More than half of the world's population lives in cities, a trend that is rapidly accelerating in Asia.  In the USA, large urban areas are spreading and merging to form large megapolitan areas, especially along interstate highways.  As many city dwellers are disconnected from the real or natural world, it has been suggested that a new human species - homo urbanus - is emerging.

Cities require and absorb huge quantities of energy and materials, metabolizing them and producing large quantities of waste products, resulting in an unsustainable environment.  Cities are sources of pollutants for water, air and soil.  Air pollutants produced in cities are transported downwind to more rural areas.  Light pollution and noise pollution are also factors.  Human health is affected by the following, among others: urban heat islands; elevated ozone levels; elevated particulate levels, primarily Pm 2.5; increased storm water leading to sewer overflows; noise pollution; light pollution; soil pollution; water pollution; lack of identification with and contact with the natural world; invasive species; lack of species diversity; lack of opportunities to interact with each other; lack of trees and green space.

This new conference will focus on the latest information about urban pollution problems and what measures can be taken to overcome obstacles to sustainability and life quality.  The role of urban vegetation in storm water retention, pollution and temperature reduction, green roofs, re-surfacing buildings, reducing albedo, reducing asthma and other advances will be presented.

The conference will last for two and a half days and consist of a keynote address, plenary addresses, contributed papers and posters.

Five very general topics will serve as the framework for discussions involving urban environmental pollutants, their effects and mitigation:

• Nature of urban environments
• Air pollutants, heat islands, climate change
• Soil and water pollution, storm water retention
• Ecology, biodiversity, invasive species
• Panel discussion, conclusions, recommendations, planning for future activities