Cities as ecosystems: Growth, development and implications for sustainability

摘要: Abstract Prescriptions for a more sustainable society are usually piecemeal. They inspired by single issue criteria, no matter if sustainability is, rather, whole system trait as it pertains to growth and development, that overall attributes. In this paper urban is discussed in perspective using the ecosystem approach framework. This required systems were described flow networks investigated through ecological network analysis. Three cities case study their representation concerned water flows identified knowing exchanges between city components (i.e. sectors of human activity). Network analysis yielded level indices condense complexity structure (representing system's metabolism) few measures provide information on how grow develop; such they allow explore at scale. For every present compared with an alternative scenario envisioned considering policies foster sustainability. The results show although all scenarios would improve reducing consumption, effects may diverge from expectation. Because depends balance organization (order coherence flows) flexibility (redundancy connections), reshaping bring about reduction both these fundamental properties, negative propensity be sustainable. System holistic unveil relation internal processes performance. Understanding crucial because former target environmental but sustainability, objective policies, trait.