Rodrigues, M and Franco, M (2023) The role of citizens and transformation of energy, water, and waste infrastructure for an intelligent, sustainable environment in cities. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 12(2), pp. 385-406. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to list indicators to allow construction of a ranking for environmental sustainability in towns and cities, in relation to energy and water consumption and the prevention, production and management of waste. A systematization of theoretical and empirical indices was elaborated, focused on this dimension. Design/methodology/approach: The results allow presentation of a ranking supported by multivariate statistical techniques – Exploratory Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis – confirming its scientific quality and robustness, with this being the main contribution of the study. Findings: The analysis of the ranking revealed the great heterogeneity of towns and cities in Portugal, with the city of Lisbon and the town of Sardoal in the Top 20, suggesting that the achievement of the goal of environmental sustainability is proactively associated with the ability to articulate resources with infrastructure and the strategic and political will applied, being essential the appeal to the individual awareness of each citizen, even if the design of green infrastructures does not depend on citizens' behavior. This means that redesigned green infrastructures may exist, but their success depends. In addition, cities are increasingly moving toward a circular economy articulated holistically with open and participatory governance. Practical implications: The empirical evidence obtained in the Portuguese context provides some implications for practice, by showing it is possible to counteract the negative effects of rapid urban growth and its environmental consequences in urban and non-urban areas. Originality/value: The main contribution and innovation of this study lie in the presentation of empirical evidence that the population density of a city or town does not have a cause–effect relationship with its level of environmental sustainability.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; cities; energy; environmental sustainability; hard infrastructure |
| Index terms: | evidence, methodology, urban area, population, environmental sustainability, water consumption, exploratory factor analysis, principal component analysis, Lisbon, prevention, dimension, governance, density, circular economy, Portugal, transformation, green infrastructure, urban growth |
| Subjects: | demography, statistical analysis, research methods, urban form and morphology, financial risk, sustainable design, health safety and environment, Geography, environmental resource management, sustainability and resilience, analytical methods, health monitoring assessment and metrics, business, evaluation and assessment methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Governance, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here