Environmental sustainability indicators in the periurban of Mar del Plata City, Argentina

Abstract

Indicators of sustainability are useful tools in decision-making situations. Latin american cities, and especially the areas in expansion without adequate planning, are facing ever-growing challenges to reverse the problems that are threatening their sustainability. The present study evaluates in a preliminar way, the environmental sustainability of the peri-urban of Mar del Plata (Argentina) taking in consideration some of the indicators proposed in the model of the Inter-American Development Bank for the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative. A synthetic index was built (Environmental Sustainability Index, ESI) that integrates thirteen indicators grouped into eight topics. The most critical situations (ESI: 0,45-0,558) were mainly identified in areas where rural activities take place and precarious settlements are located. The developed study deepens in the knowledge of the environmental dimension of sustainability, emphasising in the analysis of the internal contrasts in the peri-ruban of Mar del Plata.