The development of the evaluation model of climate changes and air pollution for sustainability of cities in Korea

Abstract Beginning the late 1980s, major cities in a number of nations have been making efforts to realize the concept of “sustainable development”. In South Korea, some theoretical studies, technology development and a case study on sustainable cities were also initiated. Such studies are believed to have made a significant contribution in enhancing the understanding of urban sustainability. Nevertheless, they were poor in presenting detailed methodologies on how to assess and create urban sustainability. This study aims at developing a model to assess urban sustainability. Given the vastness of data to be built as well as the time and financial constraints at hand, assessment indicators were chosen with a focus on elements affecting climate change and air pollution at an urban level. The developed model was applied to 57 case study cities out of 80 cities in South Korea in order to verify the applicability and feasibility of the model. Urban sustainability assessment model (USAM) is composed of three basic models: driving force, pressure, state, effect, response (DPSER) model, stage model, and the space size model. Unlike the past assessment system that was unclear in what and how to assess for assessing sustainability, the USAM presented in this study allows an organized and systematic analysis through the DPSER model. Furthermore, the stage model made it easy to formulate measures to create a sustainable city by understanding the development history and changes of a city as well as forecasting possible impacts. In addition, the space size model compares cities with different space sizes and also sets a relation between a nation and a city. It also offers a framework to define relations and to compare across nations or a nation with a city instead of simply viewing a city as a single unit. The USAM does not present the degree of urban sustainability as a final output. Instead, it generates and applies a series of processes and methods of assessment in an urban sustainability perspective. In the process, the development pattern of a city and its negative impact on environment will be understood and appropriate and effective countermeasures will be confirmed. Such a process establishes urban sustainability and may be used as a means for us to understand what specific actions we need to take in order to promote urban sustainability.