Mid Sweden University

H.T. Odum did not use explicitly the concepts of sustainability or sustainable development in his writings to any large extent. This is not surprising since the concepts were not established until late in his career. When he explicitly used the concepts, his focus was mainly on pulsing patterns, where oscillations can form a quasi-steady state when considered over a longer period. For humanity Odum showed special interest in the descent phase of the current extraordinary fossil fuel pulse, and used the concept ”a prosperous way down” to address the possibilities alongside the challenges in this phase. Not using the concepts did not mean that Odum was not interested in the concepts. On the contrary, Odum’s legacy does include features that are important to other parts of the sustainability debate beyond just a possible descent. Of high interest is the normalization procedure that merge natural science based flows of energy, matter, and information, with flows of money, and present them all in the same unit: solar emjoules (sej). This aspect and the strong network focus aspect in Odum’s publications render his analyses as highly relevant to sustainability questions. Two main aspects of sustainable development and sustainability not addressed by Odum were considered and addressed in this paper with H.T. Odum’s Energy Systems Language: 1) economic capital substitution connected to the paradigms strong and weak sustainability, and 2) limits or no limits. Of them only the paradigm of limits was found to have been addressed by H.T. Odum.

Changing from linear to circular economy is now regularly mentioned as part of the solution to global warming, because resource extraction and processing cause half of the greenhouse gas emissions globally. Concrete is the most used human-made material by weight. In this study, three scenarios were modelled for a mid-sized Swedish city: a baseline scenario with business as usual, and two scenarios with increased circularity. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate their resource use and environmental impacts. The results show that the more circular scenarios correspond to lower resource use and reduced environmental impacts compared to the linear baseline scenario. Reductions for impact categories related to climate change (−35%), fossil fuel energy use (−27%), mineral and metal use (−51%), land use (−53%), and water use (−43%) were found in the most circular scenario, as well as for the other environmental impact categories (17%–39%) that were part of the analysis. Most of the impact reductions to climate change (80%–84%), can be attributed to the reduction in the use of Portland cement in concrete through supplementing it with other (by-)products. The avoidance of the landfilling of concrete waste contributed mostly to the reduction of the fossil energy (47%–54%), land (63%–88%), and water (46%–67%) use impact categories. Using recycled concrete aggregate, instead of natural aggregate as an ingredient in new concrete, contributed to much of the reduction achieved in the mineral and metal use impact category (67%–85%). Even though circular scenarios might increase the need for more transport and processing, which can lead to higher impacts, the results from this study show them unlikely to negate the overall impact reduction achieved by the circular strategies. Although dependent on local variables, this study indicates that more circularity can be achieved in the concrete industry, even for materials that are dealt with in high volumes such as concrete, while simultaneously increasing sustainability in the form of reduced environmental impacts. 

The integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) leads to complex relationships that can be divided into synergies and trade-offs. This paper uses the Swedish region Jämtland Härjedalen as an example of how knowledge of synergies and trade-offs can be used in the work with Agenda 2030, by identifying interactions between 15 targets relevant to the region. The methodology follows the SDG interaction framework, and the results are presented in a cross-impact matrix that visualizes interaction between targets and identifies which targets have the most and the least positive influence on the network. The analysis shows that most of the interactions are synergistic but highlights a few important trade-offs, related to land use and the use of natural resources. Working with the SDGs on a regional level comes with certain difficulties related to scale and complexity, but the method may be a good first step and lead to better-informed decision-making.

