As the debate on sustainable development and environmental justice has gath
ered momentum, considerable attention has been paid to identifying key prin
ciples. In this paper, I highlight a number of core principles and then mov
e on to examine differing styles of policy approach, which have gained favo
r among different sources, for moving toward the sustainable city from mark
er-based neoliberal reformism to deep green ecologically centered approache
s. I highlight four broad categories of approach to sustainable urban devel
opment and begin linking those to the core principles of sustainable develo
pment.