By 2050, an additional 2.5 billion people will be living in the world’s towns and cities, almost 50% of them in the 56 Commonwealth countries. To a significant extent, the future of the planet hangs on how cities and human settlements are managed. It is in our cities that the emissions creating climate catastrophe are stoked and where change can – and must – make a difference at scale. Food security, water, basic services, migration, shelter, jobs, environment: sustainable urbanisation is about changing direction to strive for a fairer and less environmentally damaging future. This well-illustrated book by authors from around the Commonwealth tells how the Commonwealth Association of Planners across five decades has campaigned to make a difference. It also looks ahead, scoping the urgent, practical action that is now required.

The rapid urbanization that began with industrialization has begun to cause many problems. New approaches are emerging today to minimize these problems and make urban areas more livable. These problems include insufficient social facilities in urban areas for increasing populations due to migration and unbalanced use of green areas, water, and energy resources due to urbanization. Careless consumption and the pollution of natural resources will cause people many more problems in the future than they do today in urban development. Many professional disciplines have noticed this unbalanced development in urban areas. Urban areas have larger populations than rural areas today. Urban areas are developed neglectfully. Sustainability is needed as a criterion for urban areas to develop in a more livable and healthy fashion. Sustainable urban development approaches are seen in many fields, ranging from land use to the use of natural resources in urban areas.

Ensuring current and future architecture is both successfully and sustainably produced is critical for cities and communities to not only survive but thrive. Additionally, improving built environment practices is necessary to protect the world as well as its various populations. Further study on the current challenges and future directions of sustainable architecture is required in order to create a stronger, healthier society. The Handbook of Research on Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities in Sustainable Architecture discusses the role of architecture and the built environment on communities, ecology, and society; relevant issues related to the production of sustainable built environments; and the socio-cultural integration aspects of innovative architectural designs in urban settings. The book also addresses heritage practices, responses to climate action, and technology applications. Covering key topics such as energy efficiency, urban green spaces, and sustainable solutions, this reference work is ideal for policymakers, architects, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

A comprehensive introduction to the important economic, social and political processes and development issues in this extremely popular region. The Central American nations and those of the Caribbean (including Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana on the mainland) share many historical processes as well as experiencing similar development problems today. These include European colonialism, structural adjustment, small size, reliance on primary production, influence of the United States and moves towards democratisation. While Mexico is obviously a much larger country in area, economy and population terms, it is included in this volume because of its close ties to the other countries in the region through processes such as trade and migration.

Every lesson in the new Jacaranda Humanities Alive series has been carefully designed to support teachers and help students evoke curiosity through inquiry-based learning while developing key skills. Because both what and how students learn matter.

Global Environmental Issues, second edition builds on the popularity of the first edition, viewing global environmental problems as complex issues with a network of causes, influenced by a range of actors with differing priorities. The book recognises that science underpins much of what happens in society and therefore it is important to be able to interpret the environmental and social consequences of scientific developments. In addition to discussing the main biophysical causes, the book illustrates how socio-economic and political factors determine why and how people use land, resources and technology, and how this in turn affects natural resource management. This edition includes new chapters on the politics of science, International environmental regulation and treaties, environmental issues in a globalised world and natural resource management. Global Environmental Issues, second edition is essential reading for upper level undergraduates and Masters students within departments of Environmental Science and Geography. Includes case studies from around the world to provide a real life context for the issues tackled in each chapter Considers both the results of human actions and natural environmental change in order to provide balanced, in-depth debate Includes coverage of contemporary 'hot topics' such as biodiversity, globalization and sustainable development Chapters authored by experts in the field Includes new chapters on The politics of science, International environmental regulation and treaties , Environmental issues in a globalised world and Natural Resource Management Expanded sections include negotiating multilateral environmental agreements, GM crops, biofuels and marine and freshwater resources

This volume offers insights into pathways towards tourism sustainability, analysing current problem-solving capabilities and competences of governments to deal with specific tourism policy issues (or wicked problems) such as the climate emergency, tourism mobility, indigenous disadvantages, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the P2P economy.