sustainable development and sustainable communities. The comparisons that follow provide a foundation for assessing the range of what is possible and desirable for sustainability initiatives. In the book's conclusion, Portney assesses the extent to which cities can use the pursuit of sustainability either to foster change in public values or merely to reinforce values that are already reflected in systems of governance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The focus on 'communities' in this book is perhaps an important guide to the future." Sylvia Karlsson Environment

"In this ground-breaking study, Kent Portney shows that cities all across the country have joined the battle to solve environmental problems. Finally, here is a book that takes the environmental-urban connection seriously. A work like this is truly overdue."--Dennis R. Judd, Department of Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago

About the Author

Kent E. Portney is Professor of Political Science at Tufts University. He is the author of three other books and the coauthor of The Rebirth of Urban Democracy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (January 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262661322
• ISBN-13: 978-0262661324
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Science & Math > Environment > Environmentalism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars worth the read, December 12, 2006

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Robert Wood - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously: Economic Development, the Environment, and Quality of Life in American Cities (American and Comparative Environmental Policy) (Paperback)

Great book. Lots of important data and ideas backed by solid research.