By Rob Melnick
Executive Dean, Global Institute of Sustainability and
Presidential Professor of Practice, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University
Strolling down one of our world-famous canal banks in 2025, it's hard to imagine that a renaissance of greater Phoenix was launched in 2009 during the nation's economic meltdown. With the financial and real estate industries in tatters and major infrastructure in decline, Valley leaders nevertheless joined forces and seized the opportunity to implement bold, yet practical new ideas for creating a truly sustainable urban place.