Eco-Design of Urban and Regional Systems: Sustainable Region Management toward Low Carbon and Resource Recycling-oriented Society

Abstract

The concept of Eco-Design is applicable not only to the products and buildings, but also to the urban and regional systems. In this paper, we overviewed the research approaches and sustainability indicators to plan or evaluate the low carbon, natural symbiosis and resource recycle-oriented society at the regional level, especially focusing on the material and energy flows. In addition, we showed that the carbon management in the product chain was becoming important when planning the practical actions for a low carbon society in Japan.