The go-to guide for sustainable community development, from the neighborhood to the regional level

Fully revised and updated, Toward Sustainable Communities is the definitive guide to the why, the what, and most importantly, the how of creating resilient, healthy, equitable, and prosperous places.

This fifth edition introduces the innovative Community Capital Compass as a powerful tool for maximizing the environmental, economic, and social benefits of complex community and regional decisions, and has been completely revamped to serve readers in the US, Canada, and abroad.

Those seeking a comprehensive approach to sustainable community planning and development from the neighborhood to the regional level will benefit from:

• An expanded Community Capital framework that organizes community resources into eight interrelated forms of capital
• The Community Capital Compass process for navigating complex situations involving everything from municipal services and land-use planning to housing and climate change
• Elaboration of collaborative governance, community mobilization, public engagement, capacity building, infrastructure, policymaking, and promising practices
• A companion website featuring case studies, profiles, online resources, interactive tools, videos, and more.

Packed with concrete, proven strategies, this "living book" is the go-to guide for sustainable community development. Toward Sustainable Communities is essential reading for current and aspiring professionals, practitioners, policymakers, educators, purpose-driven organizations, engaged citizens, and anyone concerned about their communities and a sustainable future.

Mark Roseland is Director of the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University and a professor in SFU's Department of Geography. A former editor of RAIN Magazine and North American editor of Local Environment, his publications include Eco-City Dimensions: Healthy Communities, Healthy Planet (New Society, 1997). He lectures internationally, advises communities and governments on sustainable development policy and planning, and participates actively in sustainable community development projects in Vancouver and elsewhere.

Mark Roseland's profile page

Margaret Stout is Professor of Public Administration at West Virginia University. Her research explores the role of public and nonprofit practitioners in achieving social, economic, and environmental justice and sustainability. She is internationally recognized for her contributions to the field of public administration and governance studies.

Margaret Stout's profile page

Maria Spiliotopoulou has a PhD in sustainable community development viewed through the lens of holistic, regenerative sustainability. She is a lifelong learner, passionate about sustainability action and regenerative and sustainable systems education, and strives to help create regenerative and sustainable societies.

Maria Spiliotopoulou's profile page

Roseland, Stout, and Spiliotopoulou have masterfully woven together a comprehensive collection of abstract concepts and terminology from the realms of economics, social science, and urban planning in the fifth edition of Toward Sustainable Communities. Utilizing the helpful eight forms of Community Capital organizing framework, with clear illustrations and community-based examples, the authors have produced an essential text for all practitioners and students of sustainability planning.
— Karla A. Ebenbach, Chair, American Planning Association Sustainable Communities Division, AICP, LEED Green Associate, President, Ebenbach Consulting LLC

Using the compass as a foundation, Toward Sustainable Communities orients readers to an updated framework aligned with the ever-evolving field of sustainability science. Maintaining the three pillars as a back-drop, the text explores eight forms of community capital, each interconnected and dependent on the other. From defining key terms to describing sustainable development’s back story, it is essential reading for those new to the space and should be on the shelf of every practitioner as their go-to reference.
— Hilari Varnadore, Vice President for Cities, U.S. Green Building Council

Toward Sustainable Communities is the single most significant book of its kind. It demonstrates that the future we need can be achieved, and that the future we need can be a future we want. Toward Sustainable Communities is essential reading for everyone who wants a sustainable world, now and in the future.
— Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Secretary General, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

As any sustainability professional knows, the battle for sustainability will be won — or lost — in cities. After all, the way cities are designed and governed determines over 80 percent of its residents’ resource demand. There is no better guide than Mark Roseland, for showing us what’s possible so we can win this battle. Please give this book to every local official you know.
— Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D., President, Global Footprint Network

Toward Sustainable Communities deftly situates community sustainability efforts in the broader policy arena and introduces the ‘community capital framework’ to advance a systems perspective that enhances our understanding of the complexities involved. The book provides a wealth of real-world examples and tools aimed at mobilizing citizens as well as governments. It is an invaluable resource for practitioners and policymakers alike. — James Goldstein, Director, Sustainable Communities Program, Tellus Institute