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Evaluation of urban metabolism based on emergy synthesis: A case study for Beijing (China)

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  • Zhang, Yan
  • Yang, Zhifeng
  • Yu, Xiangyi

Abstract

Cities (“urban superorganisms”) exhibit metabolic processes. Disturbance of these processes results from the high throughput of the socioeconomic system as a result of the flow of resources between it and its surroundings. Based on systematic ecology and emergy synthesis, we developed an emergy-based indicator system for evaluating urban metabolic factors (flux, structures, intensity, efficiency, and density), and evaluated the status of Beijing's environment and economic development by diagramming, accounting for, and analyzing the material, energy, and monetary flows within Beijing's metabolic system using biophysically based ecological accounting. We also compared the results with those of four other Chinese cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Baotou) and China as a whole to assess Beijing's development status. From 1990 to 2004, Beijing's metabolic flux, metabolic intensity, and metabolic density increased significantly. The city's metabolic processes depend excessively on nonrenewable resources, but the pressure on resources from outside of the city decreased continuously. The metabolic efficiency increased by around 12% annually throughout the study period. Beijing had a highest metabolic fluxes and density compared with the four other cities; its metabolic efficiency was lower, and its metabolic intensity was higher. Evaluating these metabolic indicators revealed weaknesses in the urban metabolic system, thereby helping planners to identify measures capable of sustaining these urban metabolic processes.

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  • Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Evaluation of urban metabolism based on emergy synthesis: A case study for Beijing (China)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(13), pages 1690-1696.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:13:p:1690-1696
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.04.002
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    1. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Ecological network and emergy analysis of urban metabolic systems: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(11), pages 1431-1442.
    2. Douglas, Ian & Hodgson, Rob & Lawson, Nigel, 2002. "Industry, environment and health through 200 years in Manchester," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 235-255, May.
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    1. Amaral, Luís P. & Martins, Nélson & Gouveia, Joaquim B., 2016. "A review of emergy theory, its application and latest developments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 882-888.
    2. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Chen, Bin, 2013. "Comprehensive evaluation of the structural characteristics of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 106-113.
    3. Meirong Su & Yan Zhang & Gengyuan Liu & Linyu Xu & Lixiao Zhang & Zhifeng Yang, 2013. "Urban Ecosystem Health Assessment: Perspectives and Chinese Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, November.
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    5. Antonio Barragán-Escandón & Julio Terrados-Cepeda & Esteban Zalamea-León, 2017. "The Role of Renewable Energy in the Promotion of Circular Urban Metabolism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-29, December.
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    7. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 272(C), pages 188-197.
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    12. Zhu, Y. & Huang, G.H. & Li, Y.P. & He, L. & Zhang, X.X., 2011. "An interval full-infinite mixed-integer programming method for planning municipal energy systems - A case study of Beijing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(8), pages 2846-2862, August.
    13. Qing Huang & Xinqi Zheng & Yecui Hu, 2015. "Analysis of Land-Use Emergy Indicators Based on Urban Metabolism: A Case Study for Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-19, June.
    14. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Fath, Brian D. & Li, Shengsheng, 2010. "Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(16), pages 1865-1879.
    15. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Liu, Gengyuan & Yu, Xiangyi, 2011. "Emergy analysis of the urban metabolism of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2377-2384.
    16. Schaubroeck, Thomas & Staelens, Jeroen & Verheyen, Kris & Muys, Bart & Dewulf, Jo, 2012. "Improved ecological network analysis for environmental sustainability assessment; a case study on a forest ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 144-156.
    17. Qu, Lili & Zhang, Tianzhu & Liang, Sai, 2013. "Waste management of urban agglomeration on a life cycle basis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 47-53.
    18. Cho, Cheol-Joo, 2013. "An exploration of reliable methods of estimating emergy requirements at the regional scale: Traditional emergy analysis, regional thermodynamic input–output analysis, or the conservation rule-implicit," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 288-296.
    19. Hall, Myrna H.P., 2011. "A preliminary assessment of socio-ecological metabolism for three neighborhoods within a rust belt urban ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 20-31.
    20. Keena, Naomi & Raugei, Marco & Aly Etman, Mohamed & Ruan, Daniel & Dyson, Anna, 2018. "Clark’s Crow: A design plugin to support emergy analysis decision making towards sustainable urban ecologies," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 367(C), pages 42-57.
    21. Zhanqi Wang & Ji Chai & Bingqing Li, 2016. "The Impacts of Land Use Change on Residents’ Living Based on Urban Metabolism: A Case Study in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-17, October.
    22. Fang, Wei & An, Haizhong & Li, Huajiao & Gao, Xiangyun & Sun, Xiaoqi & Zhong, Weiqiong, 2017. "Accessing on the sustainability of urban ecological-economic systems by means of a coupled emergy and system dynamics model: A case study of Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 326-337.
    23. Liu, Gengyuan & Yang, Zhifeng & Chen, Bin & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2014. "Emergy-based dynamic mechanisms of urban development, resource consumption and environmental impacts," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 271(C), pages 90-102.
    24. Chiu, Hao-Wei & Lee, Ying-Chieh & Huang, Shu-Li & Hsieh, Ya-Cheng, 2019. "How does peri-urbanization teleconnect remote areas? An emergy approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 403(C), pages 57-69.

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