Eco-city planning is a key element of urban land use planning in perspective and of ongoing debate of environmental urban sustainable development with a spatial and practical dimension. The conceptual basis of ecological planning is that we can no longer afford to be merely human-centred in approach. Instead, the interdependency of human and non-human species has forced us to appreciate the a¿¿rights¿ and a¿¿intrinsic values¿ of non-human species in our pursuit for a sustainable ecosystem. This volume has as approach an emphasis on environmental planning policies whereby, for example, energy saving, anti-pollution measures, use of non-car modes, construction of green buildings, safeguarding of nature and natural habitats in urban areas, and use of more renewable resources are promotional norms. Their aims and leading outcome serve to protect the Earth from adverse effects of global warming and different sources of pollution threatening the quality of life of human societies.

Preface 1. Understanding the origins and evolution of eco-city development: An introduction Part I  Macro Strategic Planning: Policies and Principles 2. How cities can enter the ecological age 3. Three ecological cities, examples of different approaches in Asia and Europe 4. Eco-infrastructures, feedback loop urbanisms and network of independent zero carbon settlements 5. The relationship of sustainable tourism and the eco-city concept Part II  Implementation and Practice 6. Down with ECO-towns! Up with ECO-communities. Or is there a need for model eco-towns? A review of the 2009-2010 eco-town proposals in Britain 7. Eco-cities in China: pearls in the sea of degrading urban environments? 8. Green urbanism: holistic pathways to the rejuvenation of mature housing estates in Singapore 9. Challenges of sustainable urban development: The case of Umoja 1 residential community in Nairobi city, Kenya 10. Towards a sustainable regional development in Malaysia: The case of Iskandar Malaysia Part III  Micro Local Planning: Design and Methods 11. Presentation of ecological footprint information: A re-examination 12. Towards sustainable architecture: The transformation of the built environment in Istanbul, Turkey 13. Urban air quality management: Detecting and improving indoor ambient air quality Index