SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF AN ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT TOOL AT A LOCAL SCALE

Abstract

 To resolve global environmental issues, people must review their lifestyles and take action. This study assessed an improved method to calculate the balance of environmental productivity and consumption capacity based on an ecological footprint (EF), which is used as a tool to measure the environmental load generated directly by a person's daily life activities. Moreover, scenario analyses of several villages in Tsukuba city have been proposed to discuss management methods for environmental improvement. Based on scenario analyses, this study conducted sensibility analyses of the potential of environmental improvement. Results showed that: 1) promotion of solar panels is an effective means to improve the environmental balance in villages with a high rate of detached residences; 2) returning land to forestry or farming shows high efficiency in villages with much unused land; and 3) ameliorating the quality of public transportation is useful in villages that are distant from the city center.