2 Reassessment of Urban Sustainability …
35
then several dimensions of urban sustainability have emerged. The ecological footprint analysis involving energy and material consumption and waste discharge of the
defined population of selected urban areas reveals that though it apparently seemed
sustainable there is growing competition over the usage of natural capital raising
questions about equity and sustainability. Bioregionalism—which can be a tool for
sustainability refers to a place primarily defined by its life forms, topography and
biota rather than by human dictates, i.e. a region governed by nature, not legislature
and bioregional mapping is also done for local empowerment. To safeguard the right
of food democracy the future plans need to be flexible having combined land use and
creating land reserves for productive green space.
There have been concerted efforts for global mainstreaming of urban sustainability—through several initiatives like ‘eco-city’, ‘ecological city’, ‘zero-carbon
city’, ‘solar city’, ‘smart city’ and ‘sustainable city’ were taken but needed certain
internationally accepted specifications and standards.
2.3.1 Eco-City
Engwicht [18] advocated that eco-cities should encourage inventions for maximising
exchange and minimising travel. Urban Ecology [60] formulated ten principles to be
followed by ecological cities, one of which was revised land-use priorities to create
compact, diverse and green environment. According to the global census of eco-city
initiatives, there are 178 eco-city initiatives under development [30]. The goals of
urban sustainability involve several environmental, economic and social elements in
relation to urban settings. However, more emphasis was given on the environmental
parameters than the social ones and the prime goal became to reduce greenhouse gas
emission. The threefold governance function of eco-sustainability indicators involves
definitional work like conceptualising and designing, performance assessment like
monitoring and implementation along with social learning through encouragement
of local knowledge and practices.
2.3.2 Smart City
The origin of the concept of smart cities can be traced back to the Smart Growth
Movement of the late 1990s [41]. Urban development can be achieved by judicious use of human, collective and technological capital. Metropolitan areas across
the globe have taken several initiatives to develop urban infrastructure and services
intending to improve upon socio-economic conditions, environmental status and
competitiveness of the cities. While pursuing these goals the concept of ‘intelligent
cities’ came in where usage of technology was higher and it was taken to be the
predecessor of smart cities. The term smart is a feature rather than a sign of performance where the main characteristics of smart cities are usage of digital information
35
then several dimensions of urban sustainability have emerged. The ecological footprint analysis involving energy and material consumption and waste discharge of the
defined population of selected urban areas reveals that though it apparently seemed
sustainable there is growing competition over the usage of natural capital raising
questions about equity and sustainability. Bioregionalism—which can be a tool for
sustainability refers to a place primarily defined by its life forms, topography and
biota rather than by human dictates, i.e. a region governed by nature, not legislature
and bioregional mapping is also done for local empowerment. To safeguard the right
of food democracy the future plans need to be flexible having combined land use and
creating land reserves for productive green space.
There have been concerted efforts for global mainstreaming of urban sustainability—through several initiatives like ‘eco-city’, ‘ecological city’, ‘zero-carbon
city’, ‘solar city’, ‘smart city’ and ‘sustainable city’ were taken but needed certain
internationally accepted specifications and standards.
2.3.1 Eco-City
Engwicht [18] advocated that eco-cities should encourage inventions for maximising
exchange and minimising travel. Urban Ecology [60] formulated ten principles to be
followed by ecological cities, one of which was revised land-use priorities to create
compact, diverse and green environment. According to the global census of eco-city
initiatives, there are 178 eco-city initiatives under development [30]. The goals of
urban sustainability involve several environmental, economic and social elements in
relation to urban settings. However, more emphasis was given on the environmental
parameters than the social ones and the prime goal became to reduce greenhouse gas
emission. The threefold governance function of eco-sustainability indicators involves
definitional work like conceptualising and designing, performance assessment like
monitoring and implementation along with social learning through encouragement
of local knowledge and practices.
2.3.2 Smart City
The origin of the concept of smart cities can be traced back to the Smart Growth
Movement of the late 1990s [41]. Urban development can be achieved by judicious use of human, collective and technological capital. Metropolitan areas across
the globe have taken several initiatives to develop urban infrastructure and services
intending to improve upon socio-economic conditions, environmental status and
competitiveness of the cities. While pursuing these goals the concept of ‘intelligent
cities’ came in where usage of technology was higher and it was taken to be the
predecessor of smart cities. The term smart is a feature rather than a sign of performance where the main characteristics of smart cities are usage of digital information