Selection and modeling sustainable urbanization indicators: A responsibility-based method

The responsibility borne by governmental departments measured by a set of indicators is a key factor affecting the performance of urban sustainability. Thus, responsibility analysis can guide the selection of sustainability indicators. In line with the principle of Management by Objective (MBO), this paper aims to introduce a responsibility-based method, named Strategic goal-Responsibility department-Response (SRR), for selecting sustainable urbanization indicators. By applying this method, indicators are selected from the perspective of concerned departments’ responsibility. In developing the SRR model, the tool of Responsibility Assignment Matrix is used to identify the concerned departments who assume responsibilities in the process of implementing sustainable urbanization. The content analysis is used to analyze the work scope and definitions of the concerned departments and sustainable urbanization indicators that can measure the responsibility performance of the concerned departments are filtered out. A case study of Jinan city in China is used to demonstrate the procedures of using the proposed method. Based on the strategic goals of Jinan city, 20 responsibility departments and 152 initial indicators are identified by using the SRR framework. The case study reveals that the method is a feasible and effective tool in assisting policy makers to select sustainable urbanization indicators.     

Management framework for sustainable development indicators in the State of Selangor, Malaysia

The perception that better information on environment and development is the determinant of effective rational decision- and policy-making processes provide the impetus for global interest in the use of sustainable development indicators (SDIs). Accordingly, proposals for SDIs are framed either on organisational goals or on disciplinary and multidisciplinary theories—aiming to reduce uncertainties in choosing the best alternative among a set of options concerning sustainability. Despite the fact that many SDI initiatives are explicitly aimed at improving policy-making, it is not apparent that political settings and organisational realities are taken into consideration in designing the framework for sustainability assessment. Ignoring the realities of policy-making dynamics can result in poor institutionalisation of the SDI development process, and therefore reduced impact of indicators. Linkage of SDIs to policy processes must also take into account the complex role of information in policy processes. The importance of societal values, cultural contexts and behaviour of bureaucracies must be understood and used to assist the assessment of progress towards sustainability using SDIs. Essentially, objective knowledge must be tampered with pragmatism in governance. This paper highlights the case of SDI development in the state of Selangor where the notion of instrumental rationality is balanced with the ‘incrementalism’ of the policy process that provided the foundation for institutionalising the reporting and use of SDIs. The ideals and paradoxes of participatory decision-making, the principles of the rational model and decision-making processes within a state government are critically examined.     

Use and influence of composite indicators for sustainable development at the EU-level

Considering the on-going strive towards new, alternative indicators to measure our societal development pathways, and the fact that policy indicators remain largely enigmatic with regard to their patterns of embeddedness in institutional decision-making processes, it appears necessary to work towards reducing our lack of understanding of their interactions with policy-making. In the present paper, we focus on exploring the significance of composite indicators for policy making in the particular policy environment of the EU-institutions. Our research is underpinned by the conviction that such indicators are not systematically used directly, but have an indirect influence on policy making that needs to be better understood. Our analytical framework – in order to analyse the ways in which composite indicators enter policy processes – is characterised by the distinction between the ‘use’ and the ‘influence’ of indicators on the one hand, and on the other hand between 3 types of factors: indicator factors, policy factors and user factors. Our empirical results show that while most of the academic attention and political debate around indicators has tended to focus on ‘indicator factors’, such quality attributes actually mattered relatively little in our setting as determinants of indicator influence. This rejects the idea that the robustness of evidence would lie exclusively in its technical quality and in the independence of its producer, and instead calls attention to the processes of evidence-construction. Simultaneously, ‘user factors’ (beliefs and representations of policy actors) and ‘policy factors’ (institutional context) were crucial as explanatory factors of the policy mechanics we identified.     

Evaluation of the Q-method as a method of public participation in the selection of sustainable development indicators

