Garry W. McDonald

Bridging the divide in urban sustainability: from human exemptionalism to the new ecological paradigm

This paper reviews the main bodies of contemporary urban sustainability theory. From this analysis, two underpinning paradigms of urban sustainability are identified: (1) The ‘Human Exemptionalism Paradigm’ (HEP), which emphasizes the ability of humans to overcome environmental problems—see Urban Sociology, Urban Ecology, Urban Geography, Urban Psychology and Political Economy; and (2) The ‘New Ecological Paradigm’ (NEP), which emphasizes the criticality of ecological limits to human progress—see Urban Metabolism, Energy/Emergy Analysis and Ecological Footprinting. Each of these approaches is critically reviewed, highlighting their main assumptions, theoretical and practical foci. It is argued in the paper that if the related issues of urban sustainability and development are to be progressed, there needs to be: (1) a greater maturation of the NEP approaches, which are ‘relative newcomers’ to the area of urban theory; and (2) greater integration and dialogue between the HEP and NEP approaches to urban sustainability than has hitherto been the case.

ESTIMATION OF SYMMETRIC INPUT-OUTPUT TABLES: AN EXTENSION TO BOHLIN AND WIDELL

This paper presents two optimisation models for use in the production of symmetric input–output tables (SIOTs) based on data contained within supply-use tables (SUTs). The first model produces commodity-by-commodity SIOTs derived from the selection of appropriate technology assumptions, while the second produces industry-by-industry SIOTs derived through the selection of appropriate sales structure assumptions. Both models address the problem of negative coefficients and also permit the use of rectangular SUTs as base input data. Additionally, this paper explores the development of a ‘comprehensive model’ enabling production of both commodity-by-commodity and industry-by-industry SIOTs that are conceptually and mathematically consistent.

Interpreting Auckland’s volcanic governance through an institutional lens

This paper presents critical reflections on the governance of natural hazards, in the context of New Zealand’s Auckland volcanic field (AVF). The AVF is unusual given that there is an urban area built on this active field, and the potential for a volcanic eruption is clearly identified as a natural hazard. The occurrence of another volcanic event on the AVF seems certain. The timing of the next event remains, however, enigmatic. The problem in terms of governance of a natural volcanic hazard in Auckland is a matter not of ‘if’, but ‘when’. Using the AVF as a case study, we place existing governance structures within a New Institutional Economics framework and, in turn, critique the role of key institutional actors across time, using Williamson’s Economist 146(1):23–58, (1998) four levels of institutional analysis. In particular, we note the key challenge of incorporating time into AVF governance and socio-economic planning. Overall, this paper provides a theoretical framework for evaluating disaster recovery, in this case taking the existing legal and institutional framework of volcanic risk governance in Auckland, to assist the practical management of a low probability, but potentially high-impact natural hazard.