Environmental Sustainability Assessment of the European Union’s Capital Cities

Abstract

The growing flow of people into cities causes several challenges for their functioning. This brings the need to ensure, for example, efficient transport, sustainable waste, and appropriate energy policy. Particularly capital cities are exposed to the above-mentioned risks, due to their large numbers and densities of inhabitants. Therefore, the state of the environment in cities should be monitored systematically. The research aim of this article is to evaluate the level of environmental sustainability in capitals of European Union countries. A synthetic indicator was made up of diagnostic variables, using quantitative and qualitative indicators relating to the quality of the environment. Based on the ranking, results reveal that Europe is spatially divided according to the level of environmental quality. The best results were achieved by capital cities of the northern European countries. The analysis presented here has some application potential. It can serve to identify challenges to improving the quality of the environment, and to raise public awareness of the importance of changing individual behaviour (e.g., use of public transport).

Using the Impact-WEB_GIS Platform to Assess the Impacts of Environmental Sustainability Public Policies in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

“…On another level, population growth negatively impacts the urban ecosystem, not only in the water sector but also in waste, energy, and public transport [21]. Hence, the topic of the circular economy is one of the most recent trends in the literature related to sustainability and is presented as a long-term solution to the waste management issues that have the potential to impact citizens' well-being [22,23].…”

Sustainable development issues of the Russian building industry as a private form of implementation of the concept of sustainable development

“…Однако, по мнению других авторов, методы моделирования, в сравнении со статистическими методами, недостаточно практичны -трудоемки, требуют компьютерной поддержки, недостаточно масштабируемы, трудно интерпретируются результаты [24]. Альтернативой расчету интегрального показатели устойчивого развития может служить однокомпонентная модель, предполагающая оценку только экологической устойчивости [25]. Евростат использует свою специальную методологию оценок достижения ЦУР и ежегодно публикует «Отчет о мониторинге устойчивого развития в Европейском союзе» [26].…”

Sustainable products and audit fees: empirical evidence from western European countries

“…Western European countries have shown increasing interest in and commitment to sustainability and sustainable development. Czupich et al (2022) indicated that European Union (EU) countries have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. In addition, they have more interest in quality of life and higher environmental rankings than cities on other continents.…”