Urban metabolism, footprints, sustainability, and net primary production

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review approaches and concepts for urban metabolism, footprints and sustainability and to review some evidence for the effects of urban metabolism on ecosystem services, represented here by the net primary production. The article first reviews some studies on urban metabolism and urban ecological footprints.

Then it develops some ideas on urban sustainability with regard to the pressures exerted by the socio-environmental metabolism of urban areas. Finally, effects of urbanization, urban metabolism and urban processes on net primary production are briefly outlined.

Keywords

• ecosystem services
• human appropriation of net primary production
• urban metabolism
• ecological footprint