The complexity of sustainable development means that it is often difficult to evaluate and communicate the concept effectively. One standard method to reduce complexity and improve communication, while maintaining scientific objectivity, is to use selected indicators. The aim of this paper is to describe and evaluate a process of public participation in the selection of sustainable development indicators that utilised the Q-method for discourse analysis. The Q-method was utilised to combine public opinion with technical expertise to create a list of technically robust indicators that would be relevant to the public. The method comprises statement collection, statement analysis, Q-sorts and Q-sort analysis. The results of the Q-method generated a list of statements for which a preliminary list of indicators was then developed by a team of experts from the fields of environmental science, sustainable development and psychology. Subsequently members of the public evaluated the preliminary list of indicators, to select a final list of indicators that were both technically sound and incorporated the views of the public. The utilisation of the Q-method in this process was evaluated using previously published criteria. The application of the Q-method in this context needs to be considered not only by the quality of the indicators developed, but also from the perspective of the benefit of the process to the participants. It was concluded that the Q-method provided an effective framework for public participation in the selection of indicators as it allowed the public to discuss sustainable development in familiar language and in the context of their daily lives. By combining this information with expert input, a list of technically robust indicators that resonate with the public was developed. The results demonstrated that many citizens are not aware of sustainable development, and if it is to be successfully communicated to them, then indicators and policy need to be couched in terms familiar and relevant to citizen and communities.     

实现城市可持续发展的系统转型

城市在为人类提供各种生态系统服务的同时,其发展中的各类问题限制着城市生态系统本身的可持续发展。首先概述了城市发展过程中面临的挑战,主要包括城市化过程中人与自然的关系问题及社会生态问题等;其次从可持续发展的内涵、社会-经济-自然复合生态系统和驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应(DPSIR)的理论出发,分别从城市水供给和污水处置系统、消减城市废弃物排放、城市交通和区域规划、城市发展与粮食系统供求关系、城市清洁能源系统等5个方面对如何实现城市的转型进行了系统的论述。结合我国城市可持续发展的研究进展,指出城市的可持续发展问题不仅是城市自身的问题,也是城市与周边区域的协调发展问题。为此,文章提出必须基于五个"转向"来研究和建立城市化与区域生态的耦合和协调机制。     

Emergy-based indicators of regional environmental sustainability: A case study in Shanwei,Guangdong, China

Understanding which factors mainly affect the environmental sustainability of a Region is a very crucial concern for many Chinese planners and policy-makers. In this study, the emergy accounting method is applied to the production and consumption activities of the city of Shanwei, a seaside urban area in Guangdong region, China. The emergy method provides a comprehensive assessment of a system, by generating a consistent set of indicators capable to capture the dynamics of the system as a whole and its efficiency in converting resources into an economic product and welfare. At the same time, the approach is capable to provide details about a system's performance over time, its use of renewable versus nonrenewables sources, local versus imported, concentrated versus dispersed and finally labor intensive versus fuel intensive processes. The main local renewable and nonrenewable emergy flows supporting the investigated area were included in the accounting, together with the flows of imported energy, goods, machinery, labor and services. Coal plays a crucial role for electricity generation, industrial uses, but also gasoline and diesel for transport affect the overall sustainability to a non-negligible extent. An Emergy Sustainability Indicator (ESI) of the local economic and social system is calculated and compared with the average value of the Chinese economy, based on the assumption that a process or system is unsustainable if it contributes to lower the overall sustainability of the region or country. This is quantified by the requirement that always must be ESI_local ≧ ESI_country. Results confirm that the most crucial factor for this region sustainability is the use of coal as a non-renewable and imported energy source. The calculated emergy indicators translate into a set-aside buffer land demand capable to mitigate, dilute, and uptake the environmental impact of human-dominated activities. Unfortunately, such buffer land demand is much higher than the land actually available. As a result, both the ESI-based sustainability equation as well as the lack of support land make the city's production and consumption patterns unsustainable and call for different lifestyles and environmental policies.     

城市可持续发展能力的能值评价新指标

能值理论、方法克服了传统能量与经济分析方法的诸多缺憾,为城市可持续发展的研究提供了全新的视角。但作为一种新兴的理论,其评价指标,尤其是针对城市可持续发展能力的综合评价指标尚不完善。从生态经济效益及环境影响的全面表达角度,剖析了国际现行可持续发展能值指标(ESI)的不足之处,并在此基础上拓展构建了新的可持续发展能值指标(EISD)。以珠江三角洲中山市1996～2000年的发展动态为例进行了案例研究。结果表明,新拓展的可持续发展能值指标．在系统效益评价中考虑了系统能值产出的实际经济效果,在环境影响评价中同时考虑了系统的消耗影响和排放影响,可以更全面明晰的评价城市系统的可持续发展能力、状态及其成因,为系统的优化指明方向。     

