IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i9p2673-d229988.html

Key Considerations When Designing Certification Systems for Urban Sustainability and Implications for The Swedish Post-Construction System Citylab

Author

Listed:
  • Jonas Lind

    (Sweden Green Building Council, Långholmsgatan 34, 117 33 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Tove Malmqvist

    (Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Josefin Wangel

    (Department of Urban and Rural Development, SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7012 SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

Addressing sustainability in urban planning has led to an increasing number of certification systems to support such processes. Nevertheless, there is no commonly recognised framework listing what is important to consider when developing such systems. Citylab is a certification system that is used in several Swedish urban development projects. Today, Citylab certifies the planning process of urban areas but it will be extended with a post-construction part. This paper presents a three steps analysis of the design of such a post-construction certification system. First, a literature review was performed, which allowed for identifying three principles and 11 sub-principles that make up a generic framework for the design of similar certification systems. Second, 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted in Sweden with key urban development stakeholders to better specify the scope of a post-construction extension of Citylab. As a result, four alternatives emerge for the role and function of this system. Third, crossing the results of both previous steps allowed for an understanding of important considerations and implications for the Citylab post-construction certification system design. The paper concludes on the relevance of such a reflexive procedure for the design of certification systems in general, in which the use of the framework is a key to ensure transparency and enable deliberate choices and priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Lind & Tove Malmqvist & Josefin Wangel, 2019. "Key Considerations When Designing Certification Systems for Urban Sustainability and Implications for The Swedish Post-Construction System Citylab," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2673-:d:229988
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2673/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2673/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. United Nations, 2016. "The Sustainable Development Goals 2016," Working Papers id:11456, eSocialSciences.
    2. Benjamin Saunders & Julius Sim & Tom Kingstone & Shula Baker & Jackie Waterfield & Bernadette Bartlam & Heather Burroughs & Clare Jinks, 2018. "Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1893-1907, July.
    3. Robert B. Gibson, 2006. "Beyond The Pillars: Sustainability Assessment As A Framework For Effective Integration Of Social, Economic And Ecological Considerations In Significant Decision-Making," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(03), pages 259-280.
    4. Matthew Cohen, 2017. "A Systematic Review of Urban Sustainability Assessment Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Sofie Pandis Iverot & Nils Brandt, 2011. "The development of a sustainable urban district in Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm, Sweden?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 1043-1064, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Luciane Aguiar Borges & Feras Hammami & Josefin Wangel, 2020. "Reviewing Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools through Critical Heritage Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Jonas Lind & Tove Malmqvist & Josefin Wangel, 2020. "Developing Citylab Post-Construction—A Swedish Certification System to Evaluate the Sustainability of Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wenmei Fei & Alex Opoku & Kofi Agyekum & James Anthony Oppon & Vian Ahmed & Charles Chen & Ka Leung Lok, 2021. "The Critical Role of the Construction Industry in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Delivering Projects for the Common Good," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Vishna Shah & Helen Nabwera & Bakary Sonko & Fatou Bajo & Fatou Faal & Mariama Saidykhan & Yamoundaw Jallow & Omar Keita & Wolf-Peter Schmidt & Belen Torondel, 2022. "Effects of Menstrual Health and Hygiene on School Absenteeism and Drop-Out among Adolescent Girls in Rural Gambia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Roope Husgafvel, 2021. "Exploring Social Sustainability Handprint—Part 2: Sustainable Development and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-35, October.
    4. Jennifer Tartaglia & Michelle McIntosh & Jonine Jancey & Jane Scott & Andrea Begley, 2021. "Exploring Feeding Practices and Food Literacy in Parents with Young Children from Disadvantaged Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Yuan Feng & Chee Keong Khoo, 2025. "How Sustainable Are Chinese Cities? Empirical Insights from Eight Cities Using a Multidimensional Catastrophe Progression Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-26, July.
    6. Claudia Hanson & Sanni Kujala & Peter Waiswa & Tanya Marchant & Joanna Schellenberg, 2017. "Community-based approaches for neonatal survival: Meta-analyses of randomized trial data," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-137, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Eugenia Ganea & Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, 2018. "Addressing Inequality in Vocational/ Technical Education by Eliminating Gender Bias," Revista romaneasca pentru educatie multidimensionala - Journal for Multidimensional Education, Editura Lumen, Department of Economics, vol. 10(4), pages 136-155, December.
    8. Gallopín, Gilberto, 2018. "Back to the future," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 318-324.
    9. repec:bcp:journl:v:7:y:2023:i:5:p:931-941 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Karina Soubra & Camilla Tamworth & Zeast Kamal & Clare Brook & Dawn Langdon & Jo Billings, 2023. "Health and social care workers experiences of coping while working in the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic: One year on," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(4), pages 1-27, April.
    11. Paul L. G. Vlek & Asia Khamzina & Hossein Azadi & Anik Bhaduri & Luna Bharati & Ademola Braimoh & Christopher Martius & Terry Sunderland & Fatemeh Taheri, 2017. "Trade-Offs in Multi-Purpose Land Use under Land Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Carla Dias-Barbosa & Natalie Taylor & Kevin Chan & Jean Philippe York & Jorge Puelles & Rajeev Chavda, 2026. "Patient Insights on Acne Hyperpigmentation, Trifarotene, and Skincare: 6-Month, LEAP Phase 4 Qualitative Exit Interview Findings," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 19(2), pages 343-352, March.
    13. Şahika Simsek-Cetinkaya & Simge Evrenol Ocal, 2023. "“Psychological Injuries Are Not Visible†: Experiences and Perceptions of Midwives and Nurses about Domestic Violence during Pregnancy," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 32(8), pages 1115-1123, November.
    14. Minseok Yang & Gyu-Ho Shin & Boo Kyung Jung, 2025. "In the Middle of Somewhere: Cultural Identity and Conflicts of Korean Heritage Speakers in the United States," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, September.
    15. Maria Polorecka & Jozef Kubas & Pavel Danihelka & Katarina Petrlova & Katarina Repkova Stofkova & Katarina Buganova, 2021. "Use of Software on Modeling Hazardous Substance Release as a Support Tool for Crisis Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    16. Javier García López & Raffaele Sisto & Javier Benayas & Álvaro de Juanes & Julio Lumbreras & Carlos Mataix, 2021. "Assessment of the Results and Methodology of the Sustainable Development Index for Spanish Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-29, June.
    17. Wirapong Chansanam & Chunqiu Li, 2022. "Scientometrics of Poverty Research for Sustainability Development: Trend Analysis of the 1964–2022 Data through Scopus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    18. Wenyao Guo & Xianzhong Mu, 2022. "Identification of Cities in Underdeveloped Resource-Rich Areas and Its Sustainable Development: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    19. repec:ecr:col045:46727 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Shannon L. Sibbald & Nicole Haggerty, 2019. "Integrating Business and Medical Pedagogy to Accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 92-101, March.
    21. Betul Hande Gursoy Haksevenler & Aydin Akpinar & Zeynep Sengul & Berfin Senik & Nur Hanife Orak & Engin Sorhun, 2025. "Integrating Sustainable Development Into Urban Management: A Strategic Green City Index for Cities," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 8132-8150, December.
    22. Rahi Jain & Prashant Narnaware, 2020. "Application of Systems Thinking to Dent Child Malnutrition: A Palghar District, India Case Study," Millennial Asia, , vol. 11(1), pages 79-98, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2673-:d:229988. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.