Eco-cities

This book explores the question of how urban sustainability can be achieved despite a lack of knowledge integration between different fields. This book starts from the premise that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities and proposes a critical, up-to-date review of transdisciplinary knowledge management tools - notably, scenario methods for informed decision-making. Drawing from literature and pioneering experience in innovation clusters (university-industry-government) during the last decade, it provides a review of recent eco-city concepts and knowledge management tools for effective decision-making in the transition to urban sustainability. Using method outlines, case studies, and graphical representations, it is intended to serve as a toolbox for those interested in urban transformation towards sustainability.

The challenge of sustainability is unprecedented in the history of humanity. The world population is already predominantly urban, and the biosphere is profoundly transformed in ways which we can only partially understand, let alone manage. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change has produced very impressive sets of global climate scenarios, but the consequences for real-world management remain marginal.

This book is intended for city managers concerned with urban transformation towards sustainability, policymakers, researchers-innovators, and technology developers, industry and business professionals, as well as students and the general public.