Useful indicators of urban sustainability: Some methodological issues

摘要: This paper considers methodological questions concerning indicators of sustainability, which have arisen in the course an EPSRC‐supported project investigating a systems approach to assessing sustainability cities. The aimed: (a) develop methodology, Reference Sustainability System (RSS), for representing energy, resource and material flows, on environmental cities depends; (b) show how this methodology could contribute more systematic assessment potential technological management strategies enhance urban sustainability. Systems models or flows caused by household demand paper, water bottled been constructed. has highlighted complexity contributions specific technologies enhanced Particular issues raised include relative merits problems using externality valuation methods compared physical indicators, difficulties aggregating impacts, question where system boundaries should be drawn life cycle analysis, need consider both distant local impacts arise from end‐use demands populations. explores these issues, through use modelling results case studies. emphasis is placed communication research policy makers, interested organisations public, drawing recent experience with dissemination project's first study relating waste‐paper options.