Place,case and process: Applying ecology to sustainable development

We outline a pragmatic approach through which ecologists, by participating in interdisciplinary research, can engage with sustainable development. The approach is based on three points of intersection that facilitate the integration of ecological insights with insights from other disciplines and stakeholders. The first point of intersection, place, emphasizes the value of carefully choosing where to conduct an interdisciplinary research project. We argue that, from a sustainability perspective, research will be of most applied value if it takes place in locations that actually face urgent sustainability problems (including biodiversity decline). The second point of intersection, case, suggests that integration among different disciplines can be facilitated by choosing common study cases or units of analysis. For example, ecologists and scientists from other disciplines can focus on the same farms, villages or landscapes in their work. Sharing cases helps to create comparable data for integration, but also facilitates communication across disciplinary boundaries because it creates shared experiences in the field. The third point of intersection, process, relates to operational features of team research that improve integration across disciplines and communication with stakeholders. Key process-related features are working in a small, co-located team, planning for independent as well as joint project activities, involving some key stakeholders early on in the research process, and carefully targeting communication at different relevant audiences. In combination, an approach centred around place, case and process provides a tangible and pragmatic way for ecologists to meaningfully engage with real-world sustainability problems.     

Benchmarking the environmental performance of specialized milk production systems: selection of a set of indicators

Dairy production across the world contributes to environmental impacts such as eutrophication, acidification, loss of biodiversity, and use of resources, such as land, fossil energy and water. Benchmarking the environmental performance of farms can help to reduce these environmental impacts and improve resource use efficiency. Indicators to quantify and benchmark environmental performances are generally derived from a nutrient balance (NB) or a life cycle assessment (LCA). An NB is relatively easy to quantify, whereas an LCA provides more detailed insight into the type of losses and associated environmental impacts. In this study, we explored correlations between NB and LCA indicators, in order to identify an effective set of indicators that can be used as a proxy for benchmarking the environmental performance of dairy farms. We selected 55 specialised dairy farms from western European countries and determined their environmental performance based on eight commonly used NB and LCA indicators from cradle-to-farm gate. Indicators included N surplus, P surplus, land use, fossil energy use, global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), freshwater eutrophication potential (FEP) and marine eutrophication potential (MEP) for 2010. All indicators are expressed per kg of fat-and-protein-corrected milk. Pearson and Spearman Rho’s correlation analyses were performed to determine the correlations between the indicators. Subsequently, multiple regression and canonical correlation analyses were performed to select the set of indicators to be used as a proxy. Results show that the set of selected indicator, including N surplus, P surplus, energy use and land use, is strongly correlated with the eliminated set of indicators, including FEP (r = 0.95), MEP (r = 0.91), GWP (r = 0. 83) and AP (r = 0.79). The canonical correlation between the two sets is high as well (r = 0.97). Therefore, N surplus, P surplus, energy use and land use can be used as a proxy to benchmark the environmental performance of dairy farms, also representing GWP, AP, FEP and MEP. The set of selected indicators can be monitored and collected in a time and cost-effective way, and can be interpreted easily by decision makers. Other important environmental impacts, such as biodiversity and water use, however, should not be overlooked.     

城市可持续发展评价方法及其应用

城市是现代化建设的主要载体,是国家实施科教兴国和可持续发展战略的主要基地。城市将各种社会的、经济的、环境的、文化的因素与冲突融为一体,形成一类社会-经济-自然复合生态系统。如何实现城市的可持续发展,是当今世界研究的重要课题之一。城市可持续发展的评价指标和方法是衡量城市生态规划、建设、管理成效的主要依据。以山东济宁市为例,建立了济宁市可持续发展的指标体系,包括经济发展、生态建设、环境保护和社会进步4类45项指标。采用全排列多边形综合图示法评价城市在各个不同时段的建设成效。研究结果表明,济宁市可持续发展综合指数2004年为0.24,处于Ⅳ级水平,可持续发展能力较差;2006年达到0.45,处于Ⅲ级水平,可持续发展能力一般;2010年达到0.62,进入Ⅱ级水平,可持续发展能力较好;2020年达到0.84,进入I级水平,可持续发展能力优良。评价指标全面,方法直观明了,反映了整体大于或者小于部分之和的系统整合原理,评价结果符合实际,可为城市可持续发展提供参考。     

Integrated assessment of agricultural production practices to enhance sustainable development in agricultural landscapes