Urban Metabolism is a metaphor that allows us to look at the city as a living organism. Just like an organism, the city requires food and water for its existence and turns them into wastes. Having information on how much of certain material is flowing in and out of the city, can create a picture of its efficiency. In 1965, Abel Wolman put up an urban metabolism model for an assumed North American city with a population of 1 million inhabitants, evaluating material in- and outflows per unit of capital use. Making cities sustainable is about using materials at a rate that allows the surroundings to replenish them. They should also be able to handle the city’s waste so that it does not accumulate and pollutes. In that way, adjusting or re-using flows can improve a city’s sustainability and research on urban metabolism can point out where these changes are needed. As a start for urban metabolism research in the city of Östersund, located in the mountains of mid Sweden, a small literature review accompanied with a small first assessment of the metabolism of the city were performed. The urban metabolism concept has developed a lot since the first attempts by Wolman and others. 1) Internal throughflows have been developed; 2) a focus on consumption patterns, e.g. with the ecological footprint approach; 3) environmental impact, assessed with e.g. LCA; 4) ecosystem approaches, based on an energy backbone as e.g. emergy accounting, but also dynamic ecosystem approaches; 5) spatial aspects addressed with GIS assessment; 6) urban planning and design approaches; 7) social-industrial ecology; 8) urban ecology approaches; 9) urban political ecology approaches; 10) ecological economics. Notable is also that there is not yet a standardized framework. The first rough assessment of metabolism of the city of Östersund reveals that 1) the total use of technical energy is divided equally between transports, heating, and electricity use; 2) electricity is locally produced, but only to the extent of 0.25%. The locally produced electricity is to 94% of renewable type; 3) imported food and agricultural products is estimated at 40000 tonnes; 4) annual freshwater use is ca 8 million cubic meters, most of it used by households. Ca 6.7 million cubic meter finds its way to the wastewater treatment plant; 5) solid waste is estimated at 200 000 tonnes, with construction waste as the largest fraction; 6) natural energies flowing through the town are estimated at 33 TWh of solar insolation. As seen from the literature review, the further research of the urban metabolism of Östersund can take many routes. So far, the first steps of the so-called MEFA approach have been taken, but methods focused on the spatial, ecological, social, and political aspects of urban metabolism can still be added to enhance the analysis. SDG targets: 11. Sustainable cities and communities. Conference target, “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COURAGE: CULTURE, ARTAND HUMAN RIGHTS”, is addressed indirectly with the focus at the city level, a maincultural hotspot in the landscape.

Urban Metabolism is a metaphor that allows us to look at the city as a living organism. Just like an organism, the city requires food and water for its existence and turns them into wastes. Having information on how much of certain material is flowing in and out of the city, can create a picture of its efficiency. In 1965, Abel Wolman put up an urban metabolism model for an assumed North American city with a population of 1 million inhabitants, evaluating material in- and outflows per unit of capital use. 

Making cities sustainable is about using materials at a rate that allows the surroundings to replenish them. They should also be able to handle the city’s waste so that it does not accumulate and pollutes. In that way, adjusting or re-using flows can improve a city’s sustainability and research on urban metabolism can point out where these changes are needed.

As a start for urban metabolism research in the city of Östersund, located in the mountains of mid Sweden, a small literature review accompanied with a small first assessment of the metabolism of the city were performed. 

The urban metabolism concept has developed a lot since the first attempts by Wolman and others. 1) Internal throughflows have been developed; 2) a focus on consumption patterns, e.g. with the ecological footprint approach; 3) environmental impact, assessed with e.g. LCA; 4) ecosystem approaches, based on an energy backbone as e.g. emergy accounting, but also dynamic ecosystem approaches; 5) spatial 

aspects addressed with GIS assessment; 6) urban planning and design approaches; 7) social-industrial ecology; 8) urban ecology approaches; 9) urban political ecology approaches; 10) ecological economics. Notable is also that there is not yet a standardized framework. 

The first rough assessment of metabolism of the city of Östersund reveals that 1) the total use of technical energy is divided equally between transports, heating, and electricity use; 2) electricity is locally produced, but only to the extent of 0.25%. The locally produced electricity is to 94% of renewable type; 3) imported food and agricultural products is estimated at 40 000 tonnes; 4) annual freshwater use is ca 8 million cubic meters, most of it used by households. Ca 6.7 million cubic meter finds its way to the wastewater treatment plant; 5) solid waste is estimated at 200 000 tonnes, with construction waste as the largest fraction; 6) natural energies flowing through the town are estimated at 33 TWh of solar insolation. 

