Review
"...the book is a strong consolidation of facts and figures to connect planners, environmentalists, and social change-makers. It clearly articulates a theory, action plan, and historical data to bring a vision to life."
-- "Global Site Plans"
"...Succeeds at challenging our assumptions about the relation between individual cities and the larger world in which we live....In today's acrimonious political culture, where scientists who warn of climate change are dismissed as dupes of Al Gore, these two books might find readers among only like-minded city lovers; neither is vibrant enough to intrigue the skeptic. Still, it's important to add them to the debate..."-- "The San Francisco Chronicle"
"Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change is a thoughtful and enlightening read, enthusiastically recommended."-- "Midwest Book Review"
"Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change should be the basis for any energy policy or climate change discussion. The stakes are high. After all, we'll either succeed at this or die trying (or die sooner not trying). But Mr. Calthorpe's vision is actually quite sunny and entirely achievable if we think it through and move forward."-- "Joe Urban blog"
"Calthorpe's book lays out, with convincing specificity, the cost of continuing along the path of sprawl development -- in land consumption, water consumption, energy consumption, and sheer dollars spent. He also shows how much all those costs could be reduced by the implementation of what he calls "green urbanism" -- simple urbanist design principles teamed with green technology and renewable energy."-- "Grist"
"Encompassing urban design, planning philosophy and political policy, Calthorpe, an architect based in Berkeley, California, presents this discussion of urban planning as an integrated solution to emerging global sustainability imperatives. The work provides examples of policy changes and design evolution that could dramatically impact environmental conditions over the next forty years and includes a selection of artfully designed, full color info-graphic plates illuminating key policy and development points. This volume will be of interest to architects and urban planners and its artistic design and broad range make it appealing to general readers with an interest in environmental policy and activism."-- "Reference & Research Book News"
"I found this a fascinating book which makes a powerful argument for an appropriate--and therapeutic--wider context for low-energy buildings."-- "Building Design"
"In Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change, Peter Calthorpe makes a concise and thorough case for urbanism as an essential part of any strategy to combat global climate change and resource depletion...the book shows what's wrong with the nonurbanist design that has prevailed for the past half-century and offers solutions for fixing it at a number of different scales."-- "Planning"
"The argument...is clear and convincing. ...it is an important work with a critical, timely message. It does not provide easy answers, but it describes viable possibilities and accordingly deserves a wide audience."
-- "Choice"
"The book lays the groundwork for us all to believe in cities, and to investigate the urban forms that contribute to the lifestyles we want for the future... Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change builds on the core principles of New Urbanism, rigorously subjecting them to investigation through the lens of environmental performance. A pioneering text in its interdisciplinary, systems-approach to urban design, it will help lead the way for policy-makers, designers and urban inhabitants alike."-- "Re: place Magazine"
"This book could prove to be the most important book of the year regarding the built environment, the most important book of the year in the environmental movement, and the most important real estate business book as well-quite a hat trick."-- "Urban Land"
"Calthorpe offers a double win. Making cities better for the atmosphere and climate also makes them more enjoyable and productive for humans to live in. The ideas have been proved; now they need to be applied at a climate-stabilizing scale."--Stewart Brand, author of Whole Earth Discipline
"I believe Peter Calthorpe to be the pre-eminent urban planner of our time. Herein is the first unobstructed view of a realistic, non-utopian urban society that can systemically address climate, economics, quality of life and the coming transition. The thesis of the book needs to be understood by all: the greatest and most innovative source of renewable energy rests within urban design, not solar panels or wind turbines. Peter's resonant vision creates a straight path to a workable, humane future."--Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest
"This insightful book represents an important platform for thought and design as we intentionally seek to be less destructive as a species and we begin to dream what it might be like to go forward in a way that honors the place of humans in the larger natural world."--William McDonough, McDonough+Partners, author of Cradle to Cradle
"Calthorpe points out that urbanism is often left off the list of climate solutions, but in order to confront global warming, we have to look beyond clean tech and examine where we live and how we design our communities. This book offers a blueprint for transforming our cities and towns into low-carbon centers of vibrant public life."--Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
"Peter Calthorpe provides a distinctive framework in which effective design can channel future development to grow a dynamic, healthy, and low-carbon society. Yet again, Peter adds a critical dimension for moving us forward intelligently."--Edward Mazria, Founder, Architecture 2050
About the Author
Peter Calthorpe is an architect and planner and a founding member of the Congress for New Urbanism, a Chicago-based advocacy group formed in 1992 to promote sustainable building practices. He is the author of The Regional City (Island Press, 2001). He won the 2006 Urban Land Institute's J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development for his work in walkable communities and land preservation.
