How will climate change affect our lives? Where will its impacts be most deeply felt? Are we doing enough to protect ourselves from the coming chaos? In Extreme Cities, Ashley Dawson argues that cities are ground zero for climate change, contributing the lion's share of carbon to the atmosphere, while also lying on the frontlines of rising sea levels. Today, the majority of the world's megacities are located in coastal zones, yet few of them are adequately...

Living sustainably is not just about preserving the wilderness or keeping nature pristine. The transition to a green economy depends on cities. Economic, technological, and cultural forces are moving people out of rural areas and into urban areas. If we are to avert climate catastrophe, we will need our cities to coexist with nature without destroying it. Urbanization holds the key to long-term sustainability, reducing per capita environmental impacts...

"Welcome to our green city! . . . As readers are invited on a journey through the city, they learn about what makes it environmentally friendly, from electric transportation to green classrooms to community gardens . . . text asks questions to encourage readers to find small details: butterflies fluttering by, birds sipping nectar from flowers, and all the ways people work together to take care of the community . . . uniquely positive depiction of...