Making sustainable cities secure (online)

Urban and Environmental Planning: Can Sustainable Cities be Secure Cities? 

The debate about cities and security often concentrates on crime. However there is more to it than that. The quality of life for citizens will also depend on their economic security, food and fuel security, a stable, more equal and secure society, and a measure of environmental justice. Although many of these issues extend beyond the realm of the city, this article argues that the aims for the sustainable city could contribute towards making towns and cities more secure and better places in which to live. Some ways forward are suggested, including urban forms that reduce travel and car dependency, energy efficiency, urban agriculture, community involvement and the transition movement. Such examples indicate some potential pathways towards achieving more secure and sustainable cities.