This paper introduces a sustainability assessment method for the rapidly urbanizing Yangtze River Delta in China addressing the role of land use pattern. We first calculated the sustainability component scores of 16 cities in the area in 2000 and 2005. The results showed that socioeconomic and...

A modified version of this article has been published in the May 2007 issue of the journal Ecological Economics. This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of municipal-level open space referenda, both the decision to hold a referendum and referendum results, across the entire...

In November 2009, China pledged a 40–45% decrease in CO2 emissions per GDP by 2020, as compared with the 2005 level. Although carbon intensity (emission) targets by nature are ambiguous, this study demonstrates that China’s pledge is consistent with the current Chinese domestic agenda that...

In this study, we conducted an empirical analysis of how the adoption of “imaginary future generations,” a mechanism for activating futurabilty of people and society, influences the decision criteria and evaluation framework of a corporate R&D strategy. More specifically, we organized a...

In this study, we adopted a methodology that combines systems thinking with “imaginary future generations” (IFGs), a method for activating “futurability” in people and society, to discussions about the issues and needs of a future society, and we verified the effectiveness and value of...