Healthy, liveable urban areas are crucial for sustainable development 
In Japan, it's not uncommon to see buildings that have been transformed into living structures with gardens and parks incorporated into their frameworks, while homes fitted with solar panels to reduce the energy footprint are also common features.Singapore, already one of the greenest cities in Asia, now has the distinction of having the world's tallest vertical garden - the 24-storey Tree House condominium. Asia may not have a completely green city like Vancouver in Canada, which started on this path a decade ago, but there are some cities in the region making the right moves.China is already starting to build eco-cities - places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment.Steffen Lehmann, a sustainable design and behaviour specialist with the University of South Australia, said that the idea behind eco-cities is to live with the environment and resources."Eco-cities strive to cut greenhouse gas emissions by producing energy through renewable sources such as solar, wind and biomass, and using low-carbon public transport," Lehmann said, adding that resources are conserved through waste-management techniques such as natural bio-filtration of storm water. "There are even plans to grow food and plant new green areas within the boundaries of the city," he said. "The ambitious ultimate goal of these cities is self-sufficiency."Desperate need for greener spaces Ramola Naik Singru, one of the region's leading urban development experts, said there is an urgent need for Asia to focus on making cities more liveable and greener. "Liveability comprises three essential ingredients: Air, water and land. "We have to manage all three of these natural resources to create liveable urban spaces," Singru, who is regional team leader for the Green Cities Initiative with the Asian Development Bank, added.Green cities embrace a much more holistic view of growth and create an environment for people to access employment and services opportunities, she explained."
source:- The Nation , July 21,2014