Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Global Urbanization and Demand for Natural Resources

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Carbon Sequestration in Urban Ecosystems

Abstract

The global urban population is now increasing at an unprecedented rate, creating tremendous stress on local, regional, and global environments and natural resources. Over half of humanity currently lives in cities and this proportion is expected to increase to nearly 60% over the next 40 years. Urbanization is changing the way humans consume natural sources and is transforming land use. This chapter investigates global urbanization and increased urban demand for natural resources. Land use changes introduced by global urbanization and their impacts on environments and natural resources are explored. Concepts and methodologies for framing global urbanization and demand for natural resources, such as urban metabolism, ecological footprint, lifecycle analysis, and their recent applications are reviewed. The importance of innovative planning and management of urban development to minimize the resource demands of cities by reducing energy and material inflows and closing the urban metabolism loop is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

GHG:

Greenhouse gas emissions

IEA:

International Energy Agency

LCA:

Life cycle assessment

NPS:

Non-point source

OECD:

Organization for Economic and Co-operation and Development

UHIs:

Urban heat islands

UN:

United Nations

References

  • Aguilar AG (2008) Peri-urbanization, illegal settlements and environmental impact in Mexico City. Cities 25(3):133–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M (2005) The effects of urban patterns on ecosystem function. Int Reg Sci Rev 28(2):168–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M, Marzluff JM, Shulenberger E, Bradley G, Ryan C, Zumrrunnen C (2003) Integrating humans into ecosystems: opportunities and challenges for urban ecology. Bioscience 53(12):1169–1179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M, Booth D, Hill K, Coburn B, Avolio C, Coe S, Daniele S (2007) The impact of urban patterns on aquatic ecosystems: an empirical analysis in Puget lowland sun-basins. Landsc Urban Plan 80:345–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alongi DM (2002) Present state and future of the world’s mangrove forests. Environ Conserv 29:331–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alphan H (2003) Land-use change and urbanization of Adana, Turkey. Land Degrad Dev 14(6):575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angel S, Sheppard S, Civco D et al (2005) The dynamics of global urban expansion. Transport and Urban Development Department, World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Antrop M, Van Eetvelde V (2000) Holistic aspects of suburban landscapes: visual image interpretation and landscape metrics. Landsc Urban Plan 50:43–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atmis E, Özden S, Lise W (2007) Urbanization pressures on the natural forests in Turkey: an overview. Urban For Urban Green 6:83–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao C, Fang C (2007) Water resources constraint force on urbanization in water deficient regions: a case study of the Hexi Corridor, arid area of NW China. Ecol Econ 62:508–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batisani N, Yarnal B (2009) Urban expansion in centre county, Pennsylvania: spatial dynamics and landscape transformations. Appl Geogr 29(2):235–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson M, Shen YJ, Oki TA (2006) SRES-based gridded global population dataset for 1990–2100. Popul Environ 28(2):113–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biwas AK (2006) Water management for major urban centres. Water Resour Dev 22(2):183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton E (2002) Measuring urban compactness in UK towns and cities. Environ Plan B Plan Des 29:219–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cain NL, Gleick PH (2005) The global water crisis. Issues Sci Technol 21:79–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2007) Rapid urbanization in China: a real challenge to soil protection and food security. Catena 69:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Couch C, Karecha J (2006) Controlling urban sprawl: some experiences from Liverpool. Cities 23:353–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cousins M, Hoffman T, Allsopp N, Rohde RF (2007) A synthesis of sociological and biological perspectives on sustainable land use in Namaqualand. J Arid Environ 70(4):834–846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeFries RS, Rudel T, Uriarte M, Hansen M (2010) Deforestation driven by urban population growth and agricultural trade in the twenty-first century. Nat Geosci 3:178–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewan AM, Yamaguchi Y (2008) Land use and land cover change in greater Dhaka, Bangladesh: using remote sensing to promote sustainable urbanization. Appl Geogr 29:390–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas I (2006) Peri-urban ecosystems and societies transitional zones and contrasting values. In: McGregor D, Simon D, Thompson D (eds) Peri-urban interface: approaches to sustainable natural and human resource use. Earthscan Publications Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ducrot R, Page CL, Bommel P, Kuper M (2004) Articulating land and water dynamics with urbanization: an attempt to model natural resources management at the urban edge. Comput Environ Urban Syst 28:85–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezcurra E (ed) (2006) Global deserts outlook. UNEP, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley JA, DeFries R, Asner GP et al (2005) Global consequences of land use. Science 309:570–574

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frenkel A, Maya A (2008) Measuring urban sprawl: how can we deal with it? Environ Plan B Plan Des 35:56–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu BJ, Hu CX, Chen LD et al (2006) Evaluating change in agricultural landscape pattern between 1980 and 2000 in the Loess hilly region of Ansai County, China. Agric Ecosyst Environ 114:387–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleick PH (2003) Water use. Annu Rev Environ Resour 28:275–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gober P (2010) Desert urbanization and challenges of water sustainability. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 2:144–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gober P, Brazel A, Quay R et al (2010) Using watered landscapes to manipulate urban heat island effects: how much water will it take to cool Phoenix? J Am Plann Assoc 76(1):109–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory PJ, Ingram JSI (2000) Global change and food and forest production: future scientific challenges. Agric Ecosyst Environ 82:3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm NB, Grove JM, Pickett STA, Redman CL (2000) Integrated approaches to long-term studies of urban ecological systems. Bioscience 50:571–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimm NB, Faeth SH, Golubiewski NE et al (2008) Global change and the ecology of cities. Science 319(5864):756–760

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grimmond S (2007) Urbanization and global environmental change: local effects of urban warming. Geogr J 173:83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güneralp B, Seto KC (2008) Environmental impacts of urban growth from an integrated dynamic perspective: a case study of Shenzhen, South China. Glob Environ Change 18(4):720–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haase D (2003) Holocene floodplains and their distribution in urban areas – functionality indicators for their retention potentials. Landsc Urban Plan 66:5–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haase D (2009) Effects of urbanization on the water balance – a long-term trajectory. Environ Impact Assess Rev 29:211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardoy JE, Mitlin D, Satterthwaite D (2001) Environmental problems in an urbanizing world: finding solutions for cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi T, Tokunaga T, Aichi M et al (2009) Effects of human activities and urbanization on groundwater environments: an example from the aquifer system of Tokyo and the surrounding area. Sci Total Environ 406:3165–3172

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoekstra A, Chapagain AK (2007) Water footprints of nations: water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resour Manage 21:35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu D, Huang SL, Feng Q et al (2009) Relationships between rapid urban development and the appropriation of ecosystems in Jiangyin City, Eastern China. Landsc Urban Plan 87:180–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang SL, Chen CW (2009) Urbanization and socioeconomic metabolism in Taipei: an energy synthesis. J Ind Ecol 13:75–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang SL, Hsu WL (2003) Material flow analysis and energy evaluation of Taipei’s urban construction. Landsc Urban Plan 63:61–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang SL, Wong JH, Chen TC (1998) A framework of indicator system for measuring Taipei’s urban sustainability. Landsc Urban Plan 42:15–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang SL, Lee CL, Chen CW (2006) Socioeconomic metabolism in Taiwan: energy synthesis versus material flow analysis. Resour Conserv Recycl 48:166–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubacek K, Guan D, Barret J (2009) Environmental implications of urbanization and lifestyle change in China: ecological and water footprints. J Cleaner Prod 17(14):1241–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Energy Agency (IEA) (2008) World energy outlook 2008. IEA/OECD, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jenerette GD, Larson L (2006) A global perspective on changing sustainable urban water supplies. Glob Planet Change 50:202–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenerette GD, Wu W, Goldsmith S, Marussich WA et al (2006) Contrasting water footprints of cities in China and the United States. Ecol Econ 57:346–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenks M, Burton E, Williams K (eds) (2000) The compact city: a sustainable urban form? Oxford Brookes University, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DW (2004) Urbanization and energy. Encyclopedia of energy. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp 329–335

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jury WA, Vaux JH (2005) The role of science in solving the world’s emerging water problems. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102(44):15715–15720

