Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Urban sustainability has become a pressing global issue as cities continue to grow and face challenges related to environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social inequality. The need to assess and manage sustainability in urban areas has gained significant attention in research and policy-making. This paper focuses on the sustainability assessment and management of urban areas, with a particular emphasis on the integration of environmental, social, and economic factors. The first part of the paper reviews existing sustainability assessment frameworks and tools that have been developed for urban areas. These frameworks typically involve the evaluation of indicators related to environmental quality, resource use, social well-being, and economic prosperity. The review highlights the importance of considering the interconnections between these different dimensions of sustainability to provide a comprehensive understanding of urban sustainability. The second part of the paper discusses the challenges and opportunities in the management of urban sustainability. It emphasizes the need for integrated approaches that address the complex and interconnected nature of urban systems. Effective management strategies should involve collaboration between various stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and local communities. The paper also explores the role of technology and innovation in promoting sustainability in urban areas, such as the use of smart city technologies and renewable energy solutions. Furthermore, the paper examines the role of governance in shaping urban sustainability outcomes. Effective governance structures and policies play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development and addressing the diverse needs of urban populations. The paper highlights the importance of participatory decision-making processes that involve residents and community groups in shaping urban development plans and policies. In conclusion, the paper argues that a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability assessment and management is essential for creating livable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments. By considering the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability, cities can address pressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality. The paper calls for further research and policy efforts to advance urban sustainability and create cities that are environmentally sustainable, socially equitable, and economically viable.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

This book is the result of a research project funded by the Fund for Scientific Research—Flanders (Belgium) that looks into strategic environmental assessment as an instrument to develop urban areas more sustainably. This research is carried out at the Environmental Impact Assessment Center, which is part of the Human Ecology Department at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In 1975 the VUB instituted a Master of Human Ecology educational program. As the interdisciplinary study of the relationships between the human species and its environment, human ecology is distinct from traditional animal, plant, or microbial ecology in that it recognizes the…

By early in the coming decade, the majority of humankind will be living in cities. For the first time in the two-million-year history of our species, the immediate human environment will be the “built environment.” By some conventional accounts, accelerating urbanization is just another piece of evidence that the human economy is “decoupling” from the environment, that humanity is finally leaving nature and the rural countryside behind. This is a perceptual error. Even as we urbanize, human beings remain dependent on the environment, and cities become the major drivers of global ecological change. Moreover, the sustainability of our cities is…

As a concept, the notion of sustainable urban development is simple, appealing, and an essential component of global sustainability. On a technical level we already have many of the pieces that we need to construct communities that would be much more sustainable than those we inhabit today. We can even identify working examples of urban activities that are more sustainable than the typical ones. However, the incentive structure of regulations, prices, and taxes does not encourage the diffusion of these improved practices. We need to put into place the regulations—such as a tax on carbon emissions—that will create…

The pursuit of sustainable development at the local and regional level of governance has received a powerful impetus from the follow-up to Chapter 28 of Agenda 21, the “action plan” adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. “Local Agenda 21” (LA21) has become an international symbol for new initiatives for sustainable local and regional communities. With strong support from the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), and the European Commission, Local Agenda 21 is one of the major success stories from the Earth Summit. The purpose of this chapter is…