Cities and Sustainability

This course will set out several frameworks for approaching sustainability, explore its foundational principles, and examine tools and metrics for measuring social, economic and environmental progress. The course will explore positive roles cities can play in safeguarding the sustainability of natural systems. It will look at policies and practices played out through both traditional and alternative forms of governance - processes based on greater inclusion and participation across the various urban sectors. Through case studies, individual and team assignments, students will become familiar with the dimensions of more ecologically sound design decision-making. The course will combine seminar lectures, participant presentation of assignment exercises, and presentations of final papers.