This book is an ideal starting point when seeking to understand sustainability in general (the focus of Chapter 1), and, in particular, the challenges cities face due to rapid urbanisation and the management strategies required to meet these sustainably. Management strategies are central in GCSE and A-Level syllabuses, and this book addresses these in the context of energy, water, waste, sewage, food, transport and space in Chapter 2. This makes this resource relevant to studies of units on Resource Management as well as urban environments. After exploring sustainable lifestyles (which can be used at KS3 and whole school projects), the second half of the book focuses on megacity case studies in both HICs (New York), and NEEs (Beijing). Importantly, this book ensures an understanding of sustainability beyond an ecological sense, covering the economy, society and integrated communities. It is essential that students are aware that the very definition of sustainability encompasses these elements.  

This book is more recently published and is a more practical guide to tackling sustainability challenges in cities. It is a timely resource following COP 26 and the drive towards carbon neutrality. The focus of the book is on how to achieve this equitably and is solution-based in offering global case studies and alternative problem-solving strategies. The book argues that while sustainability has been on the urban agenda for many years, progress has not been fast enough. Chapters such as ‘How do we adapt to the climate crisis?’, and ‘How can cities better support human development?’ have many links across the geography syllabus at all levels. Sustainability can often be misunderstood by students, and this resource will equip teachers in addressing some of their misconceptions, as well as encouraging them to think more creatively in developing management strategies.  

This virtual fieldwork resource focuses on urban sustainability on a more local level, allowing students to embed the principles of sustainability and apply to a familiar setting at GCSE or A-Level. The resources can be adapted to any urban area. In this instance, the resources focus on Milton Keynes. A detailed article is provided on the first link to revisit the meaning of sustainability and lay out instructions for the task. As well as photo interpretation, of particular interest is the Egan Wheel, given to students as a tool by which to measure the sustainability of the area under investigation.

Professor Iain Stewart takes the viewer on a virtual trip to Masdar in Abu Dhabi, a city aiming at sustaining itself on renewable energy only.