This study presents an integrated assessment approach for the sustainable development of agricultural landscapes. The approach evaluates single agricultural production practices by means of environmental, economic and social indicators. To implement the approach, a mixed method was employed that combines modelling techniques and survey methods. The economic and environmental indicators were implemented within the bio-economic modelling system MODAM (Multi-Objective Decision support system for Agro-ecosystem Management) in order to assess economic performance and the effects on the abiotic and biotic environments. The modelling approach was applied to a case study in a region of north-eastern Germany, within the state of Brandenburg. In addition, the acceptance by farmers of different production alternatives that are known to have environmental benefits was examined in the case study. To allow for a direct comparison between different indicators, the results of the assessment are dimensionless index values that indicate the suitability of certain agricultural production practices with respect to an indicator. The indicator-related indices are then aggregated into an overall index of sustainability differentiating between ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ sustainability. Results are presented for exemplarily chosen production practices for sugar beet, potato and winter rape production and set aside. Depending on the underlying concept of sustainability (‘weak’ vs. ‘strong’), different production practices were identified as the most suitable ones in a given situation. This integrated assessment enables determination of positive and negative correlations between indicators. The approach allows for the identification of production alternatives that are assessed to be economically and environmentally beneficial as well as socially accepted, although at different levels.     

面向城市可持续发展的自然解决途径(NBSs)研究进展

自然解决途径(NBSs)是近几年生态学应用研究的热点,其理念是综合考虑经济、环境和社会效益,引入自然生态系统服务功能用来修复、恢复甚至提升城市生态基础设施水平,进而解决城市面临的可持续发展挑战。自然解决途径的提出为生态设计注入了新鲜的血液,提供了新的视野和技术方法。基于VOSviewer文献计量分析软件对城市自然解决途径研究的热点关键词、主要研究国家、机构以及全球分布进行了综合分析。结果发现:(1)2015年至2018年有关城市NBSs的研究论文逐渐增多,覆盖6大洲(欧洲、北美洲、亚洲、南美洲、大洋洲、非洲),多数案例是对已有实施工程中采用的可以归纳为自然解决途径的某些方法或者经验的总结凝练;(2)与城市NBSs相关研究热点从高到低主要涉及生态系统服务、绿色基础设施、气候变化、人群健康与福祉;(3)城市自然解决途径研究的主要力量主要聚集在欧洲,目前中国对于NBSs研究仍处于初期起步阶段。将有助于促进自然解决途径研究及实践在中国的发展,同时为城市生态设计和可持续发展提供新视野和新技术。     

Methodology to select a set of urban sustainability indicators to measure the state of the city,and performance assessment

This paper proposes a methodology for establishing a set of sustainability indicators as a baseline to measure the state of a city, and after appropriate actions are taken, to assess performance, to determine if changes point to improvements regarding goals. The methodology starts with choosing a procedure for identification, scope, evaluation, and level of indicators to build the initial dataset. As a second step, produces a reduced set of indicators, complying with all criteria imposed, and selected under the condition of extracting the maximum amount of information from the initial dataset.     

人工林生态系统持续发展的调控对策研究

基于田间试验和室内分析数据,分析了不同管理方式对人工林生态系统地力和持续发展的影响．结果表明,幼林期间种豆科牧草等农作物、营造混交林、针叶纯林间伐后引进阔叶树等生物途径以及改变整地方式、合理施肥等工程措施都有利于地力的恢复和林分生产力的提高．     

基于三维景观指数的城市景观美学特征定量表达——以深圳市为例

城市景观由自然元素与人工元素构成,以建筑为主体,辅以外部空间环境。对城市景观美学价值的研究有利于探讨如何提升城市形象及居民生活环境,为城市规划设计纳入了感性与理性结合的合理途径。景观美学特征以不同方式影响整体景观质量,合理运用景观指数对城市景观美学特征进行量化表达,是评估景观质量的重要前提。在整理借鉴景观美学相关研究的基础上,结合景观生态学理论基础,以城市空间内部审美者的角度将城市景观五大美学特征,包括自然性、开阔性、多样性、奇特性和协调性,转化为可定量表达的二维及三维景观指数。量化指标易使用数据进行快速评估,对于城市规划设计有着积极意义。     

论农业持续发展中的化感作用

综述了农业生产中的化感作用,建议应合理有效地运用化感作用中的相生相克效应,改进秸秆还田,载培的耕作措施以及杂草和虫害生物防治技术,为我国的农业持续发展提出新的对策。     

Quantitative criteria for choosing targets and indicators for sustainable use of ecosystems

