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| Title | Author(s) | Type | Year | Tags | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution of virtual water metabolic network in developing regions: A case study of Guangdong province Rapid urbanization has challenged the utilization and the circulation of water, especially in rapidly developing regions. It is necessary to disaggregate virtual water metabolic networks (VWMN) in representative areas, and examine their relevant dynamics to sustain regional development. In this study, the VWMN of Guangdong Province, China is developed to explore the ecological relationships between pairwise components and identify the ecological hierarchy structure of VWMN. Particularly, the structural analysis of VWMN is optimized and two indicators are proposed in this study. The integral virtual water recycling index (IVWRI) enable to reveal the extent that components are benefited from the existence of the VWEN and the integral virtual water productivity (IVWP) can identify economic output per unit integral virtual water utilization of each component. The results indicate that the tertiary industry fails to promote the development of its upstream industries, and the integral virtual water productivity of this industry is declining. Technology upgrading of manufacturing industry and steady import of primary products are imperative. Moreover, petroleum, coking, nuclear-fuel and construction industries are key components that clog the studied VWMN. This research provides scientific support for the robust development of VWMN, particularly in alleviating water scarcity and promoting sustainable regional development. | Evolution of virtual water metabolic network in developing regions: A ... | He, C., Huang, G., Liu, L., Xu, X., & Li, Y. | Journal Article | academic | 2020 |
Case Study
Ecological Network Analysis (ENA)
Sub-national
Throughflow Analysis
Virtual water
|
| Pathways towards regional circular economy evaluated using material flow analysis and system dynamics Circular Economy (CE) offers insights to sustainable production and consumption by integrating environmental analysis to the socioeconomic system. To promote sustainable development in Guangdong Province, this study integrates System Dynamics (SD) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) into CE theories to establish a framework to comprehensively evaluate regional economies. Nine development scenarios are further developed to provide strategic recommendations for the development of CE in Guangdong. The results of these scenarios show that the CE of Guangdong is most effective among the nine scenarios when the birth rate is reduced by about 2‰, the growth rates of the primary and secondary industries are reduced by 2%, and the growth rate of the tertiary industry increased by 2%. The biological substance consumption, fossil fuel consumption, building mineral consumption, industrial exhaust emissions and solid waste emissions are 88.39 Mt, 86.63 Mt, 108.16 Mt, 280.90 Mt, and 69.02 Mt respectively. The total material input (TMI) of 10,000 RMB of GDP and the total material output (TMO) of 10,000 RMB of GDP are 49.64 kt/10,000 RMB and 42.70 kt/10,000 RMB in 2022 respectively. Based on the status quo and simulated results, this study acknowledges the importance of population control and highlights the vigorous development of tertiary industry in economic construction. Policy interventions such as building pilot demonstrative smart cities and industrial parks would facilitate long-term sustainability of urban systems. None | Pathways towards regional circular economy evaluated using material flow analysis ... | Gao, Chengkang; Gao, Chengbo; Song, Kaihui; Fang, Kejing | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Case Study
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
System dynamics modelling (SDM)
|
| Urban water metabolism information for planning water sensitive city-regions Climate change and growing populations will stretch water resources in many city-regions globally, and urbanisation will continue to degrade water quality and upset natural hydrological flows. These pressures call for alternative urban water management approaches with improved connection with land use planning. Evaluating the water metabolism of urban areas gives a holistic picture of how water flows through and is transformed by urban settlements, to inform land use planning for sustainably managing urban water. Previous research has conceptualised how metabolism science may inform urban land use planning. In this work, we build on to identify how urban water metabolism evaluations can inform urban planning practice. We ask, ‘how can urban water metabolism evaluations support urban and water planning towards water sensitive city-regions?’ Focusing on three Australian capital city-regions, we empirically identify the knowledge needs of practitioners and compare this against the knowledge known to be generated from past urban water metabolism evaluations. This was done within a framework of urban water resource management objectives for water sensitive cities - that is, protection of water resources and hydrological flows, recognition of the diverse functions of water, and resource efficiency and supply internalisation. Based on the findings, the paper discusses five key strategic initiatives for planning for water sensitive city-regions: resource efficiency and hydrological performance benchmarks and targets for urban developments, tailoring programmes for resource efficiency, making case for regional blue-green space networks for improved hydrological performance, small and large-scale infrastructure innovation, and social and institutional innovation in urban water management. | Urban water metabolism information for planning water sensitive city-regions | Silvia Serrao-Neumann and Marguerite A. Renouf and Edward Morgan and Steven J. Kenway and Darryl Low Choy | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Case Study
Scenario analysis
Sub-national
Urban
Water
|
| Incorporating Metabolic Thinking into Regional Planning: The Case of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan A metabolic study of the South-Eastern part of the Calderona Mountain Range (Sierra Calderona) was developed in 2014 as a part of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan (SCSP). The goal of the study was to define strategies to optimise materials and energy flows in the region and, thereby, enhance the sustainability of the entire regional system. Due to its location on the outskirts of the Metropolitan Area of Valencia, Sierra Calderona presents most of the metabolic challenges and potentials that characterise peri-urban areas, giving the SCSP case a wider and transferable interest. After introducing the scope, rationale, and research questions, the article first summarises the main theoretical and methodological frameworks underpinning the integration of metabolic studies in regional and urban planning. Following our literature review, the article focuses on the way in which the metabolic analyses were inputted and informed the different phases and outcomes of the SCSP: analysis and diagnosis, regional objectives and strategies, landscape and land-use plan, sectoral plans and pilot projects. This approach was based on the combination of complementary analytical methods such as material and energy flow accounting and Ecological Footprint Analysis. Additionally, the article reflects on how new conceptual tools such as the Functional Metabolic Areas were used in the SCSP in order to operate in a complex spatial system and to generate a regional metabolic model. Subsequently, the main contributions and shortcomings of the use of metabolic inputs in the SCSP are discussed by comparing the metabolic assessment approach adopted in the SCSP with available models and methods. Finally, our conclusions suggest potential improvements and future lines of research on a two-way implication between urban metabolism research and regional and urban planning practice. | Incorporating Metabolic Thinking into Regional Planning: The Case of the ... | Juanjo Galan, Daniela Perrotti | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Case Study
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Energy Accounting
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Feeding the Urban Metabolism within Planetary Boundaries - A Policy for future-proof Phosphorus Supply of a medium-sized Western European City with respect to its Global Hinterland Cities as concentrated hubs of human activity generate 80% of global GDP, consume 70-75% of natural resources and eject 70% of the planet's waste (UNEP, 2017; UN Habitat, 2017). To satiate their demand, cities are intrinsically dependant on food supply from hinterlands rendering them responsible for global mobility of phosphorus. The element phosphorus is crucial to all life on Earth and is transported in the food supply chain which degrades agricultural soils requiring artificial fertilization. While mining deposits are depleting, health and food security of more than 54% of the global population are at stake (United Nations, 2014). Due to a lack of adequate international governance mechanisms in place, self-governing cities are left with the daunting task of reshaping the anthropogenic phosphorus consumption into a cycle to secure their survival. To test the method of urban phosphorus policy design through the lens of urban metabolism, this thesis answers the question: “How well can the medium-sized Western European city The Hague (NL) safeguard its food supply through a regional phosphorus policy that respects the phosphorus needs of the feeding hinterlands?” Based on review of relevant literature, a methodology of two stages of P policy design was generated and applied to the case study city: Firstly, an analysis of hinterland relations, biogeophysical, socioeconomic and governance dimensions of the regional context provided the foundation for a causal model of governance factors. Secondly, derived policy agenda goals are translated into supporting concrete measures that can be implemented utilizing instruments of various modes of governance. The considered data has been generated in a mixed method approach of qualitative expert interviews, literature review and quantitative substance flow modelling using the software STAN. The resulting impact on the modelled substance flows shows that the proposed policy reduces polluting emissions by 82%, mineral fertilizer imports by 49% and food-borne phosphorus imports by 10%. It increases phosphorus exports by 64% and offers an annual recovery potential from regional wastewater and solid waste flows of nearly one million euros. In conclusion, regional public governance authorities possess the means to substantially alleviate pressure on global hinterlands and ensure regional compliance with the Planetary Boundaries for phosphorus emissions. This thesis represents a first step into research of cumulative urban material governance and indicates the unused potential for increasing resilience of the urban metabolism in synergy with global feeding networks. | Feeding the Urban Metabolism within Planetary Boundaries - A Policy ... | Harseim, Lisa | Thesis | theses | 2019 |
Food and agriculture
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Panorama Paquetá A circular strategy and architectural design for the Brazilian island Paquetá, located in the heavily polluted bay of Rio de Janeiro. The current take-make-dispose economy, resulting in resource pressure and environmental problems, calls for a circular economy. Islands are perfect living laboratories, because of their clearly defined boundaries and vulnerability to external factors. In this graduation project, Ilha de Paquetá in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is taken as a case study. It suffers from the external pollution of the Guanabara Bay in both ecological and economic terms (due to a tourism decline), but the island’s metabolism itself is as linear as the system that causes the bay pollution. For successful implementation of circular interventions, a system-level perspective, based on a Material Flow Analysis for energy, water, and materials, is combined with a hyper-local and pragmatic approach to getting a real ‘sense of place’. The result is, firstly, a long-term strategy for Paquetá to improve the environmental state of the island. And, secondly, an architectural design for a beach pool that forms an alternative for the polluted beaches to enhance tourism. The pool regenerates and utilizes polluted bay water, purified via the wetlands that are integrated part of the design. The impact of the building on the island’s metabolism lies in the integration of a biodigester to reduce the organic waste outflow, and value to the local society and culture is added with adjacent spaces that accommodate room for community events and small-scale, conscious tourism. This way, the project shows how the Circular Economy system-level perspective can be combined with a hyper-local and pragmatic approach to achieve social inclusion. | Panorama Paquetá | Luken, Lodewijk | Thesis | theses | 2019 |
