Sustainable city development - A review

A fundamental change is sweeping the global economy today, the transition towards clean, innovative, low carbon technologies and infrastructures. Sustainability requires the reconciliation of environmental, social equity and economic demands which are referred to as three pillars of sustainability. Sustainability interfaces with economics through the social and environmental consequences of economic activity. Moving towards sustainability is also a social challenge that entails international and national law, urban planning and transport, local and individuals lifestyles and ethical consumerism. Cities are facing a host of environmental problems, from air pollution to wastewater management and green space degradation. This paper investigate factors that are responsible for sustainable city development in developed countries, compare to the statu quo of Johannesburg city development using past literatures. Finally, some suggestions and implications beneficial to the sustainable city development were drawn from theoretical models and a systematic model was proffered for sustainable city development in Johannesburg and Africa at large.