As seen from the literature review, the further research of the urban metabolism of Östersund can take many routes. So far, the first steps of the so-called MEFA approach have been taken, but methods focused on the spatial, ecological, social, and political aspects of urban metabolism can still be added to enhance the analysis.

Biodiversity is increasingly identified as one of the major environmental sustainability issues, alongside with global warming, though of a different kind than most other environmental issues. In this paper the concept of biodiversity is viewed from five different angles: 1) Herman Daly’s oft-cited empty versus full world model; 2) The Natural Step four systems condition framework; 3) The Global reporting framework, GRI; 4 and 5) The systems ecology textbooks by H.T. Odum (1983, 1994) and S.E. Jørgensen (2012). Herman Daly’s model of a full or empty world show a finite world of sources for energy and natural resources, and so-called sink capacity, the biosphere’s ability to assimilate our wastes in solid, liquid and gaseous form. The terms source and sink sustainability are applicable, indicating a long-term, sustainable, use of resources and assimilative capacity. Biodiversity, on the resource side, a diversity of organisms for the economy to choose from; on the sink side a biodiversity of, mainly, microorganisms that enhance the decomposing capacity to assimilate more types of solid, liquid and gaseous waste. A difference between biodiversity and other resource is, however, that the biodiversity in itself is not used up. This aspect may be distinguished from source and sink sustainability, and called systems sustainability, or maybe more unique: integrity sustainability. The Natural steps four systems condition framework is similar to Daly’s model in having society embedded in a biosphere were resources are delivered to society (source sustainability) and wastes from society are assimilated (sink sustainability). Condition 2 and 3 have the same focus as Daly’s model, with source and sink sustainability. Similar to Daly’s model the biodiversity is not necessarily used up, but widening the basis of the input and output quality. Condition 3 can be said to be an integrity sustainability aspect. The environmental part of GRI (the 300-series) is composed of the basic approach of energy and mass balances (301, 302, 303), and then the three typical sorts of waste: solid (306), sewage (305), and gaseous waste (305). Biodiversity (304) differs substantially from theother categories by not being quantitative or use performance indicators in a similar way. Again the others can be categorized as source and sink sustainability, while the label integrity sustainability fits better to biodiversity. The systems ecology textbooks adds to the above picture, where Odum (1983, 1994) is mainly based on stocks and flows of energy, matter, money and information, which fits better to source and sink sustainability. Jørgensen (2012) also focus on energy, matter and information stocks and flows, but also on biodiversity, in describing properties of ecosystems. The paper concludes that biodiversity stands out compared to other environmental issues when viewed from the five angles chosen. While source and sink sustainability are good labels for most environmental issues, integrity sustainability may be a better label for the biodiversity type. The paper also speculates if economic, social, and cultural sustainability can be better captured with the integrity sustainability label. SDGs: 6,7,11,14,15.

The negative aspects of economic growth as a policy objective and target for future development has historically been suppressed by a general belief in its superiority. Degrowth confronts the core logic of growth and pinpoints where it is failing as a system. The academic field of degrowth is relatively young but is attracting more attention and has its own research network. With the aim of identifying characteristic elements and strategies, a literature review were performed. Degrowth can be described as a frame or an umbrella keyword that connects different types of actors, initiatives, goals, strategies,and policies. It derives from multiple academic fields stretching from bioeconomics to justice and its main goal is a future guided by ecological sustainability and well-being for all. It is defined by what it is against such as the capitalistic system, GDP and development, but also by what it advocates such as equality, democracy, localization, and sufficiency. Strategies involve sharing in different forms, economic instruments such as taxation of harmful activities, restriction of advertisement and strengthening of the commons. Degrowth envisions an altogether different society consistent of new institutions that is guided by alternative values such as altruism, respect, sufficiency, and solidarity.