The Key to Sustainable Cities:
Meeting Human Needs, Transforming Community Systems
By Gwendolyn Hallsmith
(Gabriola Island, BC : New Society Publishers, 2008); 978-0865714991  

Most of the world‘s population now lives in cities, but despite wide agreement on the core values of sustainable societies, municipalities are so busy solving current problems they don‘t have the time or resources to plan effective action for sustainability. The Key to Sustainable Cities uses the principles of system dynamics to demonstrate how today‘s problems were yesterday‘s solutions. The book points to a new approach to city planning that builds on assets as a starting point for cities to develop healthy social, governance, economic, and environmental systems.