CC BY
64Russian Journal of Logistics and Transport Management, Vol.2, No.1, 2015
© Jasek Szoltysek1 and Rafal Otr^ba2
University of Economics in Katowice John Paul II Comprehensive School Complex in Ruda Sl^ska
ASSESSING READINESS OF A CITY TO IMPLEMENT GREEN CITY PRINCIPLES
Abstract
Apart from a concept of logistics support, implementation of principles of a green city requires some social support. Insufficiency of financial means and the necessity to select alternative methods of using such means call for good identification of social climate in order to obtain - apart from some environmental benefits - some improvement in the quality of life perceived. Therefore, in this research, authors decided to find out which components of the quality of life connected with the quality of environment facilitate decisions made to change places of residence and which of them did not have that kind of impact. The research was devoted to Polish cities only.
Keywords: green city, logistics, attitudes and behaviours, quality of life.
1 Introduction
‘The global challenge we face today is that of preventing catastrophic climate change. This will require ensuring that global greenhouse gas emissions peak by the year 2020. Reaching this goal will be necessary to ensure that the increase in global temperature does not exceed 2°C by the end of the 21st century.In addition to on-going efforts to reduce emissions, adaptation measures will be required to cope with the adverse consequences of climate change that have been locked in by emissions of previous decades.
Existing cities need to change as they grow. In particular, to maximize livability and minimize energy use and environmental impact, cities need to align the planning and provision of quality, high-capacity public transport with the provision of well-serviced high density, mixed-use development. Globally, cities account for about 70% of CO2 emissions, which comprise a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, the bulk of these being generated in the building and construction, urban transport, and energy sectors. Ultimately, reducing CO2 emissions in urban areas will require (i) lowering the rate at which buildings consume energy, both during construction and operation and maintenance; (ii) encouraging use of low-carbon forms of transport; and (iii) adopting low-carbon means of energy production’ (Lindfield and Steinberg, 2012).
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2 Green-city ideology
‘As a new paradigm that promotes economic development ‘(Lindfield and Steinberg, 2012), while reducing environmental degradation and preserving natural resources, green growth provides an opportunity to rethink our economic development model. ‘The traditional efficiency paradigm is giving way to a richer definition of societal progress, where efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability are closely interrelated. Traditionally, economic efficiency was seen as a goal separate from equity and environmental objectives. Economic policy was basically assigned the role of reaching the efficiency frontier or maximising growth rates. Governmental action addressing equity and environmental objectives was often designed to avoid interference with the search for efficiency’ (Lindfield and Steinberg, 2012).
However, there is ‘a growing uneasiness with this vision. Driven by the climate change debate, public opinion is increasingly questioning the sustainability of our development model and its replication in the developing world. The persistent and growing development gaps, both across and within nations, also lead to questions about the assumed separation between efficiency and equity objectives, notably in the context of a globalised world’ (Hammer et al., 2011, p.12). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Renmin University (2010) define an eco-city as ‘a city that provides an acceptable standard of living for its human occupants without depleting the ecosystems and biochemical cycles on which it depends on.’
Another definition of the eco-city has identified it as ‘an ecologically healthy city. Such a city is the result of a healthy human ecological process leading to sustainable development within the carrying capacity of local ecosystems through changes in production modes, consumption behaviour, and decision instruments that are based on ecological economics and systems engineering’ (Wang and Ye, 2004, pp. 341-342).
‘The development of eco-cities is tied to the three goals of eco-industry (industry metabolism, life-cycle production, resource conservation, and use of renewable energy), eco-scape (built environment, open spaces, connectors, and maximizing accessibility, while minimizing resource use and urban problems), and eco-culture (understanding of the balance between humans and nature, and understanding of environmental ethics in order to enhance people’s contribution to maintaining a high-quality urban ecosystem)’ (Shen and Song 2010, pp. 67104). Others categorize eco-cities as eco-managed (e.g., new city, livable city, healthy city), eco-built (e.g., landscape city, garden city, green city), and integrated development (e.g., sustainable city, environment-friendly city, ecocity).