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy CA, Cuddihy J, Engel-Yan J (2007) The changing metabolism of cities. J Ind Ecol 11:43–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp KC, Weinberg M, Howitt R, Posnikoff JF (2003) Water transfer, agriculture, and groundwater management: a dynamic economic analysis. J Environ Manage 67:291–301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langpap C, Wu J (2008) Predicting the effect of land-use policies on wildlife habitat abundance. Can J Agric Econ 56:195–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin GCS, Ho SPS (2003) China’s land resources and land-use change: insights from the 1996 land survey. Land Use Policy 20:87–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y (2009) Exploring the relationship between urbanization and energy consumption in China using ARDL and FDM. Energy 34(11):1846–1854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JG, Dietz T, Carpenter SR, Folke C et al (2007) Coupled human and natural systems. Ambio 36(8):639–649

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YS, Wang LJ, Long HL (2008) Spatio-temporal analysis of land-use conversion in the eastern coastal China during 1996–2005. J Geogr Sci 18:274–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YS, Wang JY, Long HL (2010) Analysis of arable land loss and its impact on rural sustainability in Southern Jiangsu Province of China. J Environ Manage 91:646–653

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luck M, Wu J (2002) A gradient analysis of urban landscape pattern: a case study form the Phoenix metropolitan region, Arizona, USA. Landsc Ecol 17:327–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luck MA, Jenerette GD, Wu JG, Grimm NB (2001) The urban funnel model and the spatially heterogeneous ecological footprint. Ecosystems 4:782–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madlener R, Sunak Y (2011) Impacts of urbanization on urban structures and energy demand: what can we learn for urban energy planning and urbanization management? Sustain Cities Soc 1:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald RI (2008) Global urbanization: can ecologists identify a sustainable way forward? Front Ecol Environ 6(2):99–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald GW, Patterson MG (2004) Ecological footprints and interdependencies of New Zealand regions. Ecol Econ 50:49–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGranahan G, Marcotullio P, Bai X et al (2006) Urban systems. In: Hassan R, Scholes R, Ash N (eds) Ecosystems and human well-being: current state and trends. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (2004) The global change of continental aquatic systems: dominant impacts of human activities. Water Sci Technol 49:73–83

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mora EP (2007) Life cycle, sustainability and the transcendent quality of building materials. Build Environ 42:1329–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morello J, Buzai GD, Baxendale CA et al (2000) Urbanization and the consumption of fertile land and other ecological changes: the case of Buenos Aires. Environ Urban 12:119–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2001) OECD environmental indicators: towards sustainable development. OECD, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Ooi GL (2009) Challenges of sustainability for Asian urbanization. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 21:187–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pacione M (2009) Urban geography-a global perspective. Routledge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Parikh J, Shukla V (1995) Urbanization, energy use and greenhouse effects in economic development – results from a cross-national study of developing countries. Glob Environ Change 5(2):87–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parnell S, Simon D, Vogel C (2007) Global environmental change: conceptualizing the growing challenge for cities in poor countries. Area 39(3):357–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrish DD, Zhu T (2009) Clean air for megacities. Science 326(30):674–675

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pino J, Roda F, Ribas J, Pons X (2000) Landscape structure and bird species richness: implications for conservation in rural area between natural parks. Landsc Urban Plan 49:35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Postel SL, Daily GC, Ehrlich PR (1996) Human appropriation of renewable fresh water. Science 271(5250):785–788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quan B, Zhu H, Romkens MJ (2007) Land suitability assessment and land use change in Fujian Province, China. Pedosphere 17:493–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees W (1992) Ecological footprint and appropriated carrying capacity: what urban economics leaves out. Environ Urban 4(2):121–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Register R (2002) Ecocities: building cities in balance with nature. New Society Publishers, Gabriola

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren WW, Zhong Y, Meligrana J et al (2003) Urbanization, land use, and water quality in Shanghai 1947–1996. Environ Int 29(5):649–659

