ABSTRACT
The Six Major Themes of the Book In the previous chapters, we have written much about the environmental issues present in cities around the world and how local authorities have tackled them. We have made the point that urban living is a natural condition of humanity that can be compatible with, and maybe even essential to, worldwide sustainable development. The adverse environmental, social, and economic impacts of human activity are for the most part local and should be addressed locally; the same goes for the main barriers to sustainable development. But this is not a book essentially about the environment. It is a book about cities and local authorities and what they can do to contribute to a sustainable world. The main themes of the book therefore concern the roles ofcities and local authorities, and are as follows:
First, this book has attempted to show that cities can and should be good for the environment in all parts of the world. In a world where most of the population and most of the environmental challenges will be in cities and towns, actions to secure a sustainable future must be concentrated in urban areas.