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3 Necessity to get acquainted with attitudes and behaviour
In the GDP context, there are many technology related determinants of a green-city that aim at saving the natural environment by implementing green transport, clean water supply, waste water treatment, waste management, clean energy, green construction technology, urban agriculture and smart technology (see Figure 1). They should be characterised by the general acceptance of citizens who are not only city co-owners but also city beneficiaries. Citizens are targets of programmes aimed at providing a high quality of life that is realised in an ecologically friendly manner.
As it is possible to conclude analysing Figure 1, a selection of tools to be used, while building a green city depends on the level of GDP - the lower the level, the narrower the range of pro-ecological solutions implemented. The very tasks to be implemented are determined by the costs of their implementation and the level of their perception - the would-be results should be easy to verify, and they should take place in a relatively short period.
Adoption of Green Cities Planning and Technologies
Gross
Domestic
Product
Least
Developed
Countries
Clean water supply Wastewater treatment Waste management Urban agriculture
Least-income
Countries
Green transportation Clean water supply Wastewater treatment Waste management Clean energy Urban agriculture
Middle-income
Countries
Eco-cities
development
Compact cities
Green transportation Clean water supply Wastewater treatment Waste management Clean energy Green construction technologies Urban agriculture Smart technologies
High-income
Countries
Eco-cities
development
Compact cities
Green transportation Clean water supply Wastewater treatment Waste management Clean energy Green construction technologies Urban agriculture Smart technologies
Time
Fig. 1. Adoption of Green Cities Planning and Technologies.
Source: Lindfield and Steiberg (2012).
Acceptance for pro-ecological solutions is easier when in a particular period implemented tasks match behaviours, fashion or habits of communities that inhabit towns. In a particular way - directly or indirectly - make up the perception of the quality of life in a city (QoL). Hence, the authors of this paper decided to check how inhabitants of Silesian cities assessed components of their
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quality of life - in the context of living conditions, opportunities for sport activeness, along with mobility that facilitated environmental protection and public space that apart from its special dimension located in the city environment took the role of contemporary Agora - some free exchange of ideas and generation of views. Identification of these issues and major social groups (mainly in the demographic dimension) that are carriers of certain values should allow for constructing effective communication with urban society in order to verify whether it is justifiable to implement subsequent ideas that make up a green city.
4 Research methodology
The research that was conducted since 2014 aims at the quality of life in a city and concentrates on inhabitants of cities located in Silesia. The research presented mainly focuses on providing multi-aspectual information about factors that influence a sense of the quality of life in a city. To meet article objectives, aspects that concern the natural environment are selected from the group of all aspects subject to this research.
The most important research problem may be formulated in the following way: Which relations may be observed between distinguished in the course of research proceedings aspects of assessment of the quality of life in a city and functioning of city inhabitants in their natural environment? While performing research exploration, it was decided to select the following detailed issues (P1, P2, etc.) along with their indexes that are of empirical measurement nature (W1, W2, W3, etc.) (Table1).
Table 1
Detailed issues and their indexes.
Detailed issues Indexes
W1 Cleanliness of the natural environment
P1 Living W2 Organisation of household waste management
conditions W3 Nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood
W4 Noise burden
Culture, W5 Accessibility of physical culture outlets (gyms)
P2 physical W6 Opportunities for active sport cultivation
culture W7 Organisation of spaced used for meeting friends
W8 Prices of public transport tickets
W9 Accessibility of bicycle routes
W10 Quality of public transport
P3 Mobility W11 Conditions of waiting at bus stops (shelters, seating, wind stoppers, etc.)
W12 Travel conditions (seating and standing places, crowd, cleanliness, temperature)
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Detailed issues Indexes
W13 Separate lanes (for public transport)
W14 Public transport concessions
W15 Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow)
W16 Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life?
P4 Public space W17 Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space?
W18 Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc.
W19 Easy access to public space by individual transport
W20 Easy access to public space by public transport
Source: Own study.
Respondents also provided some research material in order to examine assessment of city management effects in a category of satisfaction of city inhabitants. Such effects may be useful while implementing the green city concept. The applied research method involving a diagnostic survey provided researchers with data concerning opinions of communities subject to this research. Apart from issues that were of problem-related nature, the survey questionnaire included demographics questions.
Questions to be answered by respondents were of multiple-choice nature. Assessment of strength of phenomena subject to this research was performed utilizing the five grade Likert’s scale. The research population was subject to statistical analyses that employed basic statistical measures. The significance of correlation dependence was determined (analysed by the Spearman’s significance test).
5 Characteristics of population subject to this research
The research was carried out since the first half of 2014, and it involved a group of people whose age was diversified. The research involved people who were preparing to use urban space (below 25 years old) and who would create space to be used for functioning and meeting needs of people in pre-senior age (51-60) and senior age (60 plus). The picture of the population was completed by respondents who were most active in creating city space (26-50). Altogether, 858 people were subject to this research. In total, 441 women (51.4%) and 404 men (47.7%) provided information about their sex. Statistical analyses of respondents’ age concerned data presented in Figure 2. People aged 21-31 and 51-60 made up the largest population. The youngest respondent was 17, and the oldest one was 92.
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400
365
л
о
СЗ
х>
СЗ
л
wiek
Fig. 2. Respondents age structure.
Note: liczba badanych - a number of respondents, wiek - age; i wi^cej - plus.
Source: Own study.
According to the data collected, people with secondary education make up the largest group of respondents (304 persons, 35.4%) and with engineer degrees (274 persons, 31.9%). The master degree holders followed (216 persons, 25.2%); persons with primary or pre-secondary education (32 persons, 3.7%). 473 persons (55.1%) have got a child / children; 237 persons (27.6%) are singles, and 583 of them are in relations.
6 Assessment of the influence of environmental factors on the quality of life in a city
a. Assessment of the influence of living conditions on the quality of life in a city
Living conditions were firstly analysed in the group of factors subject to the research into quality of life in a city. Taking into account the research concerning environmental factors, the following indexes were selected for the analysis in this context:
- W1 - cleanliness of the natural environment.
- W2 - organisation of household waste management.
- W3 - nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood.
- W4 - noise burden.
Figure 3 presents frequency distributions of indexes subject to this research along with responding curves of normal distributions. Analyses of the histograms below allow for concluding that, in each sample, a small number of respondents
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believe that a particular index is not significant. Differences in presented graphs refer to the value of the dominant that in case of W1, W2 and W3 amounted to 4. Only in the sample of the W4 index, the dominant value turned out to be 5, which means that this index was believed to be decisive for the assessment of the quality of life in a city.
Fig. 3. Living conditions. Note: cz^stosc - incidence; czystosc srodowiska naturalnego -cleanliness of the natural environment; organizacja gospodarki odpadami z godpodarstw domowych - organisation of household waste management; przyroda (tereny zielone) w otoczeniu - nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood; uci^zliwosc halasu - noise burden.
Source: Own study.
Arithmetic means of the results obtained turned out to be quite similar. The lowest value was reached by the W2 index (3.39), and the highest value was reached by the W3 index (3.95). W1 and W4 indexes reached the following means respectively 3.78 and 3.89. In all procedures, remarkable values of standard deviations were obtained (from 0.98 in case of W3 and 1.10 in case of W4), which means that there is large heterogeneity of the population subject to this research.
A further part of the research analysis referred to the assessment of intensity and correlation significance of indexes subject to this research regarding data provided by the demographic, diagnostic survey. Additionally, correlation dependence between indexes subject to this study and city
49
attractiveness along with respondents’ willingness to change their cities was examined. The results obtained while analysing correlation relations are presented in Table 2.
Table 2
Correlation relations between living conditions and dependent variables.
Index Definition Correlations
Dependent variable r p. i.
W1 Cleanliness of the natural environment Age ,091** ,008
Sex -,074* ,032
Level of education ,063 ,071
Marital status ,047 ,181
Assessment of city attractiveness ,083 ,018
Willingness to change a city ,035 ,313
W2 Household waste management Age ,119* ,001
Sex -,086* ,012
Level of education ,018 ,601
Marital status ,093** ,008
Assessment of city attractiveness ,048 ,168
Willingness to change a city ,048 ,160
W3 Nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood Age ,109** ,001
Sex -,087* ,011
Level of education -,002 ,945
Marital status ,105* ,003
Assessment of city attractiveness ,023 ,518
Willingness to change a city ,087* ,012
W4 Noise burden Age ,193** ,000
Sex -,028 ,423
Level of education ,019 ,576
Marital status ,105** ,003
Assessment of city attractiveness ,056 ,112
Willingness to change a city ,024 ,476
Note: r - value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, p. i. - level of significance, * - the level of significance 0.05, ** - level of significance 0.01.
Analysing assessment of significance of correlation relations, it is possible to draw the following conclusions:
- Respondents’ age is a variable that significantly influences all indexes that concern the natural environment in case of assessment of living conditions; positive dependencies mean that while growing older respondents who assess living conditions in a city pay more attention to aspects of the natural environment subject to this research,
- Respondents’ sex is a variable that is significantly correlated with assessment of natural environment cleanliness, organisation of household waste management and nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood; it is necessary to note here that negative correlation would mean more
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willingness to provide more positive assessments by women than by men and that only noise burden is not connected with respondents’ sex,
- Respondents’ level of education does not affect the evaluation of the significance of living conditions in the context of natural environment assessment,
- Respondents’ marital status is a variable whose significance is not confirmed only in case of assessment of the cleanliness of the natural environment.
None of the indexes subject to this research allows for concluding that a city is an attractive or unattractive place to live. It also means that the indexes subject to this research do not allow for concluding that life in a city is more attractive than dwelling in the country. Only in the case of assessing nature (green spaces) in the neighbourhood correlation significance with the willingness to change a city is reported.
b. Assessment of influence of physical culture and leisure on the quality of life in a city
Physical culture and leisure are other aspects taken into account while assessing the quality of life in a city in the context of the natural environment related factors. Factors that are subject to research exploration include the following: access to physical culture outlets (gym) (W5), opportunities for active sport cultivation (W6) and organisation of spaced used for meeting friends (W7).
Figure 4 presents frequency distributions of indexes subject to this research along with their standard distributions.
As in the case of analyses of living conditions, it is possible to observe that a small number of respondents believed that each of indexes was insignificant. In a sample of indexes, W6 and W7 4 is a dominant value. However, in case of the W5 index, the value of the dominant amounted to three.
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Fig. 4. Physical culture and leisure. Note: dost^pnosc do punktow kultury fizycznej (silownia) -access to physical culture outlets (gym); mozliwosc czynnego uprawiania sportu - opportunities for active sport cultivation; organizacja przestrzeni spotkan z przyjaciolmi - organisation of spaced used for meeting friends. Source: Own study.
Arithmetic means of the results obtained were respectively 3.38 for the W5 index and 3.68 in the case of the W6 index and 3.72 for the W7 index. However, the lowest diversification of the results obtained should be reported in case of the W7 index (value of standard deviation - 1.04). In case of other variables, i.e. W5 and W6 the following values were obtained: 1.14 and 1.10.
Intensity and correlation significance of the indexes subject to this research are presented in Table 3. As in the case of living conditions, data provided by answers to demographic questions and assessment of city attractiveness along with the willingness to change a city were subject to research analyses of correlation significance.
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Table 3
Correlation relations between physical culture and dependent variables.
Index Definition Correlation
Dependant variable r p. i.
W5 Accessibility to physical culture outlets (gym) Age -195** ,000
Sex -,033 ,337
Level of education ,125* ,000
Marital status -,040 ,257
Assessment of city attractiveness -,093* ,008
Willingness to change a city ,125* ,000
W6 Opportunities for active sport cultivation Age -196** ,000
Sex ,048 ,159
Level of education ,122* ,000
Marital status ,000 ,992
Assessment of city attractiveness -,139* ,000
Willingness to change a city ,115** ,001
W7 Organisation of space for meeting with friends Age -163** ,000
Sex -,054 ,119
Level of education ,042 ,232
Marital status -,072* ,040
Assessment of city attractiveness -,171* ,000
Willingness to change a city ,086* ,012
Note: r - value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, p. i. - level of significance, * -level of significance 0,05, ** - level of significance 0,01.
Analyses of correlation significance allows for drawing the following conclusions:
- Respondents’ age is a variable that significantly influences all indexes that refer to the natural environment in the context of physical culture and leisure; negative dependencies mean that younger city inhabitants pay more attention to aspects of the natural environment subject to this research while assessing quality of life in a city,
- Respondents’ sex is a variable that is not significantly correlated with variables subject to this research,
- Respondents’ level of education influences assessment of significance in the context of assessing significance of variables subject to this research that are connected with accessibility to physical culture outlets (a gym) and opportunities for active sport cultivation - it is necessary to note that people with higher levels of education pay more attention to significance of the indexes in question,
- Marital status is a variable whose significance was only confirmed in case of organising space for meeting friends; negative correlation means that this index is more preferred by singles.
W6 and W7 indexes are significant in the assessment of city attractiveness, i.e. they can encourage people to change their place of residence. However, W5 and W6 can encourage people to change their place of residence.
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c. Assessment of influence of inhabitants’ mobility on the quality of life in a city
Third aspect subject to this research concerned inhabitants’ mobility. While assessing this aspect of life in a city the following factors were taken into consideration:
- W8 - Price of public transport tickets.
- W9 - Accessibility of bicycles routes.
- W10 - Quality of public transport.
- W11 - Conditions of waiting at bus stops (shelters, seating, wind stoppers, etc.).
- W12 - Travel conditions (seating and standing places, crowd, cleanliness, temperature).
- W13 - Separate lanes (for public transport).
- W14 - Public transport concessions.
Table 4 presents characteristics of respondents’ assessments including an arithmetic mean (X), dominant and standard deviation (5).
Table 4
Descriptive statistics of city inhabitants’ mobility.
Inde x Definition Measures
X Dominant 5
W8 Price of public transport tickets 3.64 4 1.13
W9 Accessibility of bicycles routes 3.36 3 1.16
W10 Quality of public transport 3.69 4 1.02
W11 Conditions of waiting at bus stops (shelters, seating, wind stoppers, etc.) 3.53 4 1.10
W12 Travel conditions (seating and standing places, crowd, cleanliness, temperature) 3.62 4 1.06
W13 Separate lanes (for public transport) 3.38 4 1.10
W14 Public transport concessions 3.59 4 1.22
Source: Own study.
It is possible to observe that the lowest mean assessment was given to the W9 index, and the highest one to W10. Only the in case of the index that referred to the accessibility of bicycle routes a dominant assessment reached the value of 3; other indexes obtained the same value of a dominant: 4. The lowest diversification of assessment was observed in the case of the following indexes: W10 and W12. The largest differences of respondents’ assessments were observed in cases of the following indexes: W14 and W9.
Another part of this research referred to correlation relations like in the semple of the previously examined aspects. Results of this analysis are presented in Table 5.
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Table 5
Correlation relations between city inhabitants’ mobility and dependant variables.
Index Definition Correlations
Dependant variable r p. i.
W8 Price of public transport tickets Age -,003 ,931
Sex -,053 ,127
Level of education ,004 ,913
Marital status -,016 ,638
Assessment of city attractiveness -,062 ,077
Willingness to change a city -,014 ,678
W9 Accessibility of bicycle routes Age -,095** ,006
Sex ,027 ,439
Level of education ,074* ,034
Marital status -,009 ,793
Assessment of city attractiveness -,056 ,112
Willingness to change a city ,058 ,090
W10 Quality of public transport Age -,045 ,187
Sex -,041 ,235
Level of education ,037 ,286
Marital status -,055 ,113
Assessment of city attractiveness -,087* ,013
Willingness to change a city ,070* ,041
W11 Conditions of waiting at bus stops (shelters, seating, wind stoppers, etc.), Age ,082* ,017
Sex -095** ,006
Level of education -,042 ,231
Marital status -,005 ,890
Assessment of city attractiveness ,044 ,206
Willingness to change a city ,049 ,154
W12 Travel conditions (seating and standing places, crowd, cleanliness, temperature) Age ,074* ,031
Sex -,073* ,034
Level of education -096** ,006
Marital status -.019 ,578
Assessment of city attractiveness ,012 ,740
Willingness to change a city ,079* ,022
W13 Separate lanes (for public transport) Age -,033 ,342
Sex -,024 ,492
Level of education -,030 ,386
Marital status -,046 ,183
Assessment of city attractiveness -,012 ,724
Willingness to change a city ,058 ,090
W14 Public transport concessions Age -,046 ,180
Sex -,073* ,033
Level of education -,073* ,036
Marital status -,080* ,022
Assessment of city attractiveness ,005 ,891
Willingness to change a city ,038 ,275
Note: r - value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, p. i. - level of significance, * -level of significance 0.05, ** - level of significance 0.01.
By analysing the above relations, it is possible to observe the following:
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- Respondents’ age is significant for younger respondents in case of accessibility of bicycle routes, for older respondents conditions of waiting at bus stops and travel conditions are significant,
- Two factors mentioned above are significant for women, the same dependency concerns the index that refers to public transport concessions,
- For people with a lower level of education, public transport concessions and travel conditions are significant for their assessment of mobility. In case of respondents with a higher level of education accessibility of bicycle routes is an important index to be used while assessing mobility of city inhabitants,
- Marital status demonstrates a significant correlation relation with the index that refers to public transport concessions.
The only quality of public transport is an index that significantly influences the assessment of city attractiveness. The same index may be a factor that encourages respondents to change their place of residence. The same applies to travel conditions.
d. Assessment of influence of public space (generally available) on the quality of life in a city
The last aspect subject to this research concerns open space that is generally available. In this context, the research provided information about respondents’ opinions taking the following factors into consideration:
- W15 - Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow).
- W16 - Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life?
- W17 - Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space?
- W 18 - Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc.
- W 19 - Easy access to public space by individual transport.
- W 20 - Easy access to public space by public transport.
Values of basic descriptive statistics are presented in Table 6.
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Table 6
Descriptive statistics of public space (generally available).
Index Definition Measures
X Domina nt 5
W15 Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) 3.79 4 1.07
W16 Is there sufficient space of this type to experience high quality of life? 3.38 3 1.02
W17 Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? 3.62 4 1.08
W18 Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. 3.65 4 1.06
W19 Easy access to public space by individual transport 3.47 4 1.07
W20 Easy access to public space by public transport 3.49 4 1.07
Source: Own study.
The group of indexes presented above is the least diversified, which is confirmed by similar values of standard deviation (from 1.02 in case of W16 to 1.08 in case of W17). According to respondents, a sense of high quality of life in a city is most influenced by existence of a part of a town where people can meet others with no limitations (W15, an arithmetic mean of the results amounts to 3.79), whereas it is necessary to observe that the very fact of reaching this place on foot, by bike, etc. is equally significant (W18, an arithmetic mean of the results amounts to 3.65). The relation described is presented using the dendrogram below (Figure 5). Analysing the graph, it is also possible to conclude that when generally available space is expanded (W17), it is necessary to provide easier access to such space on foot or by bicycle (W18). However, a sense of quality of life through creating such space that is generally available (W16) is not as significant as easy access to reach such space by individual (W19) or public transport (W20).
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Fig. 5. Cluster analysis of public space. Dendrogram that uses the Ward’s method (connected clusters, scaled distances). Note: The research employed the cluster method - agglomeration. Hierarchy of clusters is presented in the form of a dendrogram, and it allows for objective assessment of similarity of indexes that make up a particular set Grzelak (2006).
Source: Own study.
Indexes subject to this research were evaluated by correlation relations with dependant variables identified in the research. Table 7 provides some results to be used while analysing the correlation relations in question.
Table 7
Correlation relations between public space and dependent variables.
Index Definition Correlations
Dependent variable r p. к
W15 Existence of a region of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life? Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. Easy access to public space by individual transport Age -,096** ,005
Sex -,071* ,039
Level of education ,057 ,099
Marital status -,085* ,014
Assessment of city attractiveness -,144* ,000
Willingness to change a city ,095** ,006
W16 Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Is there sufficient space of this type to experience the high quality of life? Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? Age -,061 ,078
Sex ,021 ,545
Level of education ,099** ,004
Marital status -,073* ,036
Assessment of city attractiveness -116** ,001
Willingness to ,151** ,000
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Index Definition Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. Easy access to public space by individual transport Correlations
Dependent variable r p. i.
change a city
W17 Existence of a region of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life? Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. Easy access to public space by individual transport Age -,058 ,091
Sex -,048 ,163
Level of education ,044 ,211
Marital status -,052 ,134
Assessment of city attractiveness ,461** ,000
Willingness to change a city ,145** ,000
W18 Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life? Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. Easy access to public space by individual transport Age ,012 ,724
Sex -,092** ,007
Level of education ,036 ,306
Marital status -,033 ,348
Assessment of city attractiveness ,422** ,000
Willingness to change a city ,160** ,000
W19 Existence of a region of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Is there sufficient space of this type to experience a high quality of life? Do you think it is necessary to increase the amount of this commonly available space? Easy access to public space on foot, by bike, etc. Easy access to public space by individual transport Age ,007 ,850
Sex ,026 ,447
Level of education ,096* ,006
Marital status ,020 ,575
Assessment of city attractiveness ,225** ,000
Willingness to change a city ,154** ,000
W20 Existence of a part of a city where people can meet others with no limitations (e.g. the Market Square in Krakow) Age -,023 ,504
Sex ,000 ,996
Level of education ,091** ,009
Marital status -,081* ,020
Assessment of city attractiveness ,322** ,000
Willingness to change a city ,334** ,000
Note: r - value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, p. i. - level of significance, * -level of significance 0.05, ** - level of significance 0.01.
Analysing data presented in the above table (no. 5), it is possible to observe the following:
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- Respondents’ age is significant for some necessity of existence of a part of a city where people can meet other with no limitations, whereas negative correlation dependency means that the very fact of existence of such a part is significant for younger respondents,
- In case of women, it is necessary to report the significance of correlation relation between the index mentioned before and easy access to public space on foot, by bicycle, etc.,
- Respondents’ level of education will be of much significance while assessing easy access to public space by individual and public transport; additionally this variable is significant in its correlation with an opinion that concerns sufficient space of this type with a sense of high quality of life,
- Respondents’ marital status demonstrates significant correlation relation with indexes concerning existence of a part of a city where people can meet other with no limitations, easy access to public space by public transport and with an opinion that concerns sufficient space of this type with a sense of high quality of life; dependencies subject to this research will be significant for singles.
It is also necessary to note down that all of the indexes subject to this research are significantly correlated with the assessment of city attractiveness and they significantly influence willingness to change a city.
7 Conclusions
On the basis of conclusions that stem from the statistical analyses performed it is possible to state the following:
- Separate components of quality of life-related to environmental aspects are of much importance for respondents although the importance varies.
- The research confirmed significant differences in age groups, and -relatively frequently -in groups of respondents divided by sex. It turns out that the older respondents get, the more attention they pay to aspects of the natural environment subject to this research while analysing the quality of life in a city. However, it is necessary to note that a majority of aspects subject to this research are more important for women than for men.
- Respondents’ education plays a smaller role in assessing the significance of aspects of the natural environment. It should be highlighted that the level of education does not influence the assessment of the importance of living conditions.
- Preferences concerning the evaluation of the significance of selected aspects of the natural environment are reported in the case of singles.
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- Only some of the aspects of the natural environment subject to this research should be connected with the assessment of city attractiveness and some willingness to change a city. As the research confirms, living conditions do not belong to this group.
On the one hand, the above findings may be used to evaluate the level of acceptability of changes to be implemented in activities that aim at accomplishing the status of the Green City in different groups of inhabitants. On the other hand, they may be used as some basis for building a system of promoting changes made towards the Green City direction.
References
Grzelak, A. (2006). Use of Cluster Analyses in the Research into Agricultural Structures as Illustrated by the Example of Interconnections of Agricultural Households with the Market. In Z. Spiak (Ed.) Scientific Papers of the Agricultural University of Wroclaw LXXXVI, 540.
Hammer, S., Kamal-Chaoui, L., Robert, A. & Plouin, M. (2011). Cities and green growth: a conceptual framework, OECD Regional Development Working Papers. Paris, France. Lindfield, M. & Steinberg, F. (2012). Green Cities, Urban Development Series. Mandaluyong City: Asian Development Bank, Philippines.
Shen, Q. & T. Song (2010). Advancements in Eco-City Research. [the People’s Republic of] China Low Carbon Eco-City Development Report, 67-104.
Wang, R. & Ye, Y. (2004). Eco-city development in China. Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment, 33(6), 341-342.
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