Who hasn't seen the critical examples of overpopulation that are always depicted with big cities, tall buildings and lots of people? There is a common belief that cities are the cause of air pollution and are in no way considered sustainable or have a smaller footprint than those residing in rural areas. Yet, this chapter shows that criticism has no relevance when it comes to cities and indeed, cities are better in terms of stronger economies, those who live in cities have smaller families, and the more developed the city the lower the poverty level. (unlike rural areas which show a higher level of poverty). The misconception that cities are actually overexploiting resources and contributing to environmental degradation is not true. The chapter states that this is not the case, rather it is about “commercial and industrial industries and enterprises (or companies) and middle- and high-income groups with high-consumption lifestyles”. (56) These wealthier people who want to live more luxuriously often live on acres of land with multiple cars, so they often do not reside in cities. The chapter continues to list the positive roles of cities, such as “reducing costs per household and per business for the provision of treated and piped water…collection and disposal of human waste.” (56) Another positive aspect is the efficient use of recycled waste, as well as a lower demand for land compared to the population of cities. The fourth benefit is more efficient heating techniques and the fifth is increased use of public transport. The rich culture found in cities is also mentioned in the chapter. It concludes with the need for "good governance", whereby objectives are achieved and costs are not passed on to others; without it, cities remain sources of pollution, disease and waste.