Bridging the gaps between theory and practice: a service niche approach to urban sustainability indicators
Urban sustainability indicators play an important role in helping policy-makers ensure the continued success of their cities. However, a review of current practice suggests that priority is often given to the measurability and policy relevance of these metrics. Their analytical validity - i.e. their ability to act as meaningful representations of the urban system and thus inform appropriate policy responses - is less certain. An examination of London's USIs confirms this gap between theory and practice and identifies vague definitions of urban sustainability as part of the problem. A 'service niche' approach to indicator selection is therefore outlined, using pervasive goal-oriented urban services such as energy or water systems to guide the selection of policy-relevant interconnected metrics. Strategies for expanding such niches to wider assessments of urban sustainability are also discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Year of publication: |
2008
|
---|---|
Authors: | Keirstead, James ; Leach, Matt |
Published in: |
Sustainable Development. - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., ISSN 0968-0802. - Vol. 16.2008, 5, p. 329-340
|
Publisher: |
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
Saved in:
Online Resource
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
Valuing power plant flexibility with CCS: the case of post-combustion capture retrofits
Chalmers, Hannah, (2012)
-
The Costs of Mitigating Climate Change
Anderson, Dennis, (2005)
-
Sustainable development management systems in global business organizations
Sealy, Ian, (2010)
- More ...