Comparative Analysis of Best Practices of Sustainable Communities: Adelaide, Australia Case Study

Alven H. Lam, Brianne M. Mullen, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Foreign Exchange

Foreign Exchange, a department of Cityscape, reports on what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office for International and Philanthropic Innovation has learned about new departures in housing and development policy in cities and suburbs throughout the world that might have value if applied in U.S. communities. If you have a recent research report or article of fewer than 2,000 words to share in a forthcoming issue of Cityscape, please send a one-paragraph abstract to stewart.g.sarkozy-banoczy@hud.gov.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the official positions or policies of the Office of Policy Development and Research or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies produce 55 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and 64 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Many cities in this region are implementing sustainable development policies and practices to balance economic growth, quality of life, and environmental protection. As part of a research project examining best practices of sustainable communities in the Asia-Pacific region, we chose Adelaide, Australia, as one of six case study cities. This article introduces the larger project and summarizes the Adelaide case study. We also present key lessons learned during the research process and suggest next steps for further exploration of this topic.