ABSTRACT
Introduction The past few decades have seen a large expansion in social and economic activity, and a vast increase in production, consumption and ‘disposable’ life-styles. These increases have been matched by negative effects on the environment, such as widespread pollution and a sharp decline in non-renewable resources. Accordingly, sustainable development has become a world-wide objective to help achieve benefits for future generations. Cities became a significant aspect of the agenda when the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED, 1987) declared that health, safety, equity and sustainability should be the target for urban development.
