Conscious Coastal Cities: Sustainability, Blue Green Growth, and the Politics of Imagination: 2016

In the age of urban geopolitics, in cooperation with the major city networks and initiatives, interconnected coastal cities lead towards a more resilient sustainable future. This book raises global awareness on the challenges and opportunities for coastal cities and the myriad of issues and stakeholders which impact them. The book offers a panoramic integrated view of the most critical urban coastal sustainability issues shaping the urban horizon of the future. Drawing on the most authoritative studies and asking further questions, the book embraces issues of smart, sustainable and inclusive blue green growth, active social integration, environmental conscience and resilience, food, energy and resource security, exploration and protection of the global ocean, ecosystem-based urban coastal planning and policy and progress in education and science, culture and the arts, coastal urban renaissance and accountable multi-layered governance. From large global ports to small tourism and fishing resorts, sustainable development calls for coastal cities to improve their functions. Coastal cities need to adopt ecosystem-based approaches to manage the land-sea continuum, invest in blue green energy and mobility, attract responsible business investment, and honour the sea as a source of infinite innovation and culture. Introduction.- 1. The age of cities: urban geopolitics and the path towards sustainable development.- 2. Opportunities, tensions and risks for coastal cities.- 3. Resourceful and resilient cities and marine ecosystem services.- 4.  Prospects from the sea for sustainable energy producing cities.-5. Innovative cities in the creative blue-green economy.- 6. Diversity and social solidarity in coastal cities.- 7. Seas as source of inspiration for cities, culture and the arts.-  8. Sustainable regeneration of coastal cities.- 9. Coastal cities for and with local and world citizens.- 10. Interconnected world anthologies of future blue cities.- References.-Index.