Role of Eco-production in Managing Energy and Environmental Sustainability in Cities: A Lesson from Ulsan Metropolis, South Korea

Abstract

Currently, 1.6 billion people or 40 % of Asians live in cities and urban areas that generate a total GDP of 80 %. As the cities consume enormous amount of resources and energy, they eventually result in massive environmental pollution. A total of 15 industrial complexes in Ulsan city (the industrial capital of Korea) consume 85 % of the total energy and other resources producing 20 % of the total national export. Thus, efficient use of energy and resources in industrial park is essential to maintain economic and environmental sustainability in Ulsan. In this context, the Ulsan Eco-industrial Park (EIP) initiative plays a vital role in eco-productions that reduce impact on the environment through optimized utilization of energy and resources by establishing symbiotic relationships among industries in a mutually beneficial manner. In this chapter, the role of collective eco-production efforts through national EIP initiative has been demonstrated to manage the economic, environmental, and social sustainability in this industrial city. The viability of industrial symbiosis (IS) networks through the design and implementation of various policy instruments, through the presence of facilitators such as an EIP centers, and through enabling frameworks such as the research and development into business (R&DB) approach for retro-fitting the conventional industrial complexes into EIPs has been demonstrated.