Introduction Since the late 1980s, the concept of "sustainable development" has moved beyond the eminent United Nations report entitled Our Common Future to mainstream dialogue around the world at all levels within government and public spheres. This form of development seeks to balance the current environmental, social and economic needs of the population, “without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, 43). Used interchangeably with “sustainability” (Seghezzo, 2009), the concept has been linked to a plethora of issues, including that of cities where “urban sustainability” speaks to negligent urban expansion and resource depletion. However, as the idea of ​​urban sustainability has begun to enter widespread discussions, the obstacles and conflicts surrounding sustainable development have also increased. The following sections will examine these complexities, starting with the ambiguity of sustainable development, followed by interpretations of urban sustainability, and finally the political ecology of sustainable development in an urban environment. Sustainable cities or cities that contribute to sustainable development Criticism of the term "sustainable development" has mainly concerned its broad scope of interpretation, which is considered both a strength, in its ability to promote cooperation between multiple stakeholders, and a weak, as anyone can claim to contribute to sustainability objectives (Dale, 2001; Robinson, 2009). Satterthwaite's article entitled "Sustainable Cities or Cities Contributing to Sustainable Development" (1997), alludes to the ambiguity of the term and explores the predicament rather than the benefit...... half of the paper..... .18( 1), 67-85. Redclift, M. (2005). Sustainable development (1987-2005): an oxymoron comes of age. Sustainable Development, 13(4), 212-227.Robbins, P. (2004). What is political ecology? In Political Ecology (pp. 1-15).Malden: Blackwell Publishing.Robinson, P. (2009). Urban sustainability in Canada: The global-local connection. In C. Gore and P. Stoett (Eds.), Environmental Challenges and Opportunities: Local-Global Perspectives on Canadian Issues (pp. 159-181). Toronto: Edmond Montgomery Publications. Seghezzo, L. (2009). The five dimensions of sustainability. Environmental Policy, 18(4), 539 - 556.Satterthwaite, D. (1997). Sustainable cities or cities that contribute to sustainable development? Urban Studies, 34(1), 1667-1691.WCED. World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. New York: Oxford University Press.