EMP 230 : Sustainable Cities

Almost 60% of the more than 8 billion people worldwide live in towns or cities. Urban societies need to find ways to reduce their negative environmental impacts on the Earth’s eco-systems. This course focuses on the analysis of urban development patterns in industrialized and post-industrial countries. Students will learn how to create and plan for human settlements that are less carbon-intensive, more ecologically responsible, and more socially sound. Via a variety of case studies, students will be introduced to sustainability concepts such as ecological urbanism, urban regeneration, smart growth, transit-oriented development and suburban retrofitting.