The Approach to Major Cities Environmental Performance Measurement

Abstract

In the context of rapid urbanization, major cities in developing countries aspire to economic growth, which provides enhancing the quality of life without harming the environment. Due to this, they urgently need the indicators and tools of environmental performance, aimed at reducing the influence on environment, enhancing environmental condition and taking steps for envrionmental protection. The paper introduces an approach to environmental performance measurement of major cities of developing countries. It is stated that environmental performance is a multidimensional construct and is determined by the relative ecological compatibility of city functioning within the sustainability of city environment and the scope of environmental management activities. A versatile multilevel system of the major cities environmental performance indicators is suggested, which covers the basic characteristics of environmental performance. The method of calculation of the Environmental performance index of major cities is developed. The distinctive feature of the method is the fact that it includes the mechanisms for motivating major cities to reduce negative environmental influence and to enhance environmental protection as well as the mechanisms for monitoring environmental sustainability. As a result of application of the suggested method to the data of the major cities of Russia for 3 years, a practical result is obtained in the form of ranking of the major cities by the composite environmental performance index. Based on the analysis of ranking, the leaders and outsiders are defined among the cities and their main characteristics are determined. Future areas of research are proposed.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s7p333