Developing Indicators and Monitoring Systems for Environmentally Livable Cities in the People's Republic of China

Book excerpt: As an important step in developing a methodology for environmentally sustainable economic development, the study explores the concept of environmental livability for the urban centers of the People's Republic of China. The study produced the environmental livability index, a practical tool that can demonstrate the present, past, and future dimensions of a livable city; and the mechanism of its practical application. The mock software techniques created multidimensional city-specific assessments, allowing the promotion of urban livability agenda among policy makers, urban managers, and the general public and the comparison and ranking of cities based on prioritized environmental investments and their evaluation.