Metabolism of megacities: A review and synthesis of the literature by Iain Stewart; Chris Kennedy; Angelo Facchini (2014)

Metabolism of megacities: A review and synthesis of the literature

Title

Metabolism of megacities: A review and synthesis of the literature

Author(s)

Iain D. Stewart

Christopher Kennedy

Angelo Facchini

Year

2014

Type

Journal Article

Source

ENEL Foundation, Working Paper #15/2014, Pages 45 pp.

Abstract

In the past half-century, megacities of more than 10 million people have become a
global phenomenon. The need for urban metabolism studies in these giant cities is critical because they
consume a disproportionate share of the world's resources. However, the full extent to which the
urban metabolism has been documented in megacities is largely unknown. In this
paper, we take stock of the metabolism literature in megacities and search for
geographical and historical themes therein. We procured more than 100 English-language
studies on the energy, material, waste, and water flows in the world's biggest cities,
and through review and synthesis of this work, we extracted three generalizations. First, the
metabolism of megacities has been investigated for changes across temporal scales (diurnal,
monthly, annual), which testifies to the dynamic nature of urban energy and material flows. Second,
the metabolism of megacities is equally well documented for changes across spatial scales (local,
regional, global), revealing disparities in resource flows and quality of life within and among
megacities. Third, literature on the metabolism of megacities in low/middle income regions is
characteristically recent, with much of the research produced in the past 10 years and focused
primarily on municipal solid waste. The role of the informal sector to help reduce solid waste
flows is an important subtheme of that literature. This review will enhance understanding and
awareness of the urban metabolism — especially in low/middle income regions—and help to facilitate
research into sustainable urban development in megacities.

Keywords: urban metabolism, megacity, energy, utilities

More Information

https://iainstew.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/wp15_metabolism_of_megacities_stewart_kennedy_facchini.pdf

Metabolism of megacities: A review and synthesis of the literature

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