Journal Article
Profile of urban sustainability in Bulgaria
Margarida Rodrigues; Mário Franco; Hristina Filipova; Rui Jorge Silva; Velina Kazandzhieva; Radka Nacheva; Velina Koleva; Lyubomir Lyubenov; Cidália Oliveira; Ana Pinto Borges; José Braga; Pavlina Ivanova; Katya Antonova
Environment, Development and Sustainability · Vol. 28, Issue 8 · pp. 18333-18371 · 2024
Abstract
Sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant due to the need to decide on planned management of land use and natural resources as well as sustainable development in the context of cities. This study aims to identify indicators for measuring the sustainable development of districts/countries in Bulgaria. Using the Multivariate Analysis (MVA) method, where we examine multiple variables in several dimensions, the results show that in the environmental pillar, the management of natural resources, including water and soil, was under pressure due to industrial and urban activities. Air quality and waste management were also critical issues in some urban areas. The promotion of sustainable building practices and the adoption of renewable energies could be areas of focus for improving environmental sustainability in Bulgarian cities. This study is innovative becouse it underscores the imperative need for urban sustainability to integrate the foundational pillars of sustainability harmoniously. Central to this integration is the cultivation of economic growth that upholds environmental integrity and fosters social equity and opportunity. More theorectical and managerial contributios are also presented.