Energy and material flows of megacities

Bibliographic Data

ID23388331
AuthorsChristopher Kennedy (0000-0001-8812-4451, University of Toronto), Christopher A Kennedy (University of Toronto), Iain Stewart (0000-0002-9281-6298, University of Toronto), Iain D Stewart (0000-0002-5752-0993, University of Toronto), Angelo Facchini (0000-0003-2652-5238, Enel Foundation, 00198, Rome, Italy), Igor Cersosimo (0000-0003-1319-8987, Enel Foundation, 00198, Rome, Italy), Renata Mele (Enel Foundation, 00198, Rome, Italy), Bin Chen (0000-0003-3287-934X, Beijing Normal University), Бин Чэн (0000-0003-3496-2876, Beijing Normal University), Mariko Uda (0000-0002-9331-2251, University of Toronto), Arun Kansal (0000-0002-2985-2480, Department of Energy and Environment, TERI University, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, DL 110070, India), Anthony S F Chiu (0000-0003-2411-7302, De La Salle University), Anthony Chiu (De La Salle University), Kwi-Gon Kim (Seoul National University), Kwi‐Gon Kim (Seoul National University), Carolina Burle Schmidt Dubeux (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), Carolina Dubeux (Coimbra Institute of Postgraduate Research in Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University City, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil), Emilio Lèbre La Rovere (0000-0002-9186-7069, Coimbra Institute of Postgraduate Research in Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University City, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil), Bruno Cunha (0000-0002-6666-8295, Coimbra Institute of Postgraduate Research in Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University City, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil), Pincetl (0000-0002-8660-4803, University of California, Los Angeles), Stephanie Pincetl (Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095;), James Keirstead (Imperial College London), Sabine Barles (0000-0003-3947-3414, University of Paris), Semerdanta Pusaka (Universitas Trisakti), Juniatí Gunawan (0000-0001-9827-0866, Universitas Trisakti), Michael Adegbile (0000-0003-4000-5562, University of Lagos), Mehrdad Nazariha (University of Tehran), Shamsul Hoque (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), Peter John Marcotullio (0000-0001-8133-1204, Hunter College), Florencia González Otharán (Buenos Aires), Tarek Genena (EcoConServ Environmental Solutions, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt 11211), Nadine Ibrahim (0000-0003-1241-5935, University of Toronto), Rizwan Farooqui (NED University of Engineering and Technology), Rizwan U Farooqui (0000-0001-6692-137X, NED University of Engineering and Technology), Gemma Cervantes (0000-0003-1713-3005, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Guanajuato, CP 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico; and), Ahmet Duran Sahin (0000-0003-2367-1619, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey)
Year2015
Volume112
Issue19
Pages5985-5990
Publication date2015-05-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0027-8424 • E-ISSN: 1091-6490
PublisherNational Academy of Sciences (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1073/pnas.1504315112
PMID25918371
PMCIDPMC4434724
OpenAlexW2012415594
LanguageEN
Citations received91
References cited38

Significance Our quantification of energy and material flows for the world’s 27 megacities is a major undertaking, not previously achieved. The sheer magnitude of these flows (e.g., 9% of global electricity, 10% of gasoline; 13% of solid waste) shows the importance of megacities in addressing global environmental challenges. In aggregate the resource flows through megacities are consistent with scaling laws for cities. Statistical relations are established for electricity use, heating/industrial fuels, ground transportation, water consumption, waste generation, and steel production in terms of heating-degree days, urban form, economic activity, and population growth. Analysis at the microscale shows that electricity use is strongly correlated with building floor area, explaining the macroscale correlation between per capita electricity use and urbanized area per capita.

Agricultural economics · Business · Consumption (sociology) · Economic growth · Economics · Economy · Electricity · Energy consumption · Geography · Gross domestic product · Megacity · Natural resource economics · Per capita · Population · Urbanization · Engineering · Environmental Impact and Sustainability · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis