Monday, December 1, 2008
Prof. Timothy Beatley Authors New Book on Green Urbanism
A new book, "Green Urbanism Down Under: Learning from Sustainable Communities in Australia", by Timothy Beatley (Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities) with Peter Newman, was released last month from Island Press. Beatley and Newman discuss the successful strategies employed by Australian citizens and governments to "think globally, act locally."
More information: "’Green Urbanism Down Under’ reports on the current state of ‘sustainability practice’ in Australia and the many lessons that U.S. residents can learn from the best Australian programs and initiatives. Australia is similar to the United States in many ways, especially in its ‘energy footprint.’ For example, Australia?s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are second only to those of the United States. A similar percentage of its residents live in cities (85 percent in Australia vs. 80 percent in the United States). And it suffers from parallel problems of air and water pollution, a national dependence on automobiles, and high fossil fuel consumption. Still, after traveling throughout Australia, Beatley finds that there are myriad creative responses to these problems?and that they offer instructive examples for the United States. Green Urbanism Down Under is a very readable collection of solutions.
"Although many of these innovative solutions are little-known outside Australia, they all present practical possibilities for U.S. cities. Beatley describes ‘green transport’ projects, ‘city farms,’ renewable energy plans, green living programs, and much more. He considers a host of public policy initiatives and scrutinizes regional and state planning efforts for answers. In closing, he shares his impressions about how Australian results might be applied to U.S. problems."
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