Background information: Click on the links to learn about problems and answers associated with planning green cities.Green cities and the End of the Age of Oil from Common Ground An introduction to our auto-centric urban system and why it can no longer work.Putting it all together: Learn about what municipalities across the globe are doing to improve their sustainabilityCities: Living Green by Living Urban from World Changing All kinds of articles on the eco-urban concept, including news, literary reviews and analyses of conventional green solutions.
The Secret Library of Hope from The Nation An inspirational article examining grassroots power that makes a difference.
Life After the Oil Crash Learn about “peak oil” and how it will impact you, your city, your country and the world.
Ecovillages: Thoughts on Igniting a Revolution from Ecosustainable A discussion of an alternative path for the global economic system.
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream An inspirational film looking into the future of urban development as a result of peak oil. Note – film not available online.
10 Principles to Post Oil-Peak Planning A presentation by Tim Moerman on future urban planning; the key issues to bring to the planning table. File is in .pdf format with notes from the original lecture, presented at the Atlantic Planner’s Institute Annual Conference in Saint John, NB.
For Hunger-Proof Cities A compilation of essays and articles on the issue of food security in our cities. Entire book available online.
Canada
Green Cities Map Click on the city and get a brief summary of their municipal green initiatives. Map is courtesy of CBC.ca.USBritish Columbia: Green Cities Award The government of BC is offering financial rewards to municipalities that show the best green initiatives. Nominations for 2008 end April 18. Check out last year’s winners and highlights here.
BC Science World: Green City Smackdown A fun and interactive guide that allows the user to pit Canadian cities against one another in a fight to be the greenest.
Whole Village Homepage for the ecovillage, Whole Village, near Toronto.
Green Cities from Mother Jones August 2001: A survey article on how local governments across the US are meeting the renewable energy challenge.Pasadena: How will Pasadena become a Green City? Pasadena is committing itself to become a sustainable city. Find out why and how at their Green City webpage.
Sierra Club Cool Cities Information on 960 cities across the US. Find out who is doing what to stay cool. Supported by the Sierra Club.
Softening the Edge from Planning.org A look at what the suburbs of LA are doing to increase green space and make a more sustainable edge city.Europe
Ranking cities: Which cities have the best and worst environmental track record?Demo Projects for Inspiration from European Green Cities Network: From Finland to France, this site offers links to information on projects from over 20 European cities.
Sustainable cities: Examples of Projects, Programmes, and Initiatives from Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) Excerpts from the book Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for Citizens and their Governments by Mark Roseland, 1998.
The green region project and sustainable development A report on the goals, implications and progress of green inititatives in Storstroem County, Denmark.
National Geographic, The Green Guide: the Top 10 Green Cities in the US After public support for the 2005 “Top 10” article, National Geographic took their rankings to new depths. Criteria includes status on air, water, transportation and lots more.Want to get involved? Or just get privy to the local scene? These are some local organizations working on environmental issues:BBC: Bradford tops green cities league How green are Britain cities? An overview of the best and worst in 2007.
British Columbia: Green Cities Award The government of BC is offering financial rewards to municipalities that show the best green initiatives. Nominations for 2008 end April 18. Check out last year’s winners and highlights here.
BC Science World: Green City Smackdown A fun and interactive guide that allows the user to pit Canadian cities against one another in a fight to be the greenest.
Readers Digest: Living Green: Full Country and City Rankings The world's greenest, most livable places, using analyzed data from two top sources covering 141 nations.
27 Environmentally Friendly Cities to live in: Thinking of moving to the US? Find information about the cleanest and greenest places to go.
Sierra Club Cool Cities Information on 960 cities across the US. Find out who is doing what to stay cool. Supported by the Sierra Club.
Western Canadian Wilderness Committee An environmental advocacy committee, dedicated to conservation and putting pressure on governments to help insight change.Links to alternative automobile energy:BC Sustainable Energy Society BCSEA uses a variety of tactics, such as education, campaigns and community projects to encourage the transition into widespread use of clean, renewable energy in BC.
Council of Canadians Advocates for ensuring Canadian independence they approach social and environmental issues by promoting progress policies on (among others) water, energy, health care and fair trade practices.
Food Roots A cooperative distributor of locally grown foods. They act as a link between the growers and the consumers of Vancouver Island. Check out the location of Pocket Markets around town for your next grocery shop.
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team The Garry Oak ecosystem is unique to this part of the world, and is in great danger of extinction.
Green World Electric Vehicles - VancouverCheck out Green cities and the End of the Age of Oil for a discussion on cars and their greater impact.
These books are in the Greater Victoria Public Library and are concerned with how cities are dealing with global warming.307.76 ECO Eco-City Dimensions: Healthy Communities, Healthy Planet c. 1997
307.12 REG Register, Richard. Ecocities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature c. 2006
307.3416 GIR Girardet, Herbert. The Gaia Atlas of Cities: New Directions for SustainableUrban Living c. 1992
307.76 SOD Soderstrom, Mary. Green City: People, Nature, and Urban Places c2006
307.76 GRA Gralla, Preston. How Cities Work c1995
307.1216 LOC Local Places: In the Age of the Global City
304.2091732 JAM James, Sarah. The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices c2004
810.9355 NAT The Nature of Cities: Ecocriticism and Urban Environments c1999
577.56 HAD Hadidian, John. Our Wild Neighbours: Understanding the Human Relationship in an Urban World c 2000 (CD Audio Book)
363.7009173 SUS Urbanization and the Environment in International Perspective c1992
307.76 ODO O’Donohue, Tony. The Tale of a City: Re-engineering the Urban Environment c2005
Other books:
Gordon, David. Green Cities. Paperback. Published by Black Rose Books
Ed. Gordon, David. Green Cities: Ecologically Sound Approaches to Urban Space. c 1990. Black Rose Books. Contains a section titled “Effecting Change — Breaking the Barriers. How political will is created.”