Megaregions and regional sustainability

As a new geography megaregions, networks of metropolitan centres and their areas of influence are increasingly discussed within both academic and policy arenas as more population and economic activities are concentrating in these large-scale urban configurations with growing environmental and societal impacts. This paper examines the megaregion within the context of sustainable development. The paper argues that compared to traditional planning units, such as cities, regions, and Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the concept of megaregions is able to capture the way in which economic activities, ecological ties, and social and cultural linkages actually function and operate in the global economy. While megaregions can serve as a useful planning framework for addressing each element of sustainable development, economy, environment, and equity, the successful balance and implementation of these three elements may depend on a good, yet to be developed, megaregion governance structure with public, private, and federal or national leadership.