Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet they will be vital in fighting the climate crisis. They are major engines of global economic growth, but they are also sites where poverty, substandard housing and food insecurity are concentrated. This course asks: why do cities look and function the way they do, and how can we envision more sustainable and just urban futures? Students will learn a range of concepts that allow them to make sense of cities and urban life, including urbanization, smart cities and digital space, urban agriculture and urban environmental justice.
Area of Focus: Nature, Society and Environmental Change; Urban Sustainability