Circular Economy
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Metabolic relationships between cities and hinterland: a political-industrial ecology of energy metabolism of Saint-Nazaire metropolitan and port area (France) Research on urban metabolism (UM) focuses on cities' material and energy systems by identifying paths and transformation processes of all kinds of flows in urban contexts. In particular, scientific studies aim to trace the origin and destination of materials, energy, water, emissions and waste flows in order to understand relationships between cities and other spatial areas (hinterlands) that lead to political, social and environment consequences. This research paper aims to analyze complex power relationships between cities and their hinterlands. In particular, the objective is to understand the nature of these socio-material links. Are they based on synergies and cooperation, or, on the contrary, on unbalanced power and conflicts? We propose an approach which combines methodologies with the tools of Energy Flow Analysis (EFA) and semi-structured interviews, in order to develop a “political-industrial ecology” of energy metabolism (Breetz 2017; Cousins and Newell 2015). We have studied the Saint-Nazaire metropolitan area, which is constituted by an urban area and a port zone. This harbor consists in a complex network of highly energy-intensive industrial sites operating in the steel, petrochemical and agri-food industries. Based on an analysis of energy flows, institutional policies and professional practices, we have identified several situations of metabolic links that exist simultaneously. In conclusion, the metabolic relationships' framework is useful to understand how the “hinterlands-city” relationships shape and are shaped by the city's metabolism. | Metabolic relationships between cities and hinterland: a political-industrial ecology of ... | Jean-Baptiste Bahers, Audrey Tanguy, Stephanie Pincetl | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Case Study
Energy Flow Analysis (EFA)
Political-Industrial Ecology (PIE)
Sub-national
Urban
|
| The expansion of the built environment, waste generation and EU recycling targets on Samothraki, Greece: An island’s dilemma Connectivity and affluence provide communities on small islands with opportunities and challenges. Both factors drive the expansion of material stocks which in turn determines future waste generation. For islands with limited waste treatment options an effective waste management strategy is inevitable. For the Greek island of Samothraki, construction and demolition waste (CDW) represents a new phenomenon. The advent of tourism, EU funding, labor migration and the construction of a new port in the 1960s led to an expansion of the built environment unprecedented on the island. As a consequence, new types and expanding quantities of CDW put the island community increasingly in the need for action. The European Waste Framework Directive, reinforced in 2018 with the Circular Economy Package, demands from EU member states at least 70% recycling and recovery rate of CDW until 2020. In this study, a mixed methods approach enabled the integration of data from official statistics, field surveys and interviews into a dynamic stock-driven model for different infrastructure and buildings types on Samothraki from 1971 to 2016. Our results show that the material stock expanded from 175 t/cap to 350 t/cap in the given period, leading to a 15-fold increase of annual CDW generation. With a recycling rate of only 14%, the island is currently far away from meeting the recycling and recovery targets of the EU-WFD. This study provides a systematic and dynamic analysis for developing policy and management options on reducing, re-using and recycling of CDW on islands where waste treatment options are limited. | The expansion of the built environment, waste generation and EU ... | Noll, Dominik; Wiedenhofer, Dominik; Miatto, Alessio; Singh, Simron Jit | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Circular Economy
Island
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Sub-national
Time series
|
| Materials flow analysis of a desert food production system: The case of bell peppers The research presented in this paper embraces a biophysical, materials flow analysis approach, to quantify various direct and indirect environmental interactions of bell peppers grown in the Israeli Arava desert region. The study examines the material flows of one metric ton of bell peppers grown in two types of structures, greenhouses and net-houses, throughout its life-cycle, from “cradle to port” (at key export destinations). It examines materials, land, water and energy inputs, and solid waste and GHG emissions through three stages (1) pre-cultivation including the production of raw materials; (2) cultivation and packaging; (3) post-cultivation, including shipping and waste management. The research found that while there were small differences between the structures themselves, there were major differences between the production-stages. On average, the production of 1 ton of bell peppers in the region (average of the two structures) uses 691 kg of materials, an area of 131 m2, and 280 m3 of water. It generates an average of 712 kg solid waste and 1156 kg CO2e. Overall, 21% (205 kg) of the materials were used during the pre-cultivation stage, 67% (643 kg) during cultivation and 12% (118 kg) during the post-cultivation stage. The highest CO2e emissions component of both growing systems is related to the pre-cultivation stage, i.e., production of raw materials (approximately 45%), followed by the cultivation stage (about 38%) and post-cultivation, mainly transportation (17%). The analysis identified the biophysical strengths and weaknesses of each phase, it also indicates possible alternatives for reducing environmental impact, including implementation of select technologies, and points out the influence of societal-communal and economic characteristics and the need for greater investment in the role of public policy. | Materials flow analysis of a desert food production system: The ... | Sharon Ravitz Wyngaard, Meidad Kissinger | Journal Article | academic | 2019 |
Food and agriculture
Sub-national
Water (sector)
|
| Infrastructure expansion, waste generation and EU policies on Circular Economy in Samothraki, Greece: An island's dilemma For the Greek island of Samothraki, the EU recovery and recycling targets for construction and demolition waste seem currently far out of reach. For many island communities dealing with waste represents one of the major challenges towards a local sustainable development (Eckelman et al. 2014). The EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) demands from EU member states a 70% recovery and recycling rate for construction and demolition waste (CDW) by 2020. With the implementation of the 2018 Circular Economy (CE) package the significance of recycling and reuse even increased (European Commission 2016; 2018). The present study introduces a case about the small and remote Greek island Samothraki that due to numerous reasons is currently far away from meeting these targets. Since the construction of a new port in the late 1960s, the island experienced an unprecedented era of infrastructure expansion accompanied by new and complex challenges regarding CDW. With no proper management system for CDW in place, material output was so far used for backfilling or simply dumped illegally somewhere on the island or into the sea. Buildings and infrastructure provide important services to society and depending on their lifetimes can shape material demand and waste generation for a long time due to inherent path dependencies (Fishman et al. 2015; Haberl et al. 2017). By applying a dynamic bottom-up stock modelling approach (Tanikawa et al. 2015; Stephan and Athanassiadis 2018), this study aims at establishing a comprehensive analysis of drivers and quantities for resource consumption and CDW generation on the island of Samothraki for buildings and infrastructure from 1971 to 2016. | Infrastructure expansion, waste generation and EU policies on Circular Economy ... | Noll, Dominik; Wiedenhofer, Dominik; Miatto, Alessio; Singh, Simron Jit | Document | reports | 2019 |
Circular Economy
Island
Sub-national
Time series
|
| Urban Metabolism of Intermediate Cities: The Material Flow Analysis, Hinterlands and the Logistics‐Hub Function of Rennes and Le Mans (France) Although urban metabolism has been a subject of renewed interest for some years, the related studies remain fragmented throughout the world. Most of them concern major cities (megacities and/or national capitals) and, more rarely, intermediate, medium‐sized or small cities. However, urbanization trends show that together with the metropolization process, another one is characterized by the proliferation of intermediate cities. We have studied the metabolism of two French intermediate cities for the year 2012: Rennes Métropole (400,000 inhabitants) and Le Mans Métropole (200,000 inhabitants). To this end, we used material flow analysis (MFA) based on the methodology developed by Eurostat, adapted to the subnational level. This has been made possible by the use, for the first time, of very precise statistical sources concerning freight. We have developed a multiscale approach in order to weigh the urban metabolism of those two cities and to compare it to other cases and larger territories. This allows a better understanding of the specific territorial metabolism of intermediate cities, their hinterlands, and their logistics‐hub function. We conclude with the “urban dimension” of social metabolism, and, thanks to the multiscale approach, to the debate regarding logistical hubs, dematerialization, and territorial autonomy. | Urban Metabolism of Intermediate Cities: The Material Flow Analysis, Hinterlands ... | Bahers, Barles, Durand | Journal Article | academic | 2018 |
Case Study
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Multi-scale
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Foundations of Material and Energy Flow Analysis and Types of Application for Governing Territories and Organisations Material and energy flow analysis (MEFA) is a helpful tool for understanding systems and is essential in several applications. It is based on accounting approach of flows and on mass and energy conservation principles. MEFA was particularly important for industrial development, but it is now also very useful to tackle ecological issues. Indeed, it allows for describing material dynamics and interactions with the environment at different scales: from micro level for an industrial process or an organisation (company, administration ...) to macro level for a territory (city, region, country ...). MEFA can also be performed at a transversal scale when realising a life-cycle inventory for a given product. Even with specific methods for each of those scales, the analysis have common basis and can have similar uses. We identified in literature different typologies of applications: environmental impacts assessment, process optimization, study of material dispersion and deposit, identification of local resources, legislative contribution, communication on environmental impacts and progresses, urbanism consideration, building of a territory shared vision including circular economy and resiliency consideration. MEFA have thus a large panel of applications to tackle sustainable development according different societal and technical perspectives. Hence, it should be included among the governance tools of organisations and territories. However this will be possible only if we success to overcome several difficulties: managing a big amount of data; making feedbacks accessible to uninitiated people through different understanding frameworks; developing legislation in favour of material accounting; and gathering various competences in order to correctly perform and interpret MEFA. L’analyse de flux de matières et d’énergie (AFME) est un outil d’aide à la compréhension des systèmes essentiel pour de nombreuses applications. Elle se base sur une approche comptable des flux et sur les principes de conservation de la masse et de l’énergie. L’AFME a joué un grand rôle dans le développement industriel, mais a surtout connu un regain d’intérêt avec l’émergence des problématiques environnementales. Elle permet en effet de décrire les dynamiques matérielles et les interactions avec l’environnement à différentes échelles : du niveau micro pour un processus industriel ou une organisation (entreprise, administration…), au niveau macro pour un territoire (ville, région, pays…). Il est aussi possible de décliner l’AFME à une échelle transversale en réalisant un inventaire du cycle de vie d’un produit donné. Malgré des spécificités méthodologiques pour chacune de ces échelles, les AFME ont des fondements communs et peuvent avoir des usages similaires. Nous avons ainsi recensé dans la littérature plusieurs typologies d’applications : évaluation des impacts environnementaux, optimisation des processus, étude de la dispersion de la matière et identification des gisements, identification des ressources locales, apport d’éléments juridiques, communication sur les progrès et impacts environnementaux, prise en compte dans les projets d’aménagement urbain et construction d’une vision partagée d’un territoire, de sa dynamique d’économie circulaire et de ses capacités de résiliences. Ainsi, les AFME présentent un large panel d’applications permettant d’aborder le développement durable sous différents angles sociétaux et techniques. À ce titre, elles méritent leur place parmi les outils de gouvernance des organisations et des territoires. Toutefois, avant de généraliser les AFME, il reste un certain nombre de difficultés à surmonter. Il s’agit de pouvoir manipuler des données nombreuses, de restituer les résultats à un public non initié à travers différents cadres théoriques, de faire évoluer la législation en faveur de la comptabilité matière et de mobiliser des compétences diverses et spécifiques pour réaliser et interpréter correctement les AFME. | Foundations of Material and Energy Flow Analysis and Types of ... | Ribon, Benoit; Badariotti, Dominique; Kahn, René | Journal Article | academic | 2018 |
Multi-scale
National
Sub-national
Urban
|
| A Methodology Concept for Territorial Metabolism – Life Cycle Assessment: Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling from Urban to Territorial Assessment To allow for the assessment of regional-scale geographically non-contiguous production system derived environmental impacts, a combined method of Territorial Metabolism – Life Cycle Assessment (TM-LCA) is proposed. By creating a two-pronged framework for the development of background system modelling, the TM-LCA method allows for process-based environmental impact modeling at a regional scale utilizing the concept of a production territory for the assessment of changes to durable production systems, such as energy infrastructure and agricultural systems. The TM-LCA framework creates the opportunity for direct assessment of environmental impacts, incorporation of system dynamics, and the use of multi-criteria decision analysis, which might be difficult or impossible to implement in other regional scale environmental impact assessment frameworks. | A Methodology Concept for Territorial Metabolism – Life Cycle Assessment: ... | Joshua Sohn, Giovanna Croxatto, Morten Birkved | Journal Article | academic | 2018 |
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Method
Sub-national
|
| The Sustainability of Humanitarian Aid: The Nicobar Islands as a Case of ‘Complex Disaster' By virtue of being close to the epicentre, the Nicobar Islands located in the Bay of Bengal was severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Overwhelming aid followed, transforming an indigenous community of hunters-and-gatherers and coconut growers into a consumer society in a matter of months. Based on several years of fieldwork, this chapter describes the tsunami and its aftermath, the role of aid organisations, the media and the government in driving the islanders from a self-reliant to an aid dependent society, plagued with social conflicts. We call this a ‘complex disaster’, a situation that has fundamentally challenged the socio-ecological system to reproduce itself, an effect more severe and longer lasting than what the disaster itself had accomplished. In other words, a complex disaster is a consequence of inappropriate interventions following a “simple” disaster, which affects the social system’s ability to regenerate, to govern its own recovery, by interfering with its cultural, economic and political regulation. This in turn effects the environmental relations of the society, and its social metabolism. | The Sustainability of Humanitarian Aid: The Nicobar Islands as a ... | Singh, Simron; Fischer-Kowalski, Marina; Haas, Willi | Book Section | academic | 2018 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Rural
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
Time series
|
| Spatial Patterns of Land Cover Dynamics on Samothraki Island, Applying Remote Sensing on complex Mediterranean Pastures In the Mediterranean Basin land cover and land use are tightly coupled (e.g. Aranzabal et al. 2008; Röder et al. 2008; Plieninger et al. 2011). Grazing is a main contributor to the semi-natural Mediterranean landscape. Land cover change is highly and sensibly linked with alterations of local grazing management (e.g. Verburg et al. 2009). The north-Aegean island Samothraki shows alarming signs of inadequate grazing (Fischer-Kowalski et al. 2011; Biel & Tan 2014; Fuchs 2014). Patterns of overgrazing and accompanying erosion are obvious. Local LC-dynamics seem to put the island's sustainable development at risk. Samothraki may torpedoes its own future possibilities and final intention to become a member of UNESCO’s Man-of-Biosphere Programme. In this sense, a multiple remote sensing approach was employed to assess spatio-temporal land cover information and former dynamics of ecosystem properties on the small island. Present land cover types were combined with time series data of ecosystem properties (NDVI) of the last three decades (1984-2015). LANDSAT-footprints provide high-resolution data (USGS (United States Geological Survey) 2016b). The available open-source dataset was reviewed, adequate data selected and pre-processed. A Maximum-Likelihood-classification delivered discrete vegetation-information of nine LC-types (Congedo 2015). Satellite-calibrated NDVI-values were calculated for 16 data-points. Kmeans-clustering was applied to finally assign NDVI-TS-data to five trend categories that indicate specific increase, decrease or non-dynamics of NDVI. Qualitative on-site assessments of ground-truth LC validate the classification outcomes and document areas that show high dynamics of NDVI. The TS-analysis shows that during the first investigation period vast areas suffered a substantial downturn trend of the vegetation state (hotspots of grazing). Since 2003 most parts of the island experienced a slightly increasing land cover. On the one hand, the course of local land cover dynamics can be explained by highly fluctuant and heterogeneous grazing pressure on Samothraki. Furthermore, Ground-truth assessments highlighted that areas that have once undergone degradation of vegetation cover, are now prone to be affected by irreversible soil erosion. On the other hand, undesired shrub encroachment and weed invasion result in a wide-spread increase of local vegetation during last years. The results were embedded and discussed in the local process framework (e.g. Lasanta & Vicente-Serrano 2012) of the island’s specific grazing regime. Samothraki’s grazing system was strongly influenced by basic land use transitions at greater scales. First the local mode of livestock breeding underwent intensification processes (e.g. Kosmas et al. 2015), accompanied by a general disregard of the local rangeland state (e.g. Kizos et al. 2013) and followed by an effort-minimising style of farming that offers hardly any prospects for local breeders. This assessment reveals that concentrating grazing (e.g. Zervas 1998; Röder et al. 2007) of unregulated livestock as well as abandonment of labour-intensive management practices (e.g. Kizos et al. 2013; Giourga et al. 1998) occurred on the island. Although vegetation cover re-increases, related potentials of general increases in pasture productivity seem to be unused. Rather land abandonment processes influence the landscape development of Samothraki Island. Today accelerating bush encroachment and the loss of top soils are the main limiting factors of re-obtaining a sufficient local grazing capacity. Current land use patterns indicate great missing potentials in terms of a worthwhile grazing- and land-based livelihood in the future. Finally, the applied remote sensing approach can serve as an essential monitoring tool for future LC-dynamics of Samothraki Island. | Spatial Patterns of Land Cover Dynamics on Samothraki Island, Applying ... | Löw, Markus | Thesis | theses | 2017 |
Island
Single point in time
Sub-national
|
| Coupling Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) Methodologies for Screening Flow and Emission of Biomass Energy in the Agricultural System In the agriculture sector, sustainability retention of biomass management is a complicated issue, especially without increasing potential damage towards the environment. This study aims to develop an integrated MAGI conceptual framework using Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to measure and display spatial biomass energy flow in an agricultural system in Kuala Terengganu. The scope for this research consists of two dominant pools namely crop production and livestock production. By integrating the MFA inventory data, biomass energy model for the year 2016 has been developed based on early results obtained. The study found that the major portion of the energy is focused in crop production, which is 56% higher than livestock production. The findings also estimated 35% agricultural waste recovery potential It seems that the integration of MFA and GIS is an interesting, ideal, and powerful combination of decision making tool because it is able to provide information and firm decision on the development of bioenergy management system and can be used to implement strategies to reduce energy use and pollutants released into the environment. | Coupling Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) ... | Latifah A. Ghani | Conference Paper | None | 2017 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Food and agriculture
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Sub-national
|
| Estimating the Potential for Urban Mining in Paris Region Construction materials are the largest flows entering urban areas after water, while they constitute the top waste deposit (Matthews et al., 2000). The consumption of these mostly non-renewable materials generates environmental impacts and land-use conflicts, from extraction to end-life management and especially storage. Moreover, urbanisation strongly constrains local mineral resources extraction, which leads to the extension of the supplying areas. Materials contained in a city today, in the form of buildings and networks, could potentially be recycled tomorrow through urban mining and so partly substitute for primary resources in highly urbanised countries (Brunner, 2011). The joint analysis of flows and stock of construction materials is therefore an important issue in terms of understanding and managing the metabolism of socioeconomic systems. This is bound up with significant methodological challenges concerning the knowledge of flows and stock of existing materials, in terms of quantity and location, along with short-term forecasting which is essential to anticipating and acting on metabolism. A three years research project launched in 2014 by Géographie-Cités laboratory aims at helping regional authorities to set urban mining objectives until 2030. It is financed by the regional council (Région Ile-de-France) which is in charge of the C&D waste management plan, and the regional office for environment (DRIEE) responsible of the quarries regulation plan. First, construction materials flows were studied through a top-down material flow analysis for Paris Region and its administrative divisions (départements) in 2001 and 2013. The Eurostat top-down MFA method adapted to urban and regional scales by Barles (2009) was used. Then the stock contained in buildings and networks was studied in terms of quantity and location for the entire region through a bottom-up assessment. For buildings, a 3D geographical database called BD Topo® was matched with local tax records which contain information on construction years, economic activities and materials in wall structures. Materials stocked in road, rail, electricity, gas, heat and water networks were estimated with BD Topo® and data from networks managers. Domestic material consumption (DMC) of Paris region reaches 2.5 t/inhab. in 2013. Annual net addition to stock amounts for 2.0 t/inhab. while total stock estimation is 226 t/inhab. While non metallic minerals form 95 % of the DMC, used domestic extraction of these materials decreases and only amounts for 85 % of non metallic minerals imports in 2013. Paris urban area (city and petite couronne) has the lowest DMC (1.8 t/inhab.) in the region, but also the most important local and exported processed outputs (0.8 t/inhab.). Regional development plan for 2030 (SDRIF) sets high annual construction objectives for Paris urban area that imply a strong increase of building renewal. Buildings form 79 % of material stock in this area with a building stock density that reaches 12,277 t/ha in 2013. Objectives of the development plan and statistics on demolition during the last decade are used to estimate future input and output flows until 2030 and hence the potential for urban mining. | Estimating the Potential for Urban Mining in Paris Region | Sabine Barles, Vincent Augiseau | Conference Paper | None | 2017 |
Construction
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Single point in time
Sub-national
Time series
Urban
|
| An Urban Metabolism and Carbon Footprint Analysis of the Jing-Jin-Ji Regional Agglomeration Urban energy metabolism includes processes for exploiting, transforming, and consuming energy, as well as processes for recycling by-products and wastes. Embodied energy is the energy consumed during all of these activities, both directly and indirectly. Multiregional input-output (MRIO) analysis can calculate the energy consumption embodied in flows among sectors for multiple cities or regions. Our goal was to address a problem apparent in previous research, which was insufficient attention to indirect energy flows. We combined MRIO analysis with ecological network analysis to calculate the embodied energy consumption and the energy-related carbon footprints of five sectors in three regions that comprise the Jing-Jin-Ji agglomeration, using data from 2002 and 2007. Our analysis traced metabolic processes of sectors from the perspective of final consumption. Based on the embodied energy analysis, we quantified the indirect energy consumption implied in exchanges of sectors and its distribution and identified the relationships formed through the indirect consumption to analyze the roles of providers and receivers in the system. Results showed that the embodied energy consumption for the Jing-Jin-Ji region increased from 2002 to 2007 as a result of increased energy consumption in Tianjin and Hebei. Overall, consumption of Beijing decreased likely attributable to the fact that government policies relocated industries during this time in anticipation of the Olympic Games. The relationships among sectors changed: Beijing changed from a net exporter to an importer, whereas Hebei changed from a net importer of energy from Beijing to an exporter to Beijing, and Tianjin served as an importer in both years. | An Urban Metabolism and Carbon Footprint Analysis of the Jing-Jin-Ji ... | Zheng, Hongmei and Fath, Brian D. and Zhang, Yan | Journal Article | academic | 2017 |
Carbon Footprint (CF)
Case Study
Ecological Network Analysis (ENA)
Energy
Multi-Region Input-Output (MRIO) Analysis
Sub-national
Time series
Urban
|
| Local Material and Energy Flow Analysis for the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada To address global environmental challenges, resource use patterns at local and sub-national scales can provide relevant insights into drivers and how these link to local policy and decision-making. The Region of Waterloo is often referred to as “Canada’s Silicon Valley” consists of the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries and the tri-cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo. Close to Toronto, and reputation of being the tech hub, Waterloo’s population (mainly from immigration) is on the rise and region is under rapid transition from a rural to an increasingly urban system being connected by rapid transit systems. To better understand the region from a systems perspective and to provide input into sustainability policies of the region, the concept of social metabolism is applied. Society’s metabolism measures pressures on the environment where increasing throughput can have negative impacts on ecosystem and human health in the short and long term. Material and Energy Flow Analysis (MEFA) is conducted to calculate derived indicators of biomass and energy use for the Region of Waterloo in accordance with established conventions. Using a number of MEFA indicators, the paper will outline some of the major sustainability challenges in resource use patterns in the region since 2006. This study is the first to conduct a material and energy flow analysis for the Region of Waterloo in three points in time. Data on extraction, consumption, imports, and exports of various biomass and energy flow indicators will be presented. Results from MFA show that the Region of Waterloo has a high import dependency for food crops and high domestic extraction of feed crops mainly fodder corn And results observed from Energy Flow Analysis indicates that the Region of Waterloo imports 100% of its technical energy and is highly dependent on outside markets. This study will encourage discussions on food and energy security in the region and help the policymakers in the region to make informed decisions. This research adds to the growing data points of research on Material and Energy flow analysis and social metabolism and serves as a starting point for more related research in sub-national socio-metabolic studies. None | Local Material and Energy Flow Analysis for the Region of ... | Arunkumar Senthilnayagam | Thesis | theses | 2017 |
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Environmental studies of water resources in the Tandilia region The work shows the progresses achieved on the environmental studies carried out on the water resource, in hills and foothills sectors of Tandilia region. The main objective was to know in depth the environmental hydrological analysis in the region, based on the research group background studies. The specific objectives were: to analyze the quality, dynamic and management of surface resources; to evaluate the groundwater management in the region, identifying its main limitations and strengths; and the comparative analysis of the groundwater system in the Langueyú and Del Azul basins. The study starts from an integral approach, considering water as a component of the environmental system. For each objective, specific methodologies were applied, including techniques and tools of natural and social sciences. The main results showed the flow and quality variations in the Langueyú stream from its headwaters to downstream, as well as the water and habitat quality at the Chapaleofú recreation area in Rauch. The advances in the Lago del Fuerte hydrological characterization showed the importance of the relation between groundwater and surface water and the affectation by effluent discharges. Regarding to the management of surface water in the Langueyú basin and the recreation zone in Rauch, one of the main problems detected is the low or null participation by the resource’s users. The peri-urban and rural sectors analysis also identified this weakness, and the lack of a systemic approach and a strong institutional policy. Moreover, the comparison of groundwater hydrology in the Langueyú and Del Azul basins shows that the main differences are found in human management. It was concluded that water management has shortcomings in the different work levels analyzed, which have an impact on water resources quality and dynamic. Se presentan avances de estudios ambientales sobre el recurso hídrico en sectores serranos y periserranos de Tandilia. El objetivo general fue la profundización del análisis hidrológico ambiental en la región, basado en los antecedentes del grupo de investigación. Los objetivos específicos fueron: analizar la calidad, dinámica y gestión del recurso superficial; evaluar el manejo del agua subterránea en la región identificando sus principales limitaciones y potencialidades; y el análisis comparativo del sistema hídrico subterráneo en las cuencas de los arroyos Langueyú y Del Azul. Se parte de una visión integral, considerando al agua como un componente del sistema ambiental. Para cada objetivo se aplicaron metodologías específicas, que incluyeron técnicas y herramientas de las ciencias naturales y sociales. Los principales resultados mostraron las variaciones de caudal y calidad en el arroyo Langueyú desde su cabecera hacia aguas abajo, así como de la calidad del agua y del hábitat en el balneario del arroyo Chapaleofú en Rauch. Los avances en la caracterización hidrológica del embalse del Lago del Fuerte muestran la importancia del carácter efluente de sus tributarios y la afectación por vuelcos antrópicos. Tanto en la gestión del agua superficial en la cuenca del Langueyú como en el balneario de Rauch, uno de los principales problemas detectados es la escasa o nula participación de los usuarios del recurso. El análisis en sectores periurbanos y rurales identificó también esta debilidad, y coincidió en la falta de una visión integral y de una política institucional clara. Además, de la comparación de la hidrología subterránea en las cuencas del Langueyú y Del Azul se desprende que las principales diferencias se hallan en el manejo antrópico. Se concluyó que la gestión posee falencias en las diferentes escalas de trabajo analizadas, que repercuten en la calidad y dinámica de los recursos hídricos. | Environmental studies of water resources in the Tandilia region | Victor Alejandro Ruiz de Galarreta, Corina Iris Rodríguez, Rosario Soledad Barranquero, Marisol Cifuentes, Miguel Ángel Quiroga, Roberto Landa, Anahí Tabera, Agustina Cortelezzi, Leandro Bogetti, Ariel Bidaure | Journal Article | academic | 2017 |
Sub-national
Water (sector)
|
| The role of science in sustainability transitions: citizen science, transformative research, and experiences from Samothraki island, Greece We highlight the importance of island research that aims to achieve sustainability transitions. All too often, developmental priorities are largely defined by economic policy imperatives, and island research either ignores or masks such normative connotations. This article reports on ten years of transdisciplinary socioecological research on the Greek island of Samothraki. We sequentially: (i) introduce socioecological thinking and the conceptual framework of social ecology, and show how this is operationalised and applied on this case study, and (ii) highlight the importance of a transdisciplinary research approach, in promoting island sustainability. We conclude with a plea for more transformative research and citizen research in the direction of sustainability within island studies. | The role of science in sustainability transitions: citizen science, transformative ... | Petridis, P; Fischer-Kowalski, M; Singh, S.J; Noll, D. | Journal Article | academic | 2017 |
Island
Rural
Sub-national
|
| Accounting for material flows across the Center-Val de Loire region This report deals with an Material Flow Analysis (MFA) for the region Centre Val de Loire in France. It was driven by the DREAL Centre-Val de Loire which wanted to get a regional MFA. This MFA will allow to analyze those main flows which get inside the system, to be transformed, stored or dischared in the nature. In order to so, the DREAL asked the CEREMA to realize this MFA according to the Region Centre-Val de Loire characteristics. Based on this study, the DREAL's aim was also to design more efficient resource strategies and management. Ce rapport présente les résultats d'une Analyse de Flux de Matières (AFM) réalisée à l'échelle de la Région Centre-Val de Loire en France. La DREAL Centre-Val de Loire a souhaité disposer d’une comptabilité des flux de matière à l’échelle de la région lui permettant d’analyser les principaux flux de matière entrant dans le territoire, pour y être transformés, stockés ou rejetés vers la nature en flux sortant. Elle a confié au Cerema la réalisation de cette étude adaptée en fonction des particularités du territoire. Par ailleurs, le second objectif de la DREAL est, à partir de cet examen, d’élaborer des stratégies concrètes visant une meilleure efficacité dans l’utilisation des ressources du territoire. | Accounting for material flows across the Center-Val de Loire region | Cécile Dormoy & Cassandre Mercier | Report | reports | 2017 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Sub-national
|
| On the circularisation of territorial metabolism The circularisation of urban metabolism has appeared as policy objective in cities around the world. But many policies are not “authentically” circular and based on wrong assumptions (Arnsperger and Bourg, 2016). This article prolongs this critical perspective and examines the implications of circularisation for throughput intensity, the spatial structure and socio-technical agencies of metabolistic exchanges. This approach underlines the salience of Political Economy issues that have so far not been addressed in the literature on circular economy. More specifically, we document the existence of cleavages such as pro-growth vs post-growth and technocratic vs emancipatory that are inherent to alternative interpretations of circular economy. Taking into account these issues leads to a more accurate understanding of the social-ecological complexity of urban metabolism, but comes at the cost of lower practical applicability. In order provide operative input to current policy discussions, the complex and mostly idiosyncratic nature of circular metabolism should be addressed in localised, case-specific studies that combine the (mostly quantitative) research on biophysical flows with the (predominantly qualitative) insights on socio-economic transitions. | On the circularisation of territorial metabolism | Stephan Kampelmann | Book Section | academic | 2017 |
Circular Economy
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Urbanisation processes as key for analysing construction materials flows and stocks: Paris Region case study Urbanisation processes generate various urban structures (Steadman, 1994) which have a significant effect on urban metabolism, as shown for instance for residential heat-energy demand by Rode and colleagues (2014). Those processes have yet received little attention in studies on construction materials flows and stocks. Indeed, analysis is often based on criteria such as population size or gross domestic product and forecasting on the assumption of homogeneity across national or regional areas (Augiseau and Barles, 2017). Whereas some studies assume different urban structures to forecast inflows (Schiller, 2007), future outflows are generally estimated through average lifetimes or survival functions which do not consider urbanisation processes. Yet statistics show that buildings demolition strongly differs within a country, between rural or urban areas, as well as between urban areas according to their development dynamics (Huuhka and Lahdensivu, 2016). Miatto and colleagues (2017) also show that the survival functions generally used in dynamic materials flows analysis are not adapted to cities like Salford (Greater Manchester, UK) where a significant urban renewal occurred. Considering urbanisation processes would improve forecasting by adapting the parameters used in dynamic models. This would also bring a better understanding of past and present flows dynamics in terms of total mass and distribution between built works, and especially between buildings and networks. Indeed, while debris from building demolition are mainly recycled in road construction in countries like Japan, road networks development declines and may lead to an imbalance between the supply and demand of recycled crushed stone (Hashimoto et al., 2007). Anticipating such changes is important to implement appropriate recycling and dematerialisation policies. Moreover, taking into account urbanisation processes enables a better comparison of flows and stocks in different areas. | Urbanisation processes as key for analysing construction materials flows and ... | Vincent Augiseau, Sabine Barles | Conference Paper | None | 2017 |
Construction
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Energy metabolism of the Balearic Islands (1986–2012) Researchers from multiple disciplines point to the link between fossil fuel consumption and socio-ecological deterioration. Studying the energy metabolism of the Balearic Islands (1986–2012) gives insights on the ecological, economic and social consequences of regional specialization in mass tourism. The methodology applied, Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), has been developed in the last decades to analyze societal metabolism from the perspective of complex systems. This study has allowed us to see that since the entry of Spain in the European Economic Community in 1986, the real-state/tourism business model has been reinforced giving place to a higher level of consumption of fossil fuels, an increase in work instability and a diminishing of labor productivity. | Energy metabolism of the Balearic Islands (1986–2012) | Ginard-Bosch, F.J; Ramos-Martin, J. | Journal Article | academic | 2016 |
Energy (sector)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Follow the N and P road: High-resolution nutrient flow analysis of the Flanders region as precursor for sustainable resource management Resource-efficient nutrient management is key to secure food production in the context of a growing global population, rising resource scarcity and increasing pressure on the environment. To map the potential towards increasing nutrient use efficiencies and reduce environmental losses, a high-resolution insight of the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrient streams is pivotal. In this study, a substance flow analysis for N and P is presented for the nutrient intensive region of Flanders (6,211,065 inhabitants) in Belgium for the year 2009. A set of 160 nutrient fluxes was quantified throughout 21 economic and environmental compartments, with a particular focus on 10 waste management processes. A total nutrient load of 20 kg N cap−1 yr−1 (ca. 73% to the air and 28% to surface waters) and 0.53 kg P cap−1 yr−1 (to surface waters) is emitted to the environment; with crop and livestock production as the main contributors (49% of N and 36% of P). The food supply chain revealed a fertilizer-to-consumer efficiency of 14% for N as well as for P, with important losses embedded in waste streams such as excess manure. Advanced manure and waste processing facilities nevertheless offer the opportunity for enhanced nutrient recycling to increase the nutrient use efficiencies and reduce the dependency of inorganic fertilizers. | Follow the N and P road: High-resolution nutrient flow analysis ... | Joeri Coppens and Erik Meers and Nico Boon and Jeroen Buysse and Siegfried E. Vlaeminck | Journal Article | academic | 2016 |
Sub-national
|
| Spatial flow analysis of water pollution in eco-natural systems The disjunction of ecological and socioeconomic sciences is one of the main obstructions in current human-natural integrated systems research. Therefore, gridded GIS technology is introduced in an attempt to achieve the spatial flow analysis of water pollution in eco-natural systems. With this unified GIS platform, an input-output table and one-dimensional water quality model are chosen to manifest the spatial economic flows and spatial natural flows of water pollution separately. Finally, the comprehensive effect of the spatial circulation of water pollution in eco-natural systems is assessed. A case study of the framework is carried out in the Changzhou District of Taihu Lake, China, and the main results show the following: (1) COD (chemical oxygen demand) direct emissions represent the characteristics of high intensity and clustering in industrial regions; control unit 8 is the largest secondary emissions unit, representing up to 41.79% of the total, whereas the emissions of the primary industry tend to be low intensity and widespread. (2) The gray virtual water flows from the primary industry to other heavy industries (except the chemical industry) is the main flow type; the transfer amount adds up to 2512 t, and the inter-units with the largest occupation of water environment capacity (WEC) upstream to downstream are 8-9, nearly up to 1548 t. (3) Under the interaction of positive and negative functions of economic flows and natural flows, the final effect of pollution transfer may be offset, environmental degradation or environmental improvement. This study could provide a basis for ecological compensation, environmental exteriority and optimization of industrial structure layouts. http://mewkid.net/buy-amoxicillin/ - Amoxicillin <a href="http://mewkid.net/buy-amoxicillin/">Amoxicillin</a> twa.rdzf.metabolismofcities.org.jgm.oz http://mewkid.net/buy-amoxicillin/ | Spatial flow analysis of water pollution in eco-natural systems | Zhou, Xiyin Lei, Kun Khu, Soon Thiam Meng, Wei | Journal Article | academic | 2016 |
Case Study
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Input-Output Analysis (IOA)
Sub-national
Water
|
| Socio-economic study and assessment of the Aquitaine region At the level of the region, the commitment in the National Program of Inter-corporate Synergies corresponds to what is called "metabolism approaches" at the micro level on the presented schema. The purpose of this document deals, according to the modeling presented, with metabolism approaches at the macro scale. This type of approach benefits from the precedence of work already carried out at the national level (CGDD, 2013) or sub-national (Barles, 2009, EME, 2011, Alterre Bourgogne, 2013, Georgeault, 2015) and the method for carrying out this exercise was gradually built on the basis of the publications of the European Statistical Office (Eurostat, 2001, 2009) and the recent guide of the French Ministry of Ecology (CGDD, 2014). French know-how in the field is real and according to the United Nations, concerning the observation of the materiality of territories, "the most sophisticated framework has been developed by Barles based on the Paris city-region" (UNEP, 2013 , p34). This is the path taken by public policies to produce the monitoring indicators dedicated to the circular economy (Aurez & Georgeault, 2016). We have chosen to produce these indicators on the basis of the framework that is slowly becoming the norm while adding more traditional socio-economic considerations to situate the territories in a broader trajectory and comparing, as far as possible, with the national results. This technical achievement should enable stakeholders to better understand the materiality of the local socio-economic system and to feed their reflections and analyzes. Au niveau de la région, l'engagement dans le Programme National de Synergies Inter-entreprises correspond à ce qui est appelé «démarches de métabolisme» à l'échelle micro sur le schémaprésenté. L'objet de ce document traite, toujours selon la modélisation présentée, des démarches de métabolisme à l'échelle macro. Ce type de démarche bénéficie de l'antériorité de travaux déjàréalisés au niveau national (CGDD, 2013) ou infranational (Barles, 2009; EME, 2011; Alterre Bourgogne, 2013; Georgeault, 2015) et la méthode pour réaliser cet exercice s'est peu à peu construite, sur la base des publications de l'office européen de la statistique (Eurostat, 2001, 2009) et du récent guide du ministère français de l'écologie (CGDD, 2014). Le savoir-faire français dans le domaine est réel et d'après les Nations Unies, concernant l'observation de la matérialité des territoires, «the most sophisticated framework has been developed by Barles based on the Paris city-region» (UNEP, 2013, p34). Il s'agit de la trajectoireprise par les politiques publiques pour fabriquer les indicateurs de suivi dédiés à l'économie circulaire (Aurez & Georgeault, 2016). Nous avons choisi de produire ces indicateurs sur la base du cadre qui devient peu à peu la norme tout en y ajoutant des considérations socio-économiques plus classiques pour situer les territoiresdans une trajectoire plus large et en comparant, autant que faire se peut, avec les résultats nationaux. Cette réalisation technique doit permettre aux acteurs de mieux connaître la matérialité du système socio-économique local et d'alimenter leurs réflexions et analyses. | Socio-economic study and assessment of the Aquitaine region | Deboutière Adrian and Georgeault Laurent | Report | reports | 2016 |
Sub-national
|
| Energy intensities of urban form: a gravitational analysis for the Metropolitan City of Milan and Lombardy region, Italy The tremendous quantities of energy masses that flow within cities in the past years have influence the behavior of societies at the regional and urban scale. In the last two decades, urban metabolism research has become an important tool used to create government awareness on natural resource transformations, anthropogenic consumption patterns, sustainability practices, biodiversity importance, land use covers, and energy and resource management. There is a high need for cities to account for sustainable long-term management practices in order to design and better implement policies that can protect the rights of future generations. The research examines the Italian case study of the Lombardy region and the Metropolitan City of Milan. Identifying the distinct states of urban consumption flows and understanding the basis for transitions between states and the contributing of transition literature. Applied Gravitational Model and Geographic Information System applications to analyze the dynamic variation of energy consumption flows by sector (residential, industrial, tertiary, urban transport and agriculture) over a period of time by focusing on the regional and urban level (Zhang et al., 2012). The research identified, modeled and quantified energy flow centers of gravity in the Metropolitan City of Milan and Lombardy region. The research renders not only an account of the energetic inputs/outputs involved it visualizes the extended geographical relations through tracing energy type sources and achieving maximum efficiency in the use of natural resources and maximum disturbance to the ecosystems. Understanding the urban metabolic profile of cities and regions by applying gravitational modeling and geographic information systems can aid political leaders, planners, architects and engineers to identify energy flow intensities at the urban and regional level thus, provide scientific support for adjusting future energy management strategies. EURA Conference 2016: City Lights, Cities and Citizens Within/Beyond/Notwithstanding the Crisis | Energy intensities of urban form: a gravitational analysis for the ... | Qichao Zhao, Gabriela Fernandez, Eugenio Morello | Conference Paper | None | 2016 |
Energy (sector)
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ecosystems. A case study in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos) The Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador) is one of the most well-known natural sites in the world for its unique biodiversity. This sensitive ecosystem is at risk due to a problematic equilibrium between its conservation policy and development demand. To contribute to implementing integrated sustainable resource management in the Galapagos Islands, a material flow analysis (MFA) of Santa Cruz – the island with the highest anthropic pressure in the archipelago – has been performed, outlining a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the direct flow of goods throughout the system. MFA outcomes have been used to evaluate and forecast the impact of some policies and strategies on the local system, focusing in particular on fossil fuel consumption and local agricultural production. This case study stresses the need to introduce a local MFA protocol to decision-makers’ toolbox, as it provides quantitative assessments on a broad spectrum of local development issues. | Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ... | Cecchin, Andrea | Journal Article | academic | 2016 |
Direct Material Consumption (DMC)
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Comparing a territorial-based and a consumption-based approach to assess the local and global environmental performance of cities In the framework of pressing local and global environmental challenges it is essential to understand that cities are complex systems dependent on and linked to the rest of the world through global supply chains that embody an array of environmental flows. Cities are thus a complex articulation that intertwine local and global challenges which rely at their extended hinterland for their resource use and pollution emission. To assess the environmental sustainability of an urban area in a comprehensive manner, it is not only necessary to measure its local and direct environmental performance but also to understand and take into account its global and indirect environmental counterparts. This paper presents a comparative analysis of a territorial-based and a consumption-based approach to estimate both direct and embodied resource use and pollution flows for the case of Brussels Capital Region (Belgium). The territorial-based approach is based on local energy, water and material consumption measured data as well as measured data on waste generation and pollution emissions. The estimation of indirect resource use and pollution emissions (or consumption-based approach) is based on the regional IO-tables of the city-region of Brussels extended with multi-region input-output tables, taking into account the global flows of consumption. The comparison of these two approaches is particularly relevant in the case of cities that have limited productive activities and limited or no extraction of materials as the impact on the hinterland is often underestimated or neglected by local (environmental) policies which are only based on territorial-based figures. The results show that the indirect primary energy use, \{GHG\} emissions and material use estimated by the consumption-based approach is more than three times higher than local measures indicate. The embodied water use, estimated via IOA, was over 40 times higher than the local water consumption. These results show that territorial-based approach using local data underestimate the resource needs and pollution emissions of a city and can therefore be insufficient or even be misguiding. By mapping the origin of embodied flows it is in fact possible to illustrate the open character of an urban economy and its dependence on the global hinterland. Finally, this paper discusses the possibility and relevance to combine these two approaches to create a hybrid framework that measures the full environmental performance of cities both accurately and comprehensively. | Comparing a territorial-based and a consumption-based approach to assess the ... | Aristide Athanassiadis and Maarten Christis and Philippe Bouillard and An Vercalsteren and Robert H. Crawford and Ahmed Z. Khan | Journal Article | academic | 2016 |
Case Study
Comparison
Direct Material Consumption (DMC)
Domestic extraction (DE)
Global
Multi-Region Input-Output (MRIO) Analysis
Multi-scale
Raw Materials Equivalent (RME)
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Various Materials
Zotero2
|
| Complex Disasters on the Nicobar Islands This chapter is a case study of a local rural system affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The Asian tsunami clearly revealed the vulnerability of coastal communities with respect to dealing with ecological hazards. An area that was greatly affected was the Nicobar Islands, an archipelago belonging to India and located in the Bay of Bengal. Critiquing disaster management and humanitarian aid structures, the chapter considers how an indigenous, subsistence, island community of hunter-gatherers was transformed into an aid-dependent monetary economy embedded in the regional market. Drawing on the concept of social metabolism and transitions, the chapter presents various scenarios of consumption and the consequences these will have on future material and energy demand, land use and time use for the local population. The case reveals the inherent metabolic traps in terms of the islands’ sustainable future, both ecologically and socially, and the role of disaster response in driving them to their biophysical limits as islands in the aftermath. | Complex Disasters on the Nicobar Islands | Singh, Simron; Haas, Willi | Book Section | academic | 2016 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Rural
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
Time series
|
| Study of material flows across the territory and counties of Lorraine During the French Environmental Conference in 2013, Circular economy has been identified has a major issue to change the economic model towards a resource optimised management. Better flows understanding is a prior and necessary step to make this transition successful. According to those issues, the DREAL ACAL has produced a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) at regional scale (Lorraine and its counties) with two main goals: Improving flows understanding on those territories and point out solutions and paths towards a circular resource management. Popularize and communicate this knowledge to share it with local actors. L'économie circulaire a été identifiée lors de la Conférence environnementale de 2013 comme un enjeu majeure de la transition vers un modèle économique durable fondé sur une optimisation de l'usage des ressources d'un territoire. La connaissance des flux de matières constitue un préalable nécessaire à la transition vers une économie circulaire. Prenant acte de ces enjeux, la DREAL ACAL a réalisé une analyse de flux de matières à l'échelle du territoire lorrain et de ses départements avec deux objectifs: Améliorer la connaissance des flux de matières sur ces territoires et mettre en évidence des pistes pour l'optimisation de l'usage des ressources. Vulgariser cette connaissance pour la mettre à disposition des acteurs du territoire. | Study of material flows across the territory and counties of ... | Jean Lecroart Margaux Montagnon Jean-Yves Courtonne | Report | reports | 2016 |
Circular Economy
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Sub-national
|
| A multi-regional soil phosphorus balance for exploring secondary fertilizer potential: the case of Norway Phosphate rock is a non-renewable source of phosphorus (P) in mineral fertilizer and many countries need to use P fertilizer more efficiently in food production. This study explored the theoretical fertilizer potential of the P-rich bioresources animal manure and sewage sludge to supply the required P fertilizer for crops. We used Norway as a case study and employed multi-regional substance flow analysis with averaged annual data for the period 2009-2011. In a status quo soil balance for agricultural soil, all counties had a positive balance with a national average of 8.5 (range between counties of 2.7-14.7) kg P ha−1. In addition, two fertilizer regimes (FR) were evaluated for the period; FR1 omitted mineral P fertilizer from the balance and assumed bioresource addition matched plant P offtake regardless of soil available P, while FR2 omitted fertilizer from the balance and adjusted bioresource inputs according to whether soil available P was above (adjusted downwards) or below (adjusted upwards) the optimum soil P level. FR1 and FR2 gave a national average P surplus of 1.2 (range −7.0 to 11.2) and 6.2 (range −2.5 to 19.0) kg P ha−1, respectively. The secondary P fertilizer potential of bioresources for meeting P requirements was found to be underestimated in the short term by not taking into account the actual plant-available soil P level. Our conclusion was that the P fertilizer values of manure and sludge have the theoretical potential to meet the P fertilizer requirements of all Norwegian crops assessed in both the short-term and long-term perspective. | A multi-regional soil phosphorus balance for exploring secondary fertilizer potential: ... | Hanserud, Ola Stedje, and Brod, Eva, and Ødegaard, Anne Falk, and Müller, Daniel B., and Brattebø, Helge | Journal Article | academic | 2015 |
National
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
|
| The potential of industrial ecology in France: territorial approach and realization elements PhD Thesis, University Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne No abstract available. | The potential of industrial ecology in France: territorial approach and ... | Georgeault Laurent | Thesis | theses | 2015 |
Sub-national
|
| Study Report, Material Flow Accounting in Brittany, 2011 No abstract available. | Study Report, Material Flow Accounting in Brittany, 2011 | Cochet Arnaud, Maymil Frédéric, Sédiri Samia | Report | reports | 2015 |
Sub-national
|
| Sustainability Analysis of a Society Based on Exergy Studies: A Case Study of the Island of Samsø (Denmark) The Danish island Samsø has since 1997 initiated a process through which the island should reach a state where it would be able to supply its own energy. Such a situation was reached since 2005 – after having established 21 windmills – and the island is now a net exporter of electricity to the Danish power network. At the same time the buildings in the more habituated areas were connected to 4 district heating plants which generate heat from combustion of straw in some cases combined with supplementary inputs from photo thermal devices. Meanwhile, certain activities on the island, such as running the ferries, cars, factories and heating in more distant areas are still dependent on significant input of fossil fuels. The inhabitants have recently stated a wish to move on towards being independent of fossil fuels in 2030 and carbon neutral during the next decades. As a consequence the idea came up to develop a method for the “sustainability analysis” of a society which would assist in governing the transitional process in the direction of increasing sustainability. Therefore, a framework has been developed based on the concept exergy that may reveal where large consumptions are taking places. Such areas are likely to be sensible targets for action or at least increased attention. Basic methods have been developed that allows to account for infrastructure, transfers, inputs and outputs, and consumption in terms of exergy, and taking into account whether the exergy storages or flows can be considered to be renewable or not. The framework has been developed for six societal sectors: the energy sector, the public sector, the private households, the agricultural sector, the industry, commerce and trade sector and nature. Nature is here considered an activity that provides the society with an exergy that may also be of value to our societies, often referred to as ecosystem services. Based on the estimated amount of infrastructure and transfers, inputs and outputs a number of “sustainability indicators” have been developed that may be monitored over time and which may serve to indicate whether potential measures undertaken also lead the society in the right direction. An attempt to evaluate the potential importance of wastes has also been carried out as in organic waste could play an important role in acquiring the amount of bio-diesel required to run the ferries in the future. The results demonstrate that the already existing overhead in production of electricity leaves the island with many options and a great opportunity to be independent of fossil fuels in near future. In fact, it might well be that socio-economical perspectives will turn out to be the more severe obstacles in the transition process. Adjacent to this work a carbon model has also been set up to reveal the consequence of proposed measures and strategies to the carbon budget of the island (Jørgensen and Nielsen, 2014). | Sustainability Analysis of a Society Based on Exergy Studies: A ... | Nielsen, S. N; Jørgensen, S. E. | Journal Article | academic | 2015 |
Energy (sector)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Socioeconomic Metabolism of the Balearic Islands, 1996-2010 | Socioeconomic Metabolism of the Balearic Islands, 1996-2010 | Ginard, X; Murray, I. | Book Section | academic | 2015 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Formal and Informal Waste Management: Limitations and Potentialities of Recycling in the Galapagos Islands The metabolism of urban systems produces waste that generates a negative impact on the environment. This dynamic is even more problematic in contexts of high ecological value such as Galapagos, where poor waste management can irreversibly compromise the ecosystem. This research work develops a material flow analysis in Santa Cruz - the most anthropized island of the Galapagos - particularly deepening the formal and informal waste flows in the local system. The study highlights a complex scheme of exchange of materials, where the public and private waste management system integrates informal practices that often strengthen the overall efficiency of the system. The analysis also suggests strategies and actions to improve recycling mechanisms on the island, in addition to proposing to replicate this type of study in diverse contexts, as it is a useful tool to optimize the use of resources at the local level and reduce the environmental impact. El metabolismo de los sistemas urbanos produce residuos que generan un impacto negativo sobre el medio ambiente. Esta dinámica es incluso más problemática en contextos de alto valor ecológico como Galápagos, donde una mala gestión de los residuos puede comprometer irreversiblemente el ecosistema. El presente trabajo de investigación desarrolla un análisis de flujo de materiales en Santa Cruz – la isla más antropizada de Galápagos – profundizando particularmente en los flujos formales e informales de residuos en el sistema local. El estudio pone en evidencia un esquema complejo de intercambio de materiales, donde el sistema público y privado de gestión de residuos integra prácticas informales que a menudo fortalecen la eficiencia general del sistema. El análisis también sugiere estrategias y acciones para mejorar los mecanismos de reciclo en la isla, además de proponer replicar este tipo de estudio en contextos diversos, en cuanto es una herramienta útil para optimizar el uso de recurso a nivel local y reducir el impacto ambiental. | Formal and Informal Waste Management: Limitations and Potentialities of Recycling ... | Cecchin, A. | Journal Article | academic | 2015 |
Circular Economy
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Emergy-based indicators of regional environmental sustainability: A case study in Shanwei, Guangdong, China Understanding which factors mainly affect the environmental sustainability of a Region is a very crucial concern for many Chinese planners and policy-makers. In this study, the emergy accounting method is applied to the production and consumption activities of the city of Shanwei, a seaside urban area in Guangdong region, China. The emergy method provides a comprehensive assessment of a system, by generating a consistent set of indicators capable to capture the dynamics of the system as a whole and its efficiency in converting resources into an economic product and welfare. At the same time, the approach is capable to provide details about a system's performance over time, its use of renewable versus nonrenewables sources, local versus imported, concentrated versus dispersed and finally labor intensive versus fuel intensive processes. The main local renewable and nonrenewable emergy flows supporting the investigated area were included in the accounting, together with the flows of imported energy, goods, machinery, labor and services. Coal plays a crucial role for electricity generation, industrial uses, but also gasoline and diesel for transport affect the overall sustainability to a non-negligible extent. An Emergy Sustainability Indicator (ESI) of the local economic and social system is calculated and compared with the average value of the Chinese economy, based on the assumption that a process or system is unsustainable if it contributes to lower the overall sustainability of the region or country. This is quantified by the requirement that always must be ESIlocal≧ESIcountry. Results confirm that the most crucial factor for this region sustainability is the use of coal as a non-renewable and imported energy source. The calculated emergy indicators translate into a set-aside buffer land demand capable to mitigate, dilute, and uptake the environmental impact of human-dominated activities. Unfortunately, such buffer land demand is much higher than the land actually available. As a result, both the ESI-based sustainability equation as well as the lack of support land make the city's production and consumption patterns unsustainable and call for different lifestyles and environmental policies. None | Emergy-based indicators of regional environmental sustainability: A case study in ... | Lou, Bo; Qiu, Yonghai; Ulgiati, Sergio | Journal Article | academic | 2015 |
Case Study
Emergy Analysis
Sub-national
UM review paper import
|
| Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis Indicators at Different Spatial Levels Material flow analysis (MFA) is a tool for research and decision support in environmental policy and management. In order to promote the use of MFA at different spatial scales, a quantification of the uncertainty in nationwide, regional, and urban MFA methodologies is provided. In particular, the impact of the input data quality on the main MFA indicators is analyzed and the sources and extent of uncertainties for different spatial scales are listed. The types, origin, and extent of the errors are described in detail and several imputation methods are explained and evaluated. By introducing a novel approach to account measurement errors in data sets with 'very few details on the measurement errors,' this article aims at contributing to the development of a standardized method to account for the uncertainty in MFA studies. This study uses the time series of MFA data for 1996-2011 at three spatial scales—nationwide (Sweden), regional (the Stockholm Region), and metropolitan (Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo)—to determine how propagation of measurement errors affects the MFA results. The following MFA indicators were studied: direct material input; domestic processed output; and domestic material consumption. Generally, availability decreased as the spatial scale was lowered, whereas data errors increased. In the specific case of Sweden, the data on freight transport by rail and on waste produced by economic activities at the regional and metropolitan level should be improved. | Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis Indicators at Different Spatial Levels | Patrício, João and Kalmykova, Yuliya and Rosado, Leonardo and Lisovskaja, Vera | Journal Article | academic | 2015 |
Case Study
Indicators - general
Method
Multi-scale
National
Single point in time
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Uncertainty
Urban
Urban Metabolism Analyst Model (UMan)
Zotero import
|
| Water Supply Assessment on Santa Cruz Island: A Technical Overview of Provision and Estimation of Water Demand. In: Galapagos Report 2013-2014, edited by DPNG, GCREG, FCD, GC, 46–53. Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: Galapagos Conservancy. http://www.galapagos.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GalapagosReport_2013-2014-7-Reyes-46-53.pdf | Water Supply Assessment on Santa Cruz Island: A Technical Overview ... | Reyes, M. F; Trifunovic, N; Sharma, S; Kennedy, M. | Report | reports | 2015 |
Island
Sub-national
Water (sector)
|
| Political ecology of water: theoretical-methodological reflections for the study of irrigation in the province of Mendoza. In recent years, critical research has multiplied around the conceptual and theoretical approach to the role of water in the complex relationship between society and nature and in the power relations that go through its management. Within this conceptual proliferation, it is important to highlight the role of the political ecology of water. Concepts such as waterscape, hydro-social cycles deserve, according to our judgment, a particular attention, especially in a province like Mendoza where water is the pillar around which society and its territory are organized. In this work we propose mainly, to investigate these new concepts, their origins as well as the theoretical debates they generate. Then and in an exploratory manner, we will identify its contributions to the understanding of the complex water problems of the main basin of the province, the Mendoza River, with special emphasis on the issue of irrigation. Methodologically, we will start with a critical reading of the specialized bibliography for later, reinterpret the water situation of the basin in light of these concepts. | Political ecology of water: theoretical-methodological reflections for the study of ... | Robin Larsimont | Conference Paper | None | 2014 |
Political ecology
Sub-national
|
| Demand and Supply of Fresh Products in Galapagos Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: Conservaci!on Internacional. Cited in: Cecchin, Andrea (2016). Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ecosystems. A case study in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos). Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. | Demand and Supply of Fresh Products in Galapagos | Berube, P. | Report | reports | 2014 |
Food and agriculture
Island
Sub-national
|
| The global metabolic transition: Regional patterns and trends of global material flows, 1950--2010 Since the World War II, many economies have transitioned from an agrarian, biomass-based to an industrial, minerals-based metabolic regime. Since 1950, world population grew by factor 2.7 and global material consumption by factor 3.7-71 Gigatonnes per year in 2010. The expansion of the resource base required by human societies is associated with growing pressure on the environment and infringement on the habitats of other species. In order to achieve a sustainability transition, we require a better understanding of the currently ongoing metabolic transition and its potential inertia. In this article, we present a long-term global material flow dataset covering material extraction, trade, and consumption of 177 individual countries between 1950 and 2010. We trace patterns and trends in material flows for six major geographic and economic country groupings and world regions (Western Industrial, the (Former) Soviet Union and its allies, Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa) as well as their contribution to the emergence of a global metabolic profile during a period of rapid industrialization and globalization. Global average material use increased from 5.0 to 10.3 tons per capita and year (t/cap/a) between 1950 and 2010. Regional metabolic rates range from 4.5 t/cap/a in Sub-Saharan Africa to 14.8 t/cap/a in the Western Industrial grouping. While we can observe a stabilization of the industrial metabolic profile composed of relatively equal shares of biomass, fossil energy carriers, and construction minerals, we note differences in the degree to which other regions are gravitating toward a similar form of material use. Since 2000, Asia has overtaken the Western Industrial grouping in terms of its share in global resource use although not in terms of its per capita material consumption. We find that at a sub-global level, the roles of the world regions have changed. There are, however, no signs yet that this will lead to stabilization or even a reduction of global resource use. | The global metabolic transition: Regional patterns and trends of global ... | Schaffartzik, Anke and Mayer, Andreas and Gingrich, Simone and Eisenmenger, Nina and Loy, Christian and Krausmann, Fridolin | Journal Article | academic | 2014 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Global
Sub-national
Time series
|
| Assessing Biophysical Limits to the Economic Development of Remote Islands: The Case of Isabela in the Galapagos Archipelago Working Paper Series 2014–01. Centro de Prospectiva Estrategica (CEPROEC) - Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales (IAEN). Full text available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283505280_Assessing_biophysical_limits_to_the_economic_development_of_remote_islands_the_case_of_Isabela_in_the_Galapagos_Archipelago | Assessing Biophysical Limits to the Economic Development of Remote Islands: ... | Martinez-Iglesias, C; Sorman, A. H; Giampietro, M; Ramos-Martın, J. | Manuscript | academic | 2014 |
Island
Multi-scale
Sub-national
|
| Patterns of change in material use and material efficiency in the successor states of the former Soviet Union The successor states of the former Soviet Union present a unique opportunity to study the changes in the socio-metabolic profile of a cohort of nations which underwent a radical and contemporaneous shift in economic system. That change was from being regions within an economically integrated, centrally planned whole, to being independent nations left to find their own place in the global economic system. The situation of these nations since the dissolution of the Soviet Union provides a rare experiment, in which we might observe the influence of the different starting conditions of each nation on the development path it subsequently followed, and the attendant socio-metabolic profiles which resulted. Here we take the opportunity to examine patterns for the region as a whole, and for three individual countries. We also examine the relative importance of three different drivers of material consumption using a version of the IPAT framework. Finally, an area for follow-on investigation was suggested by a significant positive correlation observed between the economic growth of individual successor states, and the degree to which they improved their material productivity. This latter is of potential importance in assessing whether dematerialization acts primarily to accelerate or retard economic growth. | Patterns of change in material use and material efficiency in ... | Schandl, Heinz and West, James and Krausmann, Fridolin and Kovanda, Jan and Hak, Tomas | Journal Article | academic | 2014 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
National
Sub-national
Time series
|
| Beyond Boserup: The Role of Working Time in Agricultural Development This contribution investigates the role ofworking time in the course of agricultural development. In so doing, we revisit Ester Boserup’s (1965, 1981) hypothesis of increasing land productivity at the expense of declining labour productivity as a consequence of agricultural intensification in subsistence communities. We introduce a theoretical framework that centres on human time as a ‘limited’ biophysical resource and compare the labour burden across gender and age of four subsistence communities, one each from India, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Laos. While Boserup’s claim applies to early stages of agricultural development, we find the dynamics to change with the introduction of fossil fuel based inputs into agriculture, leading to a rise in labour productivity. Despite these improvements, we still find overall labour needs to increase with agricultural intensification. Since household labour remains largely constant during the development process, the labour burden is primarily borne by women. | Beyond Boserup: The Role of Working Time in Agricultural Development | Ringhofer, L; Singh, S.J; Fischer-Kowalski, M. | Book Section | academic | 2014 |
Food and agriculture
Island
Rural
Single point in time
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
|
| A Material Flow Accounting Case Study of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area using the Urban Metabolism Analyst Model This article describes a new methodological framework to account for urban material flows and stocks, using material flow accounting (MFA) as the underlying method. The proposed model, urban metabolism analyst (UMAn), bridges seven major gaps in previous urban metabolism studies: lack of a unified methodology; lack of material flows data at the urban level; limited categorizations of material types; limited results about material flows as they are related to economic activities; limited understanding of the origin and destination of flows; lack of understanding about the dynamics of added stock; and lack of knowledge about the magnitude of the flow of materials that are imported and then, to a great extent, exported.To explore and validate the UMAn model, a case study of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area was used. An annual time series of material flows from 2003 to 2009 is disaggregated by the model into 28 material types, 55 economic activity categories, and 18 municipalities. Additionally, an annual projection of the obsolescence of materials for 2010–2050 was performed. The results of the case study validate the proposed methodology, which broadens the contribution of existing urban MFA studies and presents pioneering information in the field of urban metabolism. In particular, the model associates material flows with economic activities and their spatial location within the urban area. | A Material Flow Accounting Case Study of the Lisbon Metropolitan ... | Leonardo Rosado, Samuel Niza, Paulo Ferrão | Journal Article | academic | 2014 |
Biomass
Case Study
Chemicals and fertilizers
Fossil Fuels
Future Scenario
Metals
Minerals
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Urban
Urban Metabolism Analyst Model (UMan)
Various Materials
Zotero import
Zotero2
|
| An urban metabolism and ecological footprint assessment of Metro Vancouver As the world urbanizes, the role of cities in determining sustainability outcomes grows in importance. Cities are the dominant form of human habitat, and most of the world's resources are either directly or indirectly consumed in cities. Sustainable city analysis and management requires understanding the demands a city places on a wider geographical area and its ecological resource base. We present a detailed, integrated urban metabolism of residential consumption and ecological footprint analysis of the Vancouver metropolitan region for the year 2006. Our overall goal is to demonstrate the application of a bottom-up ecological footprint analysis using an urban metabolism framework at a metropolitan, regional scale. Our specific objectives are: a) to quantify energy and material consumption using locally generated data and b) to relate these data to global ecological carrying capacity. Although water is the largest material flow through Metro Vancouver (424,860,000 m3), it has the smallest ecological footprint (23,100 gha). Food (2,636,850 tonnes) contributes the largest component to the ecological footprint (4,514,400 gha) which includes crop and grazing land as well as carbon sinks required to sequester emissions from food production and distribution. Transportation fuels (3,339,000 m3) associated with motor vehicle operation and passenger air travel comprises the second largest material flow through the region and the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions (7,577,000 tonnes). Transportation also accounts for the second largest component of the EF (2,323,200 gha). Buildings account for the largest electricity flow (17,515,150 MWh) and constitute the third largest component of the EF (1,779,240 gha). Consumables (2,400,000 tonnes) comprise the fourth largest component of the EF (1,414,440 gha). Metro Vancouver's total Ecological Footprint in 2006 was 10,071,670 gha, an area approximately 36 times larger than the region itself. The EFA reveals that cropland and carbon sinks (forested land required to sequester carbon dioxide emissions) account for 90% of Metro Vancouver's overall demand for biocapacity. The per capita ecological footprint is 4.76 gha, nearly three times the per capita global supply of biocapacity. Note that this value excludes national government services that operate outside the region and could account for up to an additional 2 gha/ca. | An urban metabolism and ecological footprint assessment of Metro Vancouver | Jennie Moore, Meidad Kissinger, William E. Rees | Journal Article | academic | 2013 |
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Case Study
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Energy
Food
Food and agriculture
Fossil Fuels
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Water
Water (sector)
|
| The Intimacy of Human-Nature Interactions on Islands Islands provide a place to conceptualise human-nature interactions in socio-ecological systems and to explore how such phenomena occur within decisive boundaries. Isolation, vulnerability to disruption, and constraints on the availability of natural resources add urgency to island sustainability questions with limited solution sets. This chapter presents findings that contribute to the larger issues of resiliency and vulnerability on islands. Cross-cutting reflections are offered based on studies conducted over the last 10 years at the Yale Center for Industrial Ecology of four diverse islands: Singapore, a highly developed island city-state; Puerto Rico, an island rich with nature and industry; O’ahu, a high density, tourism-dependent island, home to Honolulu, Hawai’i; and Hawai’i Island, also known as “The Big Island”, with a larger land area and a lower population density than O’ahu. Over the course of the twentieth century, each of these islands became heavily dependent on imports such as water, food, or fuel to sustain basic human needs and modern economic functions. Within the last decade, each has consciously sought to restructure its socio-ecological configurations by using more locally available resources in one or more of its metabolic linkages. This pattern has the potential to reconnect island economies with their natural systems while simultaneously enhancing relationships and increasing resilience. | The Intimacy of Human-Nature Interactions on Islands | Chertow, M; Fugate, E; Ashton, W. | Book Section | academic | 2013 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
|
| Material use and material efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean Different world regions have followed very different trajectories for natural resources use over the recent decades. Latin America has pursued a development path based largely on exports of primary resources. Adopting this path has characteristic environmental and social impacts. In this paper, we provide the first broad based estimate of material use and material efficiency for the region, beginning in 1970 and extending to the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008. The results show a region with rapidly growing primary materials consumption, which is simultaneously becoming less efficient at converting those resources into national income. Using an IPAT framework, we found that population growth and rising per-capita incomes made comparable contributions to growing material use, while technological change as reflected in material intensity, did not moderate consumption. Increasing materials intensity, observed for the region as a whole, is also observed for most individual countries. This contrasts with some other world regions, and implies that many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean will confront higher environmental pressures than expected when expanding their extractive industries to take advantage of new demand from other world regions, while simultaneously supplying the requirements for their own domestic industrial transformations and urbanization. | Material use and material efficiency in Latin America and the ... | West, J; Schandl, H. | Journal Article | academic | 2013 |
Decoupling
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
National
Sub-national
|
| Integrated modelling and scenario building for the Nicobar Islands in the aftermath of the Tsunami In this chapter, we present preliminary results of a model of an SES of Kamorta Island (henceforth referred to as the K-SES model) belonging to the Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the very few attempts to link input–output metabolic modelling with an agent-based land-use change model rooted in the complex adaptive system approach. The modelled system includes the island of Kamorta with its human population and the surrounding reefs and shallow waters. | Integrated modelling and scenario building for the Nicobar Islands in ... | Wildenberg, Martin; Singh, Simron | Book Section | academic | 2012 |
Island
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
Time series
|
| Comparison of energy flow accounting, energy flow metabolism ratio analysis and ecological footprinting as tools for measuring urban sustainability: A case-study of an Irish city-region This paper seeks to apply a number of biophysical sustainability metrics to an Irish city-region in order to evaluate the effect of methodological pluralism when measuring urban sustainability and to determine the outcome of using more than one method when measuring the sustainability of the same system boundary at a city-region level. It is concluded that a ‘toolkit’ approach can be useful in highlighting commonalities and differences between different metrics as well as capturing some of the deficiencies inherent in using a single biophysical metric. In addition, this paper develops an approach to measuring energy metabolism by outlining and applying the ‘energy flow metabolism ratio analysis’ methodology, which is used to measure the ratio of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a function of energy material inputs. | Comparison of energy flow accounting, energy flow metabolism ratio analysis ... | Browne, David and O'Regan, Bernadette and Moles, Richard | Journal Article | academic | 2012 |
Case Study
Comparison
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Energy Balance
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Multi-scale
Sub-national
Time series
