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Assessing Urban Sustainability Using a Multi-Scale, Theme-Based Indicator Framework: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China

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  • Cheng Li

    (Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510650, China)

  • Junxiang Li

    (School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
    Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Ecological Restoration, Shanghai 200241, China)

Abstract

Urban sustainability is a great concern worldwide. However, how to evaluate urban sustainability is still a big challenge because sustainable development is multifaceted and scale dependent, which demands various assessment methods and indicators that often do not reach a consensus. In this study, we assessed urban sustainability of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China during 2000–2014 at two spatial scales (corresponding to the administrative levels of province and prefecture). A theme-based indicator framework, cluster analysis and Mann–Kendall test were used for urban sustainability assessment. Our results showed that the overall (OS), social (SS), and economic sustainability (EcS) scores for two provinces and sixteen prefectural cities increased from 2000 to 2014 in general, but the environmental sustainability (EnS) scores decreased over time. According to the performance of SS, EnS and EcS at the prefectural level, three distinct city clusters were identified: Cluster 1 with high SS and EcS but low EnS; Cluster 2 with low SS and EcS but high EnS; and Cluster 3 with moderate SS, EnS and EcS. The three sustainability dimensions—society, environment and economy—all changed over time and differed among cities at the two administrative levels. Our results implied that, according to the “strong sustainability” perspective, the cities of the YRD became less sustainable or unsustainable because the social and economic progresses were at the expense of the environment. The level of urban sustainability was lower at the provincial level than the prefectural level, implying that the problems of unsustainability are even greater at the provincial level than the prefectural level in the YRD region.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng Li & Junxiang Li, 2017. "Assessing Urban Sustainability Using a Multi-Scale, Theme-Based Indicator Framework: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2072-:d:118420
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cristina ALPOPI & Cristina MANOLE & Sofia Elena COLESCA, 2011. "Assessment Of The Sustainable Urban Development Level Through The Use Of Indicators Of Sustainability," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 6(2), pages 78-87, May.
    2. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
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    1. Longyu Shi & Miao Zhang & Yajing Zhang & Bin Yang & Huaping Sun & Tong Xu, 2018. "Comprehensive Analysis of Nitrogen Deposition in Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study of Xiamen City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Fei Wang & Ning Gu, 2021. "Impact of ecological security on urban sustainability in Western China—A case study of Xi’an," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(5), pages 1314-1339, June.

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