Global populations have grown rapidly in recent decades, leading to increasing demands for shelter, resources, energy and utilities. Coupled with the worldwide need to achieve lower impact buildings and conservation of resources, the ability to achieve sustainability in urban environments has never been more acute.

The contributors critically review the fundamental issues and applied science, engineering and technology that will enable all cities to achieve a greater level of metropolitan sustainability, and assist nations in meeting the needs of their growing urban populations.

The first part introduces key issues related to metropolitan sustainability, including the use of both urban metabolism and benefit cost analysis. Further sections go over urban land use and the environmental impact of the built environment, urban heat island effect, redevelopment of brownfield sites, urban agriculture, urban air pollution and emissions control, urban water resources and its reuse and management and urban energy supply and management. The concluding sections explore solar, wind and bioenergy, the role of waste-to-energy systems in the urban infrastructure, and smart energy for cities and sustainable urban development, transport and planning.