Curtin University of Technology’s recently appointed Professor of Sustainability, Peter Newman, will launch his new book entitled “Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems” on 18 January 2008 in Hollywood and embark on a tour of American cities in March 2008.
Professor Newman’s book will be launched during Australia Week 2008, a program of events in Los Angeles and New York that showcases the very best of Australia. He will be speaking at a conference on climate change in Los Angeles featuring senior political figures from Australia and California, as well as business and regulatory leaders, diplomatic leaders, academics, think-tank specialists and media.
“This Conference takes on a new significance in light of Australia’s recent signing of the Kyoto Protocol which leaves the United States alone amongst the nations of the world as a climate change sceptic,” Professor Newman said.
His new book documents what cities can do to reduce their global and local footprint.
“The book discusses those cities which have begun the sustainability transition in their planning and projects and explores the natural patterns and processes that cities can emulate in order to move toward sustainability,” Professor Newman said. Some projects from Perth are included in the book.
Professor Newman's previous book “Sustainability and Cities” was launched in 1999 at the White House in Washington DC when Al Gore was Vice President.
Professor Newman will take up a two month teaching and research position as Harry Porter Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia Charlottesville after the book launch, where he will teach a course based on the book.
In March 2008 Professor Newman will tour a range of key US cities to lecture on the new book.
“Now that the US is committed to the Bali Agreement they will need encouragement that they can reduce their electricity, gas and petrol without destroying their economy,” Professor Newman said.
“Many cities in the US were already committed to this policy even before the government signed the Agreement. This book will encourage them to act further in this long haul process.”