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santoro A, Blo G, Mastrolitti S, Fagioli F (2009) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by aquatic macroinvertebrates along the Basento River in the South of Italy. Water Air Soil Pollut 201:19–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider A, Woodcock CE (2008) Compact, dispersed, fragmented, extensive? A comparison of urban growth in twenty-five global cities using remotely sensed data, pattern metrics and census information. Urban Stud 45:659–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seto KC, Satterthwaite D (2010) Interactions between urbanization and global environmental change. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 2:127–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seto KC, Shepherd JM (2009) Global urban land-use trends and climate impacts. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 1:89–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen L, Chen S, Gunson AJ, Wan H (2005) Urbanization, sustainability and the utilization of energy and mineral resources in China. Cities 22(4):287–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen WJ, Wu JG, Grimm NB, Hope D (2008) Effects of urbanization-induced environmental changes on ecosystem functioning in the phoenix metropolitan region, USA. Ecosystems 11:138–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simon D (2008) Urban environments: issues on the peri-urban fringe. Annu Rev Environ Resour 33:167–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Zhang Q, Lee Y (2004) Water problems brought out by citifying construction and measures. J Water Resour Eng 5:55–58 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Suthar S, Nema A, Chabukdhara M, Gupta SA (2009) Assessment of metals in water and sediments of Hindon River, India: impact of industrial and urban discharges. J Hazard Mater 171(1–3):1088–1095

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Z, Engel BA, Pijanowski BC, Lim KJ (2005) Forecasting land use change and its environmental impact at a watershed scale. J Environ Manage 76:35–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tortajada C (2008) Challenges and realities of water management in megacities: the case of Mexico City metropolitan area. J Int Aff 61(2):147–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Tudhope AW et al (2001) Variability in the El Nino-Southern oscillation through a glacial–interglacial cycle. Science 291(5508):1511–1517

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UN Population Division (UNPD) (2011) World urbanization prospects: the 2009 revision population database. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/unup/

    Google Scholar 

  • UN Population Division (UNPD) (2011) World urbanization prospects: the 2009 revision population database. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/unup/

  • United Nations (2001) World urbanization prospects. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • van Beek C, Meerburg BG, Schils RLM, Verhagen J, Kuikman PJ (2010) Feeding the world’s increasing population while limiting climate change impacts: linking N2O and CH4 emissions from agriculture to population growth. Environ Sci Policy 13:89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varis O, Biswas AK, Tortajada C, Lundqvist J (2006) Megacities and water management. Int J Water Resour Dev 22:377–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vo PL (2007) Urbanization and water management in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-issues, challenges and perspectives. GeoJournal 70:75–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vorosmarty CJ, Sahagian D (2000) Anthropogenic disturbance of the terrestrial water cycle. Bioscience 50(9):753–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vorosmarty CJ, Meybeck M, Fekete B, Sharma K, Green P, Syvitski JPM (2003) Anthropogenic sediment retention: major global impact from registered river impoundments. Glob Planet Change 39:169–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wackernagel M, Rees W (1996) Our ecological footprint: reducing human impact on the earth. New Society Publishers, Gabriela Island

    Google Scholar 

  • Wackernagel M, Kitzes J, Moran D, Goldfinger S, Thomas M (2006) The ecological footprint of cities and regions: comparing resource availability with resource demand. Environ Urban 18(1):103–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolman A (1965) The metabolism of cities. Sci Am 213:179–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu YM, Su YF, Zhang L (2006) Economic structure transformation and land use change of the Changjiang River Basin. Chin Geogr Sci 16:289–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Li X (2000) Cultivated land and food supply in China. Land Use Policy 17:73–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZH, Chen BX, Chen ZK, Xu XY (1992) Challenges to and opportunities for development of China water resources in the 21st-century. Water Int 17(1):21–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu ZY, Zhou HY, Ouyang TP et al (2001) Water shortage: a serious problem in sustainable development of China. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 8(3):233–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Urban Planning, National Taipei University, 151, University Rd., San-Shia Dist., New Taipei City, 23741, Taiwan, R.O.C

    Chia-Tsung Yeh & Shu-Li Huang

Authors
  1. Chia-Tsung Yeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shu-Li Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chia-Tsung Yeh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. OARDC, Carbon Management &, Ohio State University, Coffey Road 2021, Columbus, 43210, Ohio, USA

    Rattan Lal

  2. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Scottslawn Road 14111, Marysville, 43041, Ohio, USA

    Bruce Augustin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Yeh, CT., Huang, SL. (2012). Global Urbanization and Demand for Natural Resources. In: Lal, R., Augustin, B. (eds) Carbon Sequestration in Urban Ecosystems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2366-5_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation