Methods and indicators for urban sustainability assessment

Abstract

This introductory chapter is presenting a range of sustainable development analysis methodologies, including material flows analysis, input–output analysis, optimization and multi-criteria decision aid. It goes further to review the key smart and sustainable urban indicator systems and presents the indicator methodology to be used throughout this book. The chapter then reviews the Environment EuropeTM Sustainable Cities database. It then focuses on sustainability assessment for some of the most prominent global megacities: London, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, São Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo. The alternative city rankings are compared and linkages between different sustainability and smart city dimensions are explored. The chapter applies the ELECTRE III multi-criteria decision aid tool to a panel of twenty indicators. The proposed approach allows us to consider performance under four different policy priorities: environmental, economic, social and smart, changing the focus of the sustainability assessment. The results have shown that Singapore dominates the sustainability rankings under environmental policy priorities. Tokyo leads under economic and social priorities, and London and Tokyo under smart city priorities. The worst performing cities are Shanghai, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro. The chapter examines the innovative sustainability strategy and new governance structures that led Singapore to become the most sustainable city under environmental priorities and offers recommendations for the lower-ranking cities of Shanghai, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro. The assessment could be a valuable tool for policy makers and investors, and could help identify linkages between different sustainability dimensions, highlighting best practices as well as strategic opportunities in cities with sustainability potential.