Urban sustainability and quality of life: complements and contradictions

Abstract

Urban sustainability is an increasingly ubiquitous term littering all manner of policy documents and promotional material. As an ambitious attempt to address social, economic and bio-physical environmental issues it appears to balance philanthropic ideals, such as improving urban residents’ quality of life, with environmental concern. It is often unclear exactly how this is to be achieved, however. This paper explores some of the complements and contradictions between the concepts of urban sustainability and quality of life. Based on a case study of Christchurch, New Zealand, we conclude that although the two concepts are not necessarily contradictory, ‘sustainability’ tends to center on bio-physical environmental issues. While this often just a simple response to the vagaries of the sustainability concept, the concern can also be cruelly misanthropic.