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The global demand for timber is increasing, with prognoses for the EU showing particularly high growth to meet renewable energy targets. However, there are limited options to meet rising timber demands within the EU, and global land competition to meet world food, energy and material needs, as well as to conserve high value nature areas, is increasing. This dissertation addresses the knowledge gap between the pressures of increased land use abroad and the underlying drivers of land use change. It argues that there is a high risk of problem shifting if EU policies to increase timber consumption are not accompanied by a monitoring system that accounts for consumption levels and provides a benchmark for sustainability.
Der Verfasser legt eine vergleichende Analyse von Abfallwirtschaftsregimen in drei deutschen Stadtregionen vor. Als Fallbeispiele wurden Frankfurt in der Rhein-Main-Region, Berlin als Kern der Metropolregion Berlin-Brandenburg und Bochum im Ruhrgebiet ausgewählt. Einerseits weisen die drei Stadtregionen eine ganze Reihe von Gemeinsamkeiten auf, die sie für einen solchen Vergleich geeignet erscheinen lassen.
Alle drei Stadtregionen bilden Zentren wichtiger Metropolregionen in Deutschland, denen angesichts ihrer Bevölkerungsdichte sowie der ökonomischen und politischen Bedeutung besondere Relevanz für die Planung von Infrastruktursystemen zukommt. Gleichzeitig unterscheidet sich jedoch die Bedeutung der drei Fallregionen innerhalb ihrer Metropolregion durchaus deutlich, von der absoluten Dominanz in Berlin-Brandenburg bis zur Polyzentralität im Ruhrgebiet, woraus sich auch unterschiedliche Herausforderungen an regionale Planungsverbände und die Gestaltung der Kooperationsbeziehungen mit den Umlandgemeinden ergeben.
Als Bestandteile von Metropolregionen sind sie alle drei intensiv in internationale Geschäfts- und Wissensnetzwerke eingebunden, sind Standort für die Entwicklung soziotechnischer Innovationen und verfügen in vielen Bereichen über hochqualifizierte Humanressourcen. Auch im Hinblick auf die spezielle Situation der Abfallwirtschaft zeigen sich vergleichbare Ausgangsbedingungen: In allen drei Regionen wurde auf eine vollständige Privatisierung der kommunalen Abfallwirtschaft verzichtet, nach wie vor werden mit der Sammlung und Entsorgung von Abfällen Unternehmen beauftragt, die sich überwiegend im kommunalen Besitz befinden.
Poor sustainability and increasing economic shortcomings in fossil raw material use besides further technical developments of substitutes lead to a growing potential for CO2-utilisation. Hence, we balanced CO2-based methane and methanol production in a life cycle assessment and identified CO2-utilisation as a greenhouse gas saving method. However, it requires a lot of renewable energy.
Biodiversity loss is widely recognized as a serious global environmental change process. While large-scale metal mining activities do not belong to the top drivers of such change, these operations exert or may intensify pressures on biodiversity by adversely changing habitats, directly and indirectly, at local and regional scales. So far, analyses of global spatial dynamics of mining and its burden on biodiversity focused on the overlap between mines and protected areas or areas of high value for conservation. However, it is less clear how operating metal mines are globally exerting pressure on zones of different biodiversity richness; a similar gap exists for unmined but known mineral deposits. By using vascular plants' diversity as a proxy to quantify overall biodiversity, this study provides a first examination of the global spatial distribution of mines and deposits for five key metals across different biodiversity zones. The results indicate that mines and deposits are not randomly distributed, but concentrated within intermediate and high diversity zones, especially bauxite and silver. In contrast, iron, gold, and copper mines and deposits are closer to a more proportional distribution while showing a high concentration in the intermediate biodiversity zone. Considering the five metals together, 63% and 61% of available mines and deposits, respectively, are located in intermediate diversity zones, comprising 52% of the global land terrestrial surface. 23% of mines and 20% of ore deposits are located in areas of high plant diversity, covering 17% of the land. 13% of mines and 19% of deposits are in areas of low plant diversity, comprising 31% of the land surface. Thus, there seems to be potential for opening new mines in areas of low biodiversity in the future.
National policies for resource efficiency and waste management : structures, impacts, and deficits
(2015)
Einsparpotenziale beim Kunststoffeinsatz durch Industrie, Handel und Haushalte in Deutschland
(2016)
In the future, the capacities of renewable SNG (synthetic natural gas) will expand significantly. Pilot plants are underway to use surplus renewable power, mainly from wind, for electrolysis and the production of hydrogen, which is methanated and fed into the existing gas pipeline grid. Pilot projects aim at the energetic use of SNG for households and transport in particular for gas fueled cars. Another option could be the use of SNG as feedstock in chemical industry.
The early stage of development raises the question of whether SNG should be better used for mobility or the production of chemicals. This study compares the global warming potential (GWP) of the production of fossil natural gas (NG) and carbon-dioxide (CO2)-based SNG and its use for car transport versus chemical use in the form of synthesis gas. Since the potential of wind energy for SNG production is mainly located in northern Germany, the consequences by a growing distance between production in the North and transport to the South of Germany are also examined.
The results indicate that CO2-based SNG produced with wind power would lead to lower GWP when substituting NG for both uses in either transport or chemical production. Differences of the savings potential occur in short-distance pipeline transport. The critical factor is the energy required for compression along the process chain.
The rising global demand for metals in a context of declining ore grades is driving the opening of new mines and the expansion of existing ones, disturbing substantial land areas (especially by open pits). However, how much land is currently disturbed globally? How much land could be disturbed by metal mining in 2050? This study investigates the global area disturbed by mining of iron, bauxite, copper, gold, and silver for the first time. The first part consists of the calculation of the specific land requirements, i.e. the area newly disturbed caused by the ore extraction at the mine site. The second part addresses the global area disturbed in the year 2011 whereas the third presents scenarios of how such area might evolve until 2050. The last part addresses the current and future pressures on global biodiversity by metal mines and shows possibilities for the future opening of new mines in low biodiversity areas, alleviating pressures in high biodiversity ones. This study presents the findings of the author´s dissertation hoping they are used as a frame to develop policies and incentives to reduce the amount of area directly disturbed by mines and their pressures on biodiversity.
A reduction in working hours is being considered to tackle issues associated with ecological sustainability, social equity and enhanced life satisfaction - a so-called triple dividend. With respect to an environmental dividend, the authors analyse the time use rebound effects of reducing working time. They explore how an increase in leisure time triggers a rearrangement of time and expenditure budgets, and thus the use of resources in private households. Does it hold true that time-intensive activities replace resource-intensive consumption when people have more discretionary time at their disposal? This study on environmental issues is complemented by introducing the parameters of voluntary social engagement and individual life satisfaction as potential co-benefits of rebound effects. In order to analyse the first dividend, a mixed methods approach is adopted, enabling two models of time use rebound effects to be applied. First, semi-standardised interviews reveal that environmentally ambiguous substitutions of activities occur following a reduction in working hours. Second, estimates for Germany from national surveys on time use and expenditure show composition effects of gains in leisure time and income loss. For the latter, we estimate the marginal propensity to consume and the marginal propensity to time use. The results show that time savings due to a reduction in working time trigger relevant rebound effects in terms of resource use. However, both the qualitative and quantitative findings put the rebound effects following a reduction in working time into perspective. Time use rebound effects lead to increased voluntary social engagement and greater life satisfaction, the second and third dividends.
Consumption-based CO2 emissions, which are commonly calculated by means of environmentally extended input-output analysis, are gaining wider recognition as a way to complement territorial emission inventories. Although their use has increased significantly in the last years, insufficient attention has been paid to the methodological soundness of the underlying environmental extension. This should follow the internationally agreed accounting rules of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, which addresses the activities undertaken by the residents of a country, independent from where these take place. Nonetheless, some footprint calculations use extensions that account for all the activities within the territory, which leads to methodological inconsistencies. Thus, this article introduces the most relevant conceptual differences between these accounting frameworks and shows the magnitude of the gap between them building on the data generated for the EXIOBASE model. It concludes that the differences are high for many countries and their magnitude is increasing over time.
Dauerplastik
(2015)
Politikinstrumente zur Umsetzung von Rücknahmesystemen im Bereich Elektroaltgeräte : Kurzanalyse
(2014)
Shifting the resource base for chemical and energy production from fossil feedstocks to renewable raw materials is seen by many as one of the key strategies towards sustainable development. The utilization of biomass for the production of fuels and materials has been proposed as an alternative to the petroleum-based industry. Current research and policy initiatives focus mainly on the utilization of lignocellulose biomass, originating from agriculture and forestry, as second generation feedstocks for the production of biofuels and electricity. These activities act on the assumption that significant amounts of biomass for non-food purposes are available. However, given a certain productivity per area, the current massive growth in global biofuels demand may in the long term only be met through an expansion of global arable land at the expense of natural ecosystems and in direct competition with the food-sector. Although many studies have shown the potential of biofuels production to reduce both, greenhouse gas emissions and non-renewable energy consumption, these production routes are still linear processes which depend on significant amounts of agricultural or forestry production area. Cascading use, i.e. when biomass is used for material products first and the energy content is recovered at end-of-life, may provide a greater environmental benefit than primary use as fuel. Considering waste and production residues as alternative feedstocks could help to further reduce pressures on global arable land. This research focused on thermochemical and biochemical technologies capable of utilizing organic waste or forestry residuals for energy, chemical feedstock, and synthetic materials (polymers) generation. Routes towards synthetic materials allow a closer cycle of materials and can help to reduce dependence on either fossil or biobased raw materials. The system-wide environmental burdens of three different technologies, including (1) municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification followed by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), (2) plasma gasification of construction and demolition (C&D) wood for syngas production with energy recovery, and (3) forest residuals use in a biorefinery for polyitaconic acid (PIA) production, were assessed using life-cycle assessment. The first two studies indicated that MSW gasification and subsequent ethylene and polyethylene production via FTS has lower environmental impacts than conventional landfilling. In the future, as societies may shift towards the use of renewable energy, power offset by conventional waste-to-energy systems would not be as significant and chemicals production routes may then become increasingly competitive (in terms of environmental burdens) also to waste incineration. While production cost of Fischer-Tropsch derived chemicals seems not yet competitive to fossil-based chemicals provision, future price increases in global oil prices as well as changes in waste tipping fees, and efficiency gains on site of the waste conversion systems, may alter the economics and allow carbon recycling routes to reach a price competitive to fossil-based production routes. The third study found that plasma gasification of C&D wood for energy recovery has roughly similar environmental impacts than conventional fossil-based power systems. However, process optimization with respect to coal co-gasified, coke used as gasifier bed material, and fuel oil co-combusted in the steam boiler, would allow to significantly lower the system-wide environmental burdens. The fourth study looked at PIA production from softwood hemicellulose in a stream integrated approach (with the partially macerated wood and lignin being used in other existing processes such as pulp & paper plants for conventional pulp and bioenergy production). The assessment indicated lower global warming potential, energy demand, and acidification, for the wood-based PIA polymer, when compared to corn-based PIA and fossil-based polyacrylic acid (PAA). However, water use associated with wood-derived PIA was found to be higher than for fossil-based PAA production and land occupation is highest for the wood-derived polymer. It is hoped that results of this dissertation will add to the current debate on sustainable waste and biomass utilization and to establish future supply chains for green and sustainable chemical products.
EXIOPOL (A New Environmental Accounting Framework Using Externality Data and Input–Output Tools for Policy Analysis) was a European Union (EU)-funded project creating a detailed, global, multiregional environmentally extended Supply and Use table (MR EE SUT) of 43 countries, 129 sectors, 80 resources, and 40 emissions. We sourced primary SUT and input–output tables from Eurostat and non-EU statistical offices. We harmonized and detailed them using auxiliary national accounts data and co-efficient matrices. Imports were allocated to countries of exports using United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database trade shares. Optimization procedures removed imbalances in these detailing and trade linking steps. Environmental extensions were added from various sources. We calculated the EU footprint of final consumption with resulting MR EE SUT. EU policies focus mainly on energy and carbon footprints. We show that the EU land, water, and material footprint abroad is much more relevant, and should be prioritized in the EU's environmental product and trade policies.
Einführung
(2014)
Große Anteile der Gesamtnachfrage nach kritischen Metallen werden durch die Elektro- und Elektronikindustrie verantwortet, weshalb diese Geräte eine bedeutende Sekundärrohstoffquelle darstellen. Bei auffallend niedrigen Recyclingquoten und gleichzeitigen Versorgungsrisiken kritischer Metalle nimmt die Schließung dieser Stoffkreisläufe eine wichtige Stellung für die deutsche Wirtschaft ein. Die Verluste der Metalle treten von der Sammlung bis zum Materialrecycling entlang der gesamten Entsorgungskette der Elektro- und Elektronikaltgeräte auf.
Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist es, Kriterien für die Gestaltung der Sammelgruppenstruktur der Geräte zu entwickeln und damit erhöhte Rückgewinnungsmengen solcher Metalle erreichen zu können. Ziel ist es zu klären, welche produktspezifischen, in Verkehr gebrachten und erfassbaren Ressourcen-Mengenpotenziale existieren, wie sich die Demontagefähigkeit der Produkte gestaltet und wie sich mit diesen ressourcenschutzorientierten Planungskriterien die Sammelgruppen strukturieren lassen. Die Untersuchung erfolgt als Momentaufnahme am Beispiel von Indium und ausgewählter Produkte. Damit wird eine Vorgehensweise aufgezeigt und Erkenntnisse herausgearbeitet, die modellhaft auf sämtliche kritische Metalle und Elektro- und Elektronikaltprodukte übertragbar sind.
Insgesamt wird in den Ergebnissen deutlich, dass mit einer Gruppierung der Produkte nach Ressourcen-Mengenpotenzial und Demontagefähigkeit der in Verkehr gebrachten Geräte eine vorausschauende und ressourceneffiziente Planung der Behandlungswege der einzelnen Sammelgruppen ermöglicht wird.
Global warming, the overall extraction of minerals and the expansion of cultivated land for biomass harvest are growing globally. These "Big Three" represent key environmental pressures which may lead to a continuous degradation of the living environment, if not controlled at levels with acceptable low risk. The situation is complex, because countries and regions consume products which require resources such as minerals and land in various parts of the world. Nevertheless, it is possible to measure the global resource use which is associated with the domestic consumption. In order to inform policies at the national and supranational level whether it may be necessary to adjust the incentive framework for industry and households, reference data are needed to compare the status quo of their countries with what may be deemed acceptable at a global level. This chapter outlines a rationale for the derivation of possible long-term targets for total material consumption of abiotic materials (TMCabiot) and global land use for crops (GLUcropland). The indicated targets are expressed in tentative per capita values which may serve as a first orientation and basis for further debate and research.
Emscher 3.0 : der Emscher-Umbau als Vorbild für die Gestaltung zukunftsfähiger Infrastrukturen
(2013)
Several studies in Germany aimed at the development of a sound database on existing waste prevention measures by public bodies at the local, regional and federal levels. These results are the starting point for the creation of a national prevention program, which has to be presented by all European Member States until the end of 2013 - due to the revised European Waste Framework Directive. Based on this empirical foundation, this paper draws conclusions with regard to drivers and barriers for eco-innovations in the field of waste prevention. The analysis shows that an optimized adaptation of information on waste prevention to the needs of specific target groups is still missing but could be a relevant driver. With regard to barriers the results of the study show that waste prevention is by no means always a win–win-situation. Institutional frameworks are missing to coordinate the different interests and for the exchange of experiences that could help to realize learning effects regarding innovation approaches.
This chapter addresses material leakage as a major problem of international open markets for used goods, in particular for used vehicles. It develops elements of an international metal covenant that should allow for a more sustainable management of global material flows in that area. The arguments in favour of such a proposal are as follows: Any regulation should actively seek for industry participation, taking advantage of business interest in supplying a sufficient amount of materials while lowering materials cost. It should also address public issues such as sustainability of recycling and waste. A first section analyses contracts as a tool to overcome knowledge problems that occur when many actors are involved. A second short section gives empirical evidence for material leakage in the case of used vehicles from Germany. A third section develops elements of an international metal covenant. A fourth section analyses potential impacts and discusses legal and institutional issues. Finally, some conclusions are drawn.
Nachhaltiges Ressourcen-Management : eine Herausforderung für die Politik und die Wissenschaft
(2013)
Politische und rechtliche Ansätze für inputorientierte Ressourcenziele in Europa und weltweit
(2013)
Wissen stärkt die Region
(2013)
Rohstoffkonflikte nachhaltig vermeiden : Forschungs- und Handlungsempfehlungen ; (Teilbericht 5)
(2011)
Nachhaltige Regionalpolitik
(2013)
Leasing society : study
(2012)
Europe in transition : paving the way to a green economy through eco-innovation ; annual report 2012
(2013)
Conflict minerals
(2012)
This study aims to investigate whether, to what extent and how a transition toward integrated flood management has taken place in the Dongting Lake area at the middle Yangtze. Accordingly, we conducted a longitudinal research of its flood management (1949–2009). We developed an analytical framework linking regime components to two societal learning types (double and triple-loop learning) that are key to a regime transition. Our study shows that the transition toward integrated flood management has already started, but the whole regime transformation will still take time to complete, due to, for example, the not-yet-ready decision-making processes that shape the structure changes as well as the incompatibilities between what is on paper and real implementation. To understand how the regime transition took place, we investigated where and how triple-loop learning was initiated as well as how so-called "informal learning processes" has contributed to the transition of Dongting flood management.
To achieve an efficient use and allocation of limited water resources and thus resolve increasing water use conflicts due to fast rising societal water demands, in 2000, the Chinese government started a management strategy of 'Construction of a Water Saving Society (WSS)'. It is guided by the principle that socio-economic development should consider the carrying capacity of the ecosystem and focuses on institutional innovation, building on the water rights concept. This paper explores the innovation process during the transition towards WSS by investigating the development course of the innovation process during the transition towards WSS, and the adaptive capacity of the existing water management regime underlying the innovation process. Accordingly, an analysis framework consisting of three types of governance activities and factors determining a regime's adaptive capacity was developed, based on the theory of transition management and adaptive governance. The Tianjin and Zhangye WSS experiments were selected for a deep understanding of local innovations. It is revealed that co-evolution of all three types of governance activities that are claimed to be essential for transition has taken place. However, the current adaptive capacity of the regime still needs further enhancement to support the transition towards the desired WSS in China. Finally, some general insights are provided for policy innovations in other political economies.
For decades, the Chinese government has been searching for solutions to cope with the increasing imbalance between the supply and demand of water in the Yellow River Basin. This paper aims at a better understanding of the development of the water allocation regime in the Yellow River Basin between 1950 and 2009, introducing a fresh perspective based on the notion of "regime transition". Accordingly, we investigated 1) whether so-called "Windows of Opportunity for Transition (WOPTs)" emerged, triggering a transition, and whether WOPT(s) resulted in a stable transition towards the new regime; 2) how informal learning processes and epistemic communities have contributed to the regime change. We adapted Kingdon's "multiple stream model" and identified four WOPTs from the 1950s, analyzing the reconfiguration process of the regime after the onset of the transition. Our examples of two types of informal learning processes demonstrate their contribution to the creation of WOPTs and the reconfiguration of the regime. Furthermore, this study indicates, in a qualitative manner, how epistemic communities contribute to the knowledge base of the regime, and thus to its development. Finally, we have provided a general insight into the further development of the water allocation regime and highlighted potential avenues for further studies.
Increasing urbanisation and climate change belong to the greatest challenges of the 21st century. A high share of global greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to originate in urban areas (40 % to 78 % according to UN Habitat 2010). Therefore, low carbon city strategies and concepts implicate large greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potentials. At the same time, with high population and infrastructure densities as well as concentrated economic activities, cities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and need to adapt. Scarce natural resources further constrain the leeway for long-term, sustainable urban development. The Low Carbon Future Cities (LCFC) project aims at tapping this three-dimensional challenge and will develop an integrated strategy / roadmap, balancing low carbon development, gains in resource efficiency and adaptation to climate change. The study focuses on two pilot regions - one in China (Wuxi) and one in Germany (Düsseldorf+) - and is conducted by a German-Chinese research team supported by the German Stiftung Mercator. The paper gives an overview of first outcomes of the analysis of the status quo and assessment of the most likely developments regarding GHG emissions, climate impacts and resource use in Wuxi. The project developed an emission inventory for Wuxi to identify key sectors for further analysis and low carbon scenarios. The future development of energy demand and related CO2 emissions in 2030 were simulated in the current policy scenario (CPS), using five different sub-models. Selected aspects of Wuxi's current material and water flows were analysed and modelled for energy transformation and the building sector. Current and future climate impacts and vulnerability were investigated. Recent climatic changes and resulting damages were analysed, expected changes in temperature and precipitation in the coming four decades were projected using ensembles of three General Circulation Models. Although Wuxi's government started a path to implement a low carbon plan, the first results show that more ambitious efforts are needed to overcome the challenges faced.
Northrhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the largest land of the Federal Republic of Germany. Until the 1970ies the Ruhr-area with a population of about 12 million people and a strong coal, steel and chemical industry had been plagued with severe pollution. In the 1970ies environmental protection had emerged on the international and national policy agendas. The federal and regional government launched massive legislative and economic public interventions for cleaning-up rivers, soils and air. As a result, a highly competitive eco-industry emerged. The article outlines main features of ecoindustries, the structural change of the Ruhr area and regional economic cluster policies in support of eco-industries in NRW. It draws conclusions for eco-industry policy developing from end-of-pipe towards integrated preventive approaches.
The green new deal and ecological industry policy : greening of manufacturing and energy generation
(2011)
Towards a set of indicators on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) for EEA reporting
(2010)
Resource-efficient construction : the role of eco-innovation for the construction sector in Europe
(2011)
Das Forschungsvorhaben startete im April 2008 vor Verabschiedung des Kabinettsberichts der Bundesregierung zur Deutschen Anpassungsstrategie an den Klimawandel (DAS). In der DAS wird die Bedeutung der Information über Erfordernisse zur Anpassung und der aktiven Einbindung aller gesellschaftlichen Gruppen in den weiteren Prozess der Strategieentwicklung betont. Das Forschungsvorhaben hat dazu Vorschläge für eine Einbeziehung gesellschaftlicher Gruppen über das Internet und zur Einbeziehung von stakeholdern über Dialog- und Kommunikationsprozesse gemacht. Diese Vorschläge basieren im Wesentlichen auf einer Interessenanalyse über Interviews mit Stakeholdern und der Wirtschaft zu deren Anforderungen und Erwartungen an die DAS. Daneben wurden internationale Beispiele zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel recherchiert und als "good practice" in einer Broschüre für die Öffentlichkeitsarbeit aufbereitet. Für die Internet-Plattform www.anpassung.net wurden in Form von Projektsteckbriefen konkrete Vorschläge zur interaktiven Ausgestaltung der Plattform entwickelt.Ziel des von Öko-Institut und Wuppertal Institut durchgeführten UFOPLAN-Vorhabens war es, für Deutschland zum Komplex Abfallvermeidung eine fundierte Datenbasis über bestehende Maßnahmen der öffentlichen Hand sowie über angewandte Instrumente auf kommunaler, Länder- und Bundesebene zu schaffen. Damit wurde zugleich eine Datenbasis für die Erstellung eines nationalen Abfallvermeidungsprogramms, welche die Mitgliedstaaten gemäß der novellierten Abfallrahmenrichtlinie bis 2013 erarbeiten müssen, geschaffen. Hierzu wurden die in Deutschland und im Ausland bestehenden Abfallvermeidungsmaßnahmen der öffentlichen Hand auf lokaler, regionaler, Landes- und Staatsebene tabellarisch dargestellt und entsprechend dem Ziel, der Ebene sowie einer qualitativen Bewertung ihrer Vermeidungswirkung, beschrieben, soweit Informationen hierfür vorliegen. Schließlich wurden neue staatliche Abfallvermeidungsmaßnahmen in der Literatur identifiziert und geeignete Benchmarks, soweit sie im Rahmen der Recherchen ermittelt wurden, beschrieben. Insgesamt wurden 296 Maßnahmen aus über 20 Ländern erfasst und erste Schlussfolgerungen für mögliche Schwerpunkte eines nationalen Abfallvermeidungsprogramms gezogen.
Rohstoffkonflikte nachhaltig vermeiden : Rohstoffe zwischen Angebot und Nachfrage ; (Teilbericht 2)
(2011)
Human societies face a threatening future of resource scarcity and environmental damages. This book addresses the challenge of turning these risks into opportunities and policies. It is a collection of high level contributions from experts of sustainable growth and sustainable resource management. Focussing on economics, sustainability, technology and policy, the book highlights system innovation, leapfrogging strategies of emerging economies, possible rebound effects and international market development. It puts natural resources centre stage and will make an important contribution to achieving the goal of a 21st century Green Economy.
Resource efficiency in Europe : policies and approaches in 31 EEA member and cooperating countries
(2011)
Managing solid waste is one of the biggest challenges in urban areas around the world. Technologically advanced economies generate vast amounts of organic waste materials, many of which are disposed to landfills. In the future, efficient use of carbon containing waste and all other waste materials has to be increased to reduce the need for virgin raw materials acquisition, including biomass, and reduce carbon being emitted to the atmosphere therefore mitigating climate change. At end-of-life, carbon-containing waste should not only be treated for energy recovery (e.g. via incineration) but technologies should be applied to recycle the carbon for use as material feedstocks. Thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies offer the option to utilize organic waste for the production of chemical feedstock and subsequent polymers. The routes towards synthetic materials allow a more closed cycle of materials and can help to reduce dependence on either fossil or biobased raw materials. This chapter summarizes carbon-recycling routes available and investigates how in the long-term they could be applied to enhance waste management in both industrial countries as well as developing and emerging economies. We conclude with a case study looking at the system-wide global warming potential (GWP) and cumulative energy demand (CED) of producing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from organic waste feedstock via gasification followed by Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Results of the analysis indicate that the use of organic waste feedstock is beneficial if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with landfill diversion are considered.
Fossil independence and substantial reductions in CO2 emissions seem to be possible with 2nd generation biofuels. New technologies allow a full carbon-to-fuel conversion of non-edible plant parts such as straw or wood, and the cultivation of algae or salt-resistant plants uncouples bioenergy from food production. Nevertheless, impacts on biodiversity, global land and water use are widely unclear and their competitiveness with 1st generation biofuels and electric mobility is an open question. An interdisciplinary team of Empa, University of Zurich and the Wuppertal Institute of Climate, Environment and Energy evaluated the most sustainable production techniques and assessed their potential for our future mobility.
Urban mining
(2008)
This contribution presents the state of the art of economy-wide material flow accounting. Starting from a brief recollection of the intellectual and policy history of this approach, we outline system definition, key methodological assumptions, and derived indicators. The next section makes an effort to establish data reliability and uncertainty for a number of existing multinational (European and global) material flow accounting (MFA) data compilations and discusses sources of inconsistencies and variations for some indicators and trends. The results show that the methodology has reached a certain maturity: Coefficients of variation between databases lie in the range of 10% to 20%, and correlations between databases across countries amount to an average R2 of 0.95. After discussing some of the research frontiers for further methodological development, we conclude that the material flow accounting framework and the data generated have reached a maturity that warrants material flow indicators to complement traditional economic and demographic information in providing a sound basis for discussing national and international policies for sustainable resource use.
During the last century, the consumption of materials for human needs increased by several orders of magnitude, even for non-renewable materials such as metals. Some data on annual consumption (input) and recycling/waste (output) can often be found in the federal statistics, but a clear picture of the main flows is missing. A dynamic material flow model is developed for the example of copper in Switzerland in order to simulate the relevant copper flows and stocks over the last 150 years. The model is calibrated using data from statistical and published sources as well as from interviews and measurements. A simulation of the current state (2000) is compared with data from other studies. The results show that Swiss consumption and losses are both high, at a level of about 8 and 2 kg/(cap year), respectively, or about three times higher than the world average. The model gives an understanding of the flows and stocks and their interdependencies as a function of time. This is crucial for materials whose consumption dynamics are characterised by long lifetimes and hence for relating the current output to the input of the whole past. The model allows a comprehensive discussion of possible measures to reduce resource use and losses to the environment. While increasing the recycling reduces losses to landfill, only copper substitution can reduce the different losses to the environment, although with a time delay of the order of a lifetime.
Economy-wide material flows
(2010)
Air emissions accounts
(2010)
This article addresses informational barriers to energy efficiency. It is a widely acknowledged result that an energy efficiency gap exists implying that the level of energy efficiency is at an inefficiently low level. Several barriers to energy efficiency create this gap and the presence of asymmetric information is likely to be one such barrier. The article finds that problems of moral hazard and adverse selection indeed can help explain the seemingly low levels of energy efficiency. The theory reveals two implications to policies on energy efficiency. First, the development of measures to enable contractual parties to base remuneration on energy performance must be enhanced, and second, the information on technologies and the education of consumers and installers on energy efficiency must be increased. Finally, it is found that the preferred EU policy instrument on energy efficiency, so far, seems to be the use of minimum requirements. Less used in EU legislation is the use of measuring and verification as well as the use of certifications. Therefore, it is concluded that the EU should consider an increased use of these instruments.
Renania del Norte-Westfalia (RNW) es el mayor estado federal (land) de la República Federal de Alemania. Hasta la década de 1970, la región del Rin-Ruhr, con una población de unos 12 millones de habitantes y una potente industria química, del carbón y del acero, se vio afectada por graves problemas de contaminación. En los años setenta, la protección medioambiental apareció en las agendas políticas nacionales e internacionales. Los gobiernos federales y el estatal lanzaron múltiples intervenciones legislativas y económicas para limpiar ríos, suelos y aire. Como resultado, surgió una ecoindustria muy competitiva. En este artículo, se resumen las características de las ecoindustrias y se describe el cambio estructural de la región del Ruhr. Asimismo, centrándose en el mesonivel y empleando los ejemplos de la gestión energética y la gestión municipal de residuos, se destacan los puntos fuertes y los puntos débiles de las políticas económicas regionales de clusters que apoyan las ecoindustrias en RNW.
Overviewing the European carbon (C), greenhouse gas (GHG), and non-GHG fluxes, gross primary productivity (GPP) is about 9.3 Pg yr-1, and fossil fuel imports are 1.6 Pg yr-1. GPP is about 1.25% of solar radiation, containing about 360 × 1018 J energy - five times the energy content of annual fossil fuel use. Net primary production (NPP) is 50%, terrestrial net biome productivity, NBP, 3%, and the net GHG balance, NGB, 0.3% of GPP. Human harvest uses 20% of NPP or 10% of GPP, or alternatively 1‰ of solar radiation after accounting for the inherent cost of agriculture and forestry, for production of pesticides and fertilizer, the return of organic fertilizer, and for the C equivalent cost of GHG emissions. C equivalents are defined on a global warming potential with a 100-year time horizon. The equivalent of about 2.4% of the mineral fertilizer input is emitted as N2O. Agricultural emissions to the atmosphere are about 40% of total methane, 60% of total NO-N, 70% of total N2O-N, and 95% of total NH3-N emissions of Europe. European soils are a net C sink (114 Tg yr−1), but considering the emissions of GHGs, soils are a source of about 26 Tg CO2 C-equivalent yr-1. Forest, grassland and sediment C sinks are offset by GHG emissions from croplands, peatlands and inland waters. Non-GHGs (NH3, NOx) interact significantly with the GHG and the C cycle through ammonium nitrate aerosols and dry deposition. Wet deposition of nitrogen (N) supports about 50% of forest timber growth. Land use change is regionally important. The absolute flux values total about 50 Tg C yr-1. Nevertheless, for the European trace-gas balance, land-use intensity is more important than land-use change. This study shows that emissions of GHGs and non-GHGs significantly distort the C cycle and eliminate apparent C sinks.
The papers for this special issue were originally contributed to the 2nd International Wuppertal Colloquium on "Sustainable Growth, Resource Productivity and Sustainable Industrial Policy - Recent Findings, new Approaches for Strategies and Policies" that was held from 10 to 12 September 2009 in Wuppertal, Germany. The intensive discussion during the Colloqium and the subsequent rigorous review process have helped to facilitate this process - we wish to thank all participants and contributers, as well as Sevan Hambarsoomian and Deniz Erdem for administrative support.
Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of maize-biogas and photovoltaics on a land use basis
(2010)
This study aims to stimulate the discussion on how to optimize a sustainable energy mix from an environmental perspective and how to apply existing renewable energy sources in the most efficient way. Ground-mounted photovoltaics (PV) and the maize-biogas-electricity route are compared with regard to their potential to mitigate environmental pressure, assuming that a given agricultural area is available for energy production. Existing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies are taken as abasis to analyse environmental impacts of those technologies in relation to conventional technology for power and heat generation. The life-cycle-wide mitigation potential per area used is calculated for the impact categories non-renewable energy input, green house gas (GHG) emissions, acidification and eutrophication. The environmental performance of each system depends on the scenario that is assumed for end energy use (electricity and heat supply have been contemplated). In all scenarios under consideration, PV turns out to be superior to biogas in almost all studied impact categories. Even when maize is used for electricity production in connection with very efficient heat usage, and reduced PV performance is assumed to account for intermittence, PV can still mitigate about four times the amount of green house gas emissions and non-renewable energy input compared to maize-biogas. Soil erosion, which can be entirely avoided with PV, exceeds soil renewal rates roughly 20-fold on maize fields. Regarding the overall Eco-indicator 99 (H) score under most favourable assumptions for the maize–biogas route, PV has still a more than 100% higher potential to mitigate environmental burden. At present, the key advantages of biogas are its price and its availability without intermittence. In the long run, and with respect to more efficient land use, biogas might preferably be produced from organic waste or manure, whereas PV should be integrated into buildings and infrastructures.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has matured over the past decades and become part of the broader field of sustainability assessment. To strengthen LCA as a tool and eventually increase its usefulness for sustainability decision-making, it is argued that there is a need to expand the ISO LCA framework by integration and connection with other concepts and methods. This paper explores the potential options for deepening and broadening the LCA methodologies beyond the current ISO framework for improved sustainability analysis. By investigating several environmental, economic and social assessment methods, the paper suggests some options for incorporating (parts of) other methods or combining with other methods for broadening and deepening the LCA.
This paper presents the strategy for a large EU-funded Integrated Project: EXIOPOL ("A New Environmental Accounting Framework Using Externality Data and Input-Output Tools for Policy Analysis"), with special attention for its part in environmentally extended (EE) input-output (IO) analysis. The project has three principal objectives: (a) to synthesize and further develop estimates of the external costs of key environmental impacts for Europe; (b) to develop an EE IO framework for the EU-27 in aglobal context, including as many of these estimates as possible, to allow for the estimation of environmental impacts (expressed as LCA themes, material requirement indicators, ecological footprints or external costs) of the activities of different economic sectors, final consumption activities and resource consumption; (c) to apply the results of the work to external costs and EE I-O for illustrative policy questions.
This paper reviews the current EU policy framework in view of its impact on hydrogen and fuel cell development. It screens EU energy policies, EU regulatory policies and EU spending policies. Key questions addressed are as follows: to what extent is the current policy framework conducive to hydrogen and fuel cell development? What barriers and inconsistencies can be identified? How can policies potentially promote hydrogen and fuel cells in Europe, taking into account the complex evolution of such a potentially disruptive technology? How should the EU policy framework be reformed in view of a strengthened and more coherent approach towards full deployment, taking into account recent technology-support activities? This paper concludes that the current EU policy framework does not hinder hydrogen development. Yet it does not constitute a strong push factor either. EU energy policies have the strongest impact on hydrogen and fuel cell development even though their potential is still underexploited. Regulatory policies have a weak but positive impact on hydrogen. EU spending policies show some inconsistencies. However, the large-scale market development of hydrogen and fuel cells will require a new policy approach which comprises technology-specific support as well as a supportive policy framework with a special regional dimension.
Economics of Knowledge
(2009)
The global land area required to meet the German consumption of agricultural products for food and non-food use was quantified, and the related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly those induced by land-use changes in tropical countries, were estimated. Two comprehensive business-as-usual scenarios describe the development corridor of biomass for non-food use in terms of energetic and non-energetic purposes. In terms of land use, Germany was already a net importer of agricultural land in 2004, and the net additional land required by 2030 is estimated to comprise 2.5–3.4 Mha. This is mainly due to biofuel demand driven by current policy targets. Meeting the required biodiesel import demand would result in an additional GWP of 23–37 Tg of CO2 equivalents through direct and indirect land-use changes. Alternative scenario elements outline the potential options for reducing Germany's land requirement, which reflect future global per capita availability.
Globale Rohstoffpolitik ist Umwelt-, Entwicklungs-, Sicherheits-, Innovations- und Wirtschaftspolitik in einem. Der Band analysiert aktuelle Herausforderungen globaler Rohstoffpolitik. Zugleich entwickelt er Perspektiven für ein globales Ressourcenmanagement auf der Grundlage verbesserter Transparenz und internationaler Verrechtlichung.
Sustainable management of natural resources is a crucial element for a sustainable development, but also a precondition for economic growth. The book analyses raw materials supply and resource use in a global context. The contributions present state-of-the art results and perspectives on the availability of resources. They discuss factors such as demand from emerging and other countries as well as critical shortage of some materials together with the resulting consequences for economies. It also gives new views and perspectives on the sustainable growth in ermerging economies and examines the possibilities and experiences concerning the decoupling of resource use from economic growth. Moreover, it offers cross-country comparisons with emphasis on emerging countries. A key focus is placed on China regarding its domestic energy, climate and resource policy but also its developing foreign policy in Africa.
On the one hand, biofuels may provide environmental and social benefits, for instance, when local communities in developing countries are supplied with power and process energy from oil producing plants, in particular when they are grown on land which is not suited for food production. On the other hand, the ongoing expansion of large scale energy farming for transport biofuels can lead to various environmental and social problems. Corn production for ethanol (additive to petrol) for instance resulted in nutrient pollution of the Mississippi basin and the Gulf of Mexico. The growing demand of transport biofuels in Europe can only be met by increasing imports. This contributes to the conversion of grasslands, savannahs and forests in the tropics, losses of biodiversity and additional green house gas emissions. Even if the use of biomass for other purposes, for instance, the combined production of electricity and heat usually provides a better greenhouse gas balance than transport biofuels, energy cropping remains problematic for various reasons. Whereas, when biomass is used for material purposes first, and the energy is recovered from the subsequent waste, a multiple dividend can be gained. The authors address a number of measures for improvement. They also recommend that in view of the complex circumstances of biofuel production and application, current policy mandates and targets for biofuels should be reconsidered. Biomass policies need to be integrated into a broader perspective of sustainable resource management.
Sustainable Resource Management is the result of longlasting exhaustive research by the Wuppertal Institute. Looking at material flows, industrial and societal metabolism and their implications for the economy, this new book provides radical perspectives on how the global economy should use natural resources in intelligent ways that maximise well-being without destroying lifesupporting ecosystems. It presents a vision of the future and the fundamental elements necessary for the sustainable management of the Earth's resources. It argues that the need to manage the use of our natural resources at a sustainable level can be shaped into a great opportunity for innovation and for new institutions to govern change.
A model of the use of the platinum group metals (PGMs) platinum, palladium, and rhodium in Europe has been developed and combined with a model of the environmental pressures related to PGM production. Compared to the base case presented in Part I of this pair of articles, potential changes in PGM production and use are quantified with regard to cumulative and yearly environmental impacts and PGM resource use, for the period 2005–2020. Reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions of PGM producer Norilsk Nickel could cut the cumulative SO2 emissions associated with the use of PGMs in Europe by 35%. Cleaner electricity generation in South Africa could reduce cumulative SO2 emissions by another 9%. Increasing the recycling rate of end-of-life catalytic converters to 70% in 2020 could save 15% of the cumulative primary PGM input into car catalysts and 10% of the SO2 emissions associated with PGM production. In 2020, PGM requirements and SO2 emissions would be, respectively, 40% and 22% lower than the base case. Substituting palladium for part of the platinum in diesel catalysts, coupled with a probable palladium price increase, could imply 15% more cumulative SO2 emissions if recycling rates do not increase. A future large-scale introduction of fuel cell vehicles would require technological improvements to significantly reduce the PGM content of the fuel cell stack. The basic design of such vehicles greatly influences the vehicle power, a key parameter in determining the total PGM requirement.
Das rote Gold recyceln
(2008)
World primary copper production is expected to increase due to growing demand. Reflecting the geographical divergence of copper deposits and demanding industries, copper is produced by various production paths, differing in regional and technological aspects and related environmental pressures. For the mitigation of environmental pressures related to global material flows and a more sustainable resource management, policy makers, producers and buyers require information on regional resource efficiencies and effects of the key processes within the global production chain. This study quantifies material flows of refined copper production and environmental pressures along the pyro‐ and hydrometallurgical paths for Chile and Germany. Inventories for involved unit processes are distinguished by region and most commonly applied technologies, including electric power supply. Different production paths are compared by environmental pressure indicators (primary energy requirements, total material requirements, water consumption, GHG emissions, solid waste disposal, sulphur dioxide and arsenic emissions). Alternative options for improvement of technologies and supply patterns in Chile and Germany are compared.
The policy framework for the promotion of hydrogen and fuel cells in Europe : a critical assessment
(2008)
In this article, we analyze flows of the platinum group metals (PGMs) platinum, palladium, and rhodium and the environmental impacts associated with their supply in Europe. A model of the use of PGMs in Europe has been developed, and this is combined with a model of environmental pressures related to PGM production. Seven industrial sectors and product groups form the main users of PGMs in Europe, comprising the chemical, petroleum, and glass industries; jewelry, dentistry, electronic equipment, and car catalysts. Most relevant environmental impacts of secondary production in Europe and primary PGM production in South Africa, Russia, and Canada are taken into account, including emissions of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide and total material requirement. The article quantifies the PGM flows to, from, and within Europe in 2004. The automotive industry is the single largest user of primary PGMs, and catalytic converters represent the major PGM end use. The chemical and glass industries also require large amounts of PGM but rely mostly on secondary metals. The environmental impacts of primary production exceed those of secondary production by far. An analysis of the use of car catalytic converters shows that as a result of efforts to reduce air pollutant emissions in Europe, other negative environmental impacts, such as point-source pollution and mining waste, are occurring elsewhere - for example, at extraction and refining sites in Siberia and South Africa.
This article introduces elements of a global governance regime for sustainable resource management. It argues that such an approach is needed to combat the negative impacts arising from resource extraction and use as well as to overcome the co‐ordination problems of decentralized action. A first section summarizes main conflicts arising from limited access to natural resources and security of supply, environmental impacts and the performance of resource‐rich developing countries. A second section analyses existing initiatives for sustainable resource management such as resource funds, efforts to increase transparency, programmes in development co‐operation, standards and certification, material efficiency and resource productivity as well as efforts to limit the consumption of natural resources. Though these initiative have their merits, the article concludes that more systematic institutional mechanisms are needed. The third section introduces those institutional mechanisms: it describes the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management (launched in November 2007), outlines elements of an international convention on sustainable resource management, develops the agenda for an international agency on the issue and discusses the interaction with existing international bodies such as the World Trade Organization. Written as a policy paper, the paper formulates proposals for various actors, from small‐scale miners to large‐scale global companies and governments. Its intention is to stimulate the debate and to broaden the horizon on the global dimension of using minerals.
Umweltbildung auf und durch Sportgroßveranstaltungen : Sportevents als Arena der Umweltbildung
(2007)
The use of materials and the generation of waste are linked to economic activities and in many projections these are assumed to be a constant ratio of the economic activities. This may be the case considering detailed economic activities and unchanged technology. However, the assumption of constant coefficients is questionable when linking material use and waste generation to aggregated economic activities. Therefore, in this paper, econometrics is used to test the assumption of constant waste coefficients empirically. The analyses show that an assumption of constant waste coefficients is not supported, generally, and amodel allowing for trendwise changing coefficients is developed and used for projections of waste and material flows in 25 European countries.
The material stocks in the anthroposphere are growing faster than ever due to urbanization and growing per capita use. Owing to the growing potential insecurity of raw material supply the evaluation of resources gains increasing attention. Despite growing utilization of anthropogenic deposits, ‘urban mining’ has not yet sufficiently been supported by specific exploration methods. An exploration method for anthropogenic deposits is proposed and described by application to the copper stocks of Switzerland. The method combines material flow analysis with a bottom‐up analysis of material stocks. The stock composition and temporal characteristics are analysed by surveys and literature analysis. The stock amounts to 269±31 kg capita -1 for the year 2000. The retrospective data are used as parameters to construct a dynamic stock model, which is calibrated by historical trade statistics. The potential for drafting scenarios is discussed. The stock situation in Switzerland is reviewed and compared with that of other regions.
Dezentrale Ansätze werden wichtiger : "Urban Mining" sollte künftig Element der Daseinsvorsorge sein
(2007)
Rohstoffe - weniger ist mehr
(2007)
This book considers corporate governance of sustainability from a co-evolutionary perspective. It explores the linkages between pro-active approaches at the corporate level, market-based incentives and environmental networks involving various actors. Relevant theory on corporate governance, competition, market failures and regulatory tools is also examined. The authors go on to present an assessment methodology suitable for empirical network analysis at the meso-level, and demonstrate its application using eight case studies. Based on these research results, Raimund Bleischwitz and his team draw important conclusions regarding policy analysis, sustainability assessment and the actors involved.
Globales Ressourcenmanagement : Konfliktpotenziale und Grundzüge eines Global Governance-Systems
(2007)
The enhanced use of biomass for the production of energy, fuels, and materials is one of the key strategies towards sustainable production and consumption. Various life cycle assessment (LCA) studies demonstrate the great potential of bio-based products to reduce both the consumption of non-renewable energy resources and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the production of biomass requires agricultural land and is often associated with adverse environmental effects such as eutrophication of surface and ground water. Decision making in favor of or against bio-based and conventional fossil product alternatives therefore often requires weighing of environmental impacts. In this article, we apply distance-to-target weighing methodology to aggregate LCA results obtained in four different environmental impact categories (i.e., non-renewable energy consumption, global warming potential, eutrophication potential, and acidification potential) to one environmental index. We include 45 bio- and fossil-based product pairs in our analysis, which we conduct for Germany. The resulting environmental indices for all product pairs analyzed range from -19.7 to +0.2 with negative values indicating overall environmental benefits of bio-based products. Except for three options of packaging materials made from wheat and cornstarch, all bio-based products (including energy, fuels, and materials) score better than their fossil counterparts. Comparing the median values for the three options of biomass utilization reveals that bio-energy (-1.2) and bio-materials (-1.0) offer significantly higher environmental benefits than bio-fuels (-0.3). The results of this study reflect, however, subjective value judgments due to the weighing methodology applied. Given the uncertainties and controversies associated not only with distance-to-target methodologies in particular but also with weighing approaches in general, the authors strongly recommend using weighing for decision finding only as a supplementary tool separately from standardized LCA methodology.
Global resource management : conflict potential and characteristics of a global governance regime
(2007)
Integrated systems analysis
(2007)
Approaches to address unsustainable ways of societal development constantly proliferate, but total consumption of resources and aggregate environmental impacts continue rising. This could partially be explained by weak attempts to develop comprehensive sustainability strategies that address the entire life cycle of products and especially resource extraction and use phases. This paper seeks to explore to what extent these life cycle stages and associated impacts are taken into account when various actors employ life cycle thinking and how these concerns can be better attended to in policy-making, business strategies and lifestyle choices. To accomplish this, we evaluate the efforts of the main stakeholders in reaching sustainable consumption and sustainable resource management, and impediments to further progress, and study whether and how deficits in these phases coincide and can potentially contribute to more holistic practical realization of life cycle thinking. We demonstrate that new approaches are needed to be able to tackle the international dimension of production and consumption.
Rainer Lucas bietet in diesem Buch Anregungen und Beispiele für das Eventmarketing von morgen. Er gibt konzentriert die entscheidenden Antworten auf die Kernfragen des modernen Eventmarketings: Wie können Events nachhaltiger gestaltet werden? Wie lassen sich die Ziele einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung erlebnisreicher vermitteln? Das Buch lädt zu einer Reise durch die deutsche Eventlandschaft ein. In origineller Weise vermitteln ausgewiesene Experten aus Wissenschaft und Praxis Strategien, Instrumente und Bausteine für eine neue Eventkultur. Das Werk ist ein zuverlässiges und umfassendes Handbuch für den Aufbau nachhaltiger Events. Dadurch wird das wichtigste Ziel im Eventmarketing erreicht: Mehr Wirkung bei gleichzeitig geringerem Einsatz an Mitteln.
In a German case study, environmental input-output analyses (eIOA) combined with NAMEA-type tables were conducted for eleven selected environmental pressure variables. (NAMEA is an acronym for national accounts matrix including environmental accounts.) The analyses were conducted to derive the production-cycle-wide resource use and environmental impact potentials of final-demand product groups. The methodology permits identification and preliminary ranking of 10 product chains along which about two-thirds of German production-born environmental pressures arise. The most relevant product groups are construction work, food, motor vehicles, basic metals, and electricity. The ten product groups are characterized by both high resource requirements and high residual outputs (air emissions, wastes). The EU policy areas of integrated product policy and sustainable use of natural resources may address these product chains as a priority in order to identify and explore the possibility of reducing the environmental impacts from products throughout their life cycles and to decouple environmental impacts from resource use.
The book contains the proceedings of INFER annual conference 2004, organized at the Wuppertal Institute in Germany. Within the area of environmental economics, methodological issues now seem at stake. This is because recent methods and fields of economics, like institutional economics, competition (industrial) economics, and cognitive economics, should be applied and become more established within environmental economics. The different papers address this challenge via different case studies in areas such as agriculture, biodiversity, eco-taxes, subsidies, wind energy, environmental corruption, governance, contracts, international trade, human behavior, and many others.
Die Erstellung von Gemeinschaftsgütern gilt als Problemfall für Märkte und ökonomisch handelnde Individuen. Das vorliegende Buch entwickelt einen neuen Ansatz, in dem Individuen und Unternehmen eine stärkere Rolle einnehmen. Anlass zur Markteuphorie ist jedoch nicht gegeben. Vielmehr ist es Aufgabe der Wirtschaftspolitik, solche Institutionen hervorzubringen, die das Handeln der Akteure auf direkte und indirekte Weise steuern. Dies wird im vorliegenden Buch als wissensbasierter Ansatz bezeichnet. Als Anwendungsbeispiel wird die Kreislaufwirtschaft analysiert. Ein Überblick, der die wesentlichen Thesen und Begründungsstränge enthält, führt in das Buch ein. Im folgenden Teil wird der wissensbasierte Ansatz modellhaft dargelegt. Erörtert werden die Bausteine Lernen, Kognition, Rationalität, deliberative Institutionenentwicklung und Wissen schaffender Wettbewerb. Für die Erstellung von Gemeinschaftsgütern wird ein Eigeninteresse abgeleitet, wenn der technologische und institutionelle Wandel entsprechende Signale generieren. Da beide Größen dem Einfluss von Individuen und Unternehmen unterliegen, entstehen Wechselwirkungen. Die folgenden Kapitel untersuchen den technologischen und institutionellen Wandel im Hinblick auf Potenziale zur Erstellung von Gemeinschaftsgütern. Dabei werden insbesondere neuere Unternehmenstheorien erörtert. Abgeleitet wird eine stufenförmige Grenzkostenfunktion für Institutionen und Organisationen. Ausführlich diskutiert das Buch Implikationen für die Wirtschaftspolitik. Es begründet und operationalisiert die Formulierung offener Ziele. Wirtschaftspolitik wird als Reform und Design von Institutionen konzipiert. Zu diesem Zweck werden zwölf Prüfkriterien formuliert. Dieses Konzept wird anschließend auf die Kreislaufwirtschaftspolitik übertragen. Defizite des Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetzes (KrW-/AbfG) werden herausgearbeitet. Als Reformen präsentiert das Buch neue Ziele, Wissen generierende Institutionen und ökonomische Anreize. Insgesamt ist das Buch als theorieorientierte Analyse praktischer Probleme geschrieben. Es folgt Ansätzen der Neuen Institutionenökonomik und der evolutorischen Ökonomik. Diese Ansätze werden auf die Analyse der Erstellung von Gemeinschaftsgütern und die Erarbeitung von Lösungsoptionen angewendet.
Die gesellschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen für eine ökologische Wende der EU-Regionalpolitik sind scheinbar ungünstig. Dem Vorsorgeprinzip der Umweltpolitik liegt die Annahme zugrunde, dass man auf bestimmte Tatsachen reagieren muss, weil sonst Schäden entstehen. Nach dem Soziologen Niklas Luhmann entspricht dies jedoch einer allzu einfachen Alltagsvorstellung. Der Ökonom Hans-Jochen Luhmann diagnostiziert hinsichtlich der Wahrnehmung von ökologisch relevanten Informationen eine regelrechte "Blindheit der Gesellschaft". Blockaden bei der Umsetzung von Umweltpolitik scheinen diese Befunde zu bestätigen. Der Planungswissenschaftler Arthur Benz meint in diesem Kontext, dass man bei der Durchsetzung von Planungskontrolle eben nicht mit dem freiwilligen Lernen der Akteure rechnen dürfe. Wie lässt sich unter diesen Bedingungen eine ökologische Wende der Europäischen Regionalpolitik umsetzen? Ist der Planungspessimismus, der sich in Deutschland nach einem Planungsoptimismus der 1970er Jahre durchgesetzt hat, gerechtfertigt? Welchen Wert können zielorientierte Instrumente wie etwa Indikatoren für die Umweltplanung in der Regionalpolitik noch haben? Vor dem Hintergrund gesellschaftlicher Differenzierung beleuchtet der Umweltwissenschaftler Philipp Schepelmann die Probleme, die bei der Anwendung von Umweltindikatoren in der regionalen Wirtschaftsförderung auftauchen. Für seine empirische Untersuchung im Ziel-2 Gebiet der EU-Strukturfonds in Nordrhein-Westfalen entwickelt er in Anlehnung an die soziologische Systemtheorie das Konzept der Resonanz. Resonanz bezeichnet die aktive Reaktion von sozialen Systemen auf Umweltprobleme als Voraussetzung für eine zielorientierte Umweltpolitik. Die Resonanz von Policy-Netzwerken gegenüber Umweltindikatoren kann nachgewiesen und verglichen werden. Am Beispiel der umweltpolitischen Indikatoren des Lissabon-Prozesses der Europäischen Union wird die regionale Resonanz von Indikatoren in verschiedenen Policy-Netzwerken untersucht. Das Ergebnis der Resonanzanalyse ist aus planerischer Sicht überraschend positiv: Es gibt nicht nur Blindheit und Untätigkeit gegenüber ökologischen Herausforderungen; differenzierte Policy-Netzwerke leiten in NRW erfolgreich eine ökologische Wende der EU-Regionalpolitik ein.
Der vorliegende Artikel vergleicht die Nutzung nachwachsender Rohstoffe zur Erzeugung von Energie (Wärme und Elektrizität), Kraftstoffen und Gebrauchsprodukten anhand von vier ausgewählten Umweltbelastungskategorien. Dazu wurden Ökobilanzdaten aus 11 verschiedenen Publikationen für insgesamt 45 Produktpaare auf Basis nachwachsender und fossiler Rohstoffe analysiert und bezogen auf Einwohneräquivalente pro Hektar landwirtschaftliche Fläche miteinander verglichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen im Allgemeinen Vorteile für die nachwachsenden Produktalternativen in den Kategorien Nichterneuerbarer Energieverbrauch und Treibhauspotenzial, während Produkte aus fossilen Ausgangsstoffen beim Eutrophierungspotenzial günstiger abschneiden und sich in der Kategorie Versauerungspotenzial uneinheitliche Resultate ergeben. Durch die Nutzung nachwachsender Rohstoffe zur Erzeugung von Gebrauchsgütern und Energie lassen sich durch Substitution der fossilen Produktalternativen größere ökologische Entlastungen realisieren als durch die Herstellung von Biokraftstoffen, die als Vollsubstitute für Diesel eingesetzt werden. Wesentliche Nachteile der Biomassenutzung sind mit dem Pflanzenanbau im Rahmen der konventionellen Landwirtschaft verbunden. Durch andere Bewirtschaftungsformen (z. B. Extensivierung) und eine besser an die jeweiligen Verwendungszwecke angepasste Auswahl bzw. Verarbeitung der nachwachsenden Rohstoffe könnten die Umweltbelastungen durch Energie, Kraftstoffe und Gebrauchsprodukte aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen deutlich verringert werden.
Resource flows constitute the materials basis of the economy. At the same time, they carry and induce an environmental burden associated with resource extraction and the subsequent material flows and stocks, which finally end up as waste and emissions. A reduction of this material throughput and the related impacts would require a reduction of resource inputs. And breaking the link between resource consumption and economicgrowth would require an increase in resource productivity. Material flow analysis (MFA) can be used to quantify resource flows and indicate resource productivity. In this article, we study the available empirical evidence on the actual (de-)linkage of material resource use and economic growth. We compare resource use with respect to total material requirement (TMR) and direct material input (DMI) for 11 and 26 countries, respectively, and the European Union (EU-15). The dynamics of TMR, as well as of the main components are analysed in relation to economic growth in order to show whether there is a decoupling (relative or absolute) from GDP and a change of the metabolic structure in the course of economicdevelopment. DMI/cap so far only decoupled from GDP/cap in relative terms; that is, in most countries, it reached a rather constant level but - with the exception of Czech Republic - showed no absolute decline yet. TMR/cap was reduced in two high-income countries and one low-income country due to political influence. Changes in TMR were more influenced by hidden flows (HF) than by DMI. We analyse the dynamics of the structure and composition of TMR in the course of economic development. In general, the economic development of industrial countries was accompanied by a shift from domestic to foreign resource extraction. Different relations can be discovered for the share of biomass, fossil fuel resources, construction resources and metals and industrial minerals.
Bridging the data gap
(2004)
This book presents important new research on applied eco-efficiency concepts throughout Europe. The aim of eco-efficiency is to achieve market-based measures of environmental protection, in order to enhance the prospects for sustainable development and achieve positive economic and ecological benefits. The distinguished authors discuss a number of themes surrounding eco-efficiency including the necessary conditions for technological dissemination and ecological modernization, and the role of government in enabling businesses and society to participate actively in this process. In particular, they highlight the application of existing European-based policies concerning material flows and energy. The authors also investigate some new concepts of sustainable development and provide a useful introduction to material flows analysis. In further chapters they study the emerging regulatory policies for eco-efficiency, and examine the issues of sustainable business and consumption strategies.
Wir wollen auf den Mars und sollten doch zuerst einmal auf der Erde landen. Hier warten ungelöste ökologische und ökonomische Probleme auf Lösungen. Stefan Bringezu lässt seine Leser gedanklich auf dem Planeten Erde neu landen. Dabei tauchen Fragen auf: Wie viel Verbrauch verträgt der Planet? Wo greift die Menschheit in natürliche Stoffströme ein, welche zusätzlichen Stoffströme setzt sie in Bewegung und welche Folgen haben diese? Menschliche Gesellschaft und Natur werden zu zwei komplexen Systemen, von denen das eine - die Gesellschaft - an das andere auf Gedeih und Verderb gekoppelt ist. Der Mensch ist in der Lage, seinen "Stoffwechsel" mit der Natur zu optimieren. Wie dieser gemessen werden kann und welche Lösungsansätze es bereits gibt, zeigt dieses Buch. Auch künftig wird es uns möglich sein, gut zu leben und zu wirtschaften, wenn wir den Verbrauch natürlicher Ressourcen nachhaltig gestalten.
Material flows induced by national economies can be regarded as indirect pressure indicators for environmental degradation. Economy-wide material flow analysis and indicators have been designed to monitor material and energy flows at the macroeconomic level and to provide indicators, which could contribute to management of resourceuse and output emission flows from both economic, environmental and broader sustainability points of view. These indicators can serve various purposes including monitoring the material basis of national economies and related environmental pressures, assessment of the material and resource productivity and monitoring the implications of trade and globalisation.
The main part of this paper compares the material and resourceuse of the Czech Republic, Germany and the EU-15 by means of DMI and TMR indicators over the period of 1991–2004 (1991–2000 for EU-15). At the aggregate level both indicators in all three economies do not show any clear decreasing or increasing trends over the period considered. This means that environmental pressure related to use of materials for production and consumption purposes remains rather stable. All the economies however, recorded an increase in the efficiency of transforming the material/resource inputs into economic output. The analysis further revealed that most of the dynamics of DMI and TMR in the Czech Republic tended towards a higher similarity with Germany and the EU-15. In the future, further decreases in DMI as well as in TMR of fossils fuels might be expected in the Czech Republic, which could be counteracted by increase in DMI and TMR of metal ores/metal resources and non-metallic minerals/non-metallic resources. The future development of total DMI, TMR and material/resource intensity in both the Czech Republic and Germany will depend on further shifts to less material intensive industries and services and on increasing material efficiency in production and consumption of particular products. This is not only a technological, but also a social challenge, as there are barriers in current mode of governance and in shaping of current economic and social systems to do so.