The subtitle of sociologist Des Fitzgerald’s new book The Living City promises to stake out a provocative position in contemporary urban planning: “Why cities don’t need to be green to be great.”

A host of recent initiatives say otherwise: From Paris to Boise, cities have proffered tree-planting pledges, “vertical forests,” and other green infrastructure as a means of addressing urban problems like extreme heat and flooding, as well as a deepening mental health crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the social and psychological benefits of outdoor access in cities around the world. At the same time, a slew of research connects the urban environment to higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression in residents.