Rather than devouring water, food, energy, and processed goods, and then belching out the remains as pollutants, the city could align its consumption with realistic needs, produce more of its own food and energy, and put much more of its waste to use. |
The people and businesses committed to current wasteful patterns of development constitute a potent political constituency. With better information, citizens can form a counterweight to powerful interest groups. |
These figures suggest that the struggle to achieve an environmentally sustainable economy will be won or lost in the world's urban areas. Urban systems are undermining the planet's health and failing to provide decent living conditions for millions of people. |