Böcker av Voula Mega

This book argues that accelerating action toward sustainability for and by cities and their inhabitants can make a huge difference to humanity's endeavor to recover from current crises and build a sustainable future. It sheds light on cutting-edge concepts and actions toward sustainability that can taken by and for cities and with citizens. In this book, author Voula Mega takes the reader on a journey inside and across cities and highlights efforts toward a paradigmatic shift that reconciles human systems with nature. Leadership, education, innovation, trust and citizen empowerment all play a crucial role for the co-invention of a new model that balances human well-being, sustainable prosperity and the future of the planet. Building on robust evidence and inspired by best practices, Human Sustainable Cities offers compelling messages and convincing advice to all stakeholders who are striving to overcome crises, speed up the path toward resilience and preparedness and bounce forward better.

Cities already shelter more than half of humankind and appear, more than ever, as Janus-faced realities, the best and worst of places, vulnerable but still full of hope and will to advance towards sustainable development. The battle for sustainable development will be won or lost in (or because of) cities. The first reason is simply their sheer size, this extraordinary concentration of people and activities. Furthermore, cities are the only places where people and resources congregate at a point beyond which synergetic effects become more important than simply additive ones. Cities also promote open democracies and produce models that are disseminated to the World. The book offers a 360¿ view of the challenges facing cities in terms of growth and competitiveness, governance, sustainability, social inclusion, science, culture and the arts, urban renaissance and planning, and indicates innovative responses by pioneer cities.