ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the necessary context for the case studies at both the international and national levels in the United States and Germany. It gives an overview of sustainability at the international level, highlighting the increasing role of cities in international discussions on sustainability. By contrast, sustainability has gained ground in Germany, in part due to several advisory bodies that have framed and advocated for policy decisions to incorporate sustainability concerns. Zoning and planning laws in many parts of the United States have been used to separate residential from other uses and in some cases led to or even sought racial segregation, and tend to encourage homogeneous, automobile-dependent suburban development. The US approach to urban planning has also been charged with preventing sustainable urban development. German urban policy, in contrast to the United States, seeks to reduce sprawl, protect traditional urban and rural forms, and prevent large-scale migration within the country.
