Urban metabolism

Giuseppe Ioppolo

Chapter 180 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 678-682 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The voice of encyclopedia provides a comprehensive examination of Urban Metabolism (UM), clarifying its significance in comprehending the complex dynamics of urban systems. It begins by pinpointing cities as complex, interconnected systems with global impacts, outlining the challenges they pose for sustainable development. Furthermore, the evolution of UM from its beginnings in Karl Marx's framework to contemporary explanations by scholars such as Wolman, Fischer-Kowalski, Brunner and Rechberger, and Christopher Kennedy is defined. UM encompasses the analyses of flows involving natural and industrial materials, energy, people, and information. Several methodologies to quantify UM are considered including Material Flow Account (MFA), the more significant, Energy Analysis, Ecological Footprint (EF), Ecological Network Analysis (ENA), Integrated Multivariate Analysis Methodology of ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM), Input-Output Financial Charts (EIO), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Identified challenges comprise data availability, insufficient follow-up and evaluation of a city's UM evolution, and challenges in identifying cause-and-effect relationships within metabolic flows. Moreover, the text underlines the potential synergy between UM and the Circular Economy (CE) concept, highlighting their role in promoting resource efficiency and sustainability in urban contexts. Finally, the voice focuses on the responsibility of policymakers, planners, and developers in furthering more circular cities and regions, advocating for strategies that favor urban sustainability.

Keywords: Urban Metabolism; Material Flow Account (MFA); Cities; Sustainable Urban Development; Circular Economy; Circular Cities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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