Wide-ranging, indicator-based assessments of large, complex ecosystems are playing an increasing role in guiding environmental policy and management. An example is the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which requires Member States to take measures to reach “good environmental status” (GES) in European marine waters. However, formulation of indicator targets consistent with the Directive’s high-level policy goal of sustainable use has proven challenging. We develop a specific, quantitative interpretation of the concepts of GES and sustainable use in terms of indicators and associated targets, by sharply distinguishing between current uses to satisfy current societal needs and preferences, and unknown future uses. We argue that consistent targets to safeguard future uses derive from a requirement that any environmental state indicator should recover within a defined time (e.g. 30 years) to its pressure-free range of variation when all pressures are hypothetically removed. Within these constraints, specific targets for current uses should be set. Routes to implementation of this proposal for indicators of fish-community size structure, population size of selected species, eutrophication, impacts of non-indigenous species, and genetic diversity are discussed. Important policy implications are that (a) indicator target ranges, which may be wider than natural ranges, systematically and rationally derive from our proposal; (b) because relevant state indicators tend to respond slowly, corresponding pressures should also be monitored and assessed; (c) support of current uses and safeguarding of future uses are distinct management goals, they require different types of targets, decision processes, and management philosophies.     

畜牧业可持续发展的综合评价

畜牧业可持续发展的评价不仅有助于了解目前畜牧业发展的现状和程度,而且对于预测畜牧业发展的趋势,制定畜牧产业政策及相应的法律法规都具有重要的意义．首先,简述了畜牧业可持续发展的含义．然后,在分析现有的可持续发展评价理论和研究方法的基础上,针对畜牧业发展的特点,提出了以环境经济学为手段,以生态承载能力理论为基础,借助生态资源、环境功能价值的货币化表达。评价畜牧业可持续发展的一整套评价理论和方法．最后,对畜牧业可持续发展的具体评价方法以及评价指标的选取作了简要的阐述．     

我国城市可持续发展能力评估指标的元数据分析与管理

在我国大力推动城市可持续发展,推进国家可持续发展实验区建设的同时,采用何种评估方法和数据开展城市可持续发展能力评估是需要重点解决的问题。近年来兴起的元数据理论与技术在解决评估数据质量控制方面被视为是一种行之有效的方法。针对我国现阶段使用的一些城市可持续发展能力评估指标体系的特点,通过深入剖析每一个指标数据的来源、获取手段、适用方法等特征,提出从软件工程学思路研发城市可持续发展能力评估元数据管理系统的具体方法,帮助可持续发展实验区高效获取和管理评估所需数据信息;以"十二五"科技支撑计划项目"城市可持续发展能力评估及信息管理关键技术研究与示范"中所建立的元数据规范,对其所包含的"数据发布日期"、"数据发布形式"、"空间范围"、"时间范围(起始时间、结束时间)"、"统计频率"、"数据安全限制分级"、"数据志说明"、"在线资源链接地址"和"数据统计单位信息(单位名称、联络人、联系电话、单位地址、邮件地址)"共14项为评估数据的关键元数据项,以此追踪对标的评估数据。并通过量化数据质量评分法针对数据质量在运用元数据追踪法前后的评价结果对比发现,被评估指标的数据质量在获得元数据支持时,其数据可靠性、可比性和可持续性方面的评价分值都获得了十分显著的改善。研究认为采用元数据理论在控制和保障城市可持续发展能力评估数据质量方面具有优势作用,开发有针对性的城市可持续发展能力评估元数据管理系统能够有效提高评估数据的综合评价结果。     

基于BP神经网络的京津冀城市群可持续发展综合评价

在综合分析了京津冀城市群各城市功能定位的基础上,构建了包含经济发展、社会发展、科技创新和生态环境4个子系统的城市可持续发展评价指标体系,运用2006—2015年的数据,采用熵值法和BP神经网络对京津冀城市群可持续发展能力进行非线性测度与分类,结果较为理想。结果表明:(1)北京和天津处于高可持续发展水平,可持续发展能力在空间上呈现出以京、津为中心随距离递减的趋势,最南端的邯郸和邢台处于低可持续发展水平;(2)北京可持续发展能力呈现下滑趋势,其他城市可持续发展能力逐年稳步上升,大城市可持续发展压力较大;(3)城市在不同子系统中存在各自的优劣势。各个子系统在可持续发展中均起到重要作用,城市宜结合各自子系统的优、劣势制定具有针对性的发展对策。