The Natural City. Re-Envisioning the Built Environment.

Urban and natural environments are often viewed as entirely separate entities — human settlements as the domain of architects and planners, and natural areas as untouched wilderness. This dichotomy continues to drive decision-making in subtle ways, but with the mounting pressures of global climate change and declining biodiversity, it is no longer viable. New technologies are promising to provide renewable energy sources and greener designs, but real change will require a deeper shift in values, attitudes, and perceptions.

A timely and important collection, The Natural City explores how to integrate the natural environment into healthy urban centres from philosophical, religious, socio-political, and planning perspectives. Recognizing the need to better link the humanities with public policy, The Natural City offers unique insights for the development of an alternative vision of urban life.

Ingrid Leman Stefanovic is an author, philosopher, and consultant in environmental and institutional change management. She is a professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Toronto, and former dean and professor emeritus of environment at Simon Fraser University. She is the author of numerous books including Safeguarding Our Common Future and Conversations on Ethical Leadership.

Stephen Bede Scharper is an associate professor with the Centre for the Environment and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto.