Towards Developing Indicators of Environmental Sustainability for Kathmandu, Nepal

Sustainability is now considered one of the key objectives in urban planning. However, due to inappropriate planning, weak institutions, limitation of resources, and poor implementation of policies, many big cities in developing countries have become even less environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable than they were in the past. Historically, the Kathmandu Valley enjoyed a unique tradition, rich heritage and a moderate state of sustainability in all areas, particularly in the environmental arena. However, the rapidly expanding and modernizing cities in the valley are facing serious problems of sustainability on all fronts: economic, social, environmental, and ecological. Whereas, environmental and economic sustainability were tacitly embedded in the traditional planning practices in Nepal, the rapid growth and modernization of the major cities in the valley are making them increasingly unsustainable. This paper proposes major indicators of sustainability and discusses an approach to implement sustainable practices in urban planning and development in Kathmandu.