Public markets: Rediscovering the centrality of markets in cities and their relevance to urban sustainable development

The importance of this issue lies in the goal of providing knowledge about how to use urban marketplaces to develop low carbon, local supply chains, better and more sustainable urban planning, employment and community. Markets have existed for millennia as important parts of cities, towns and villages; they have been important engines for the urban growth, while also providing sustainable solutions to accommodate this growth. Considering global trends such as climate change and resource scarcity, a major challenge for future cities will be to reduce urban footprints. Moreover, cities have to become or remain liveable for their inhabitants and offer social and economic opportunities. This paper will show the benefits of marketplaces in the building of sustainable cities and strong communities. In fact, markets can increase the sense of pride of place, they contribute to a healthy living agenda, they raise awareness about the benefits of buying local products and, thereby, they increase environmental responsibility amongst a wide range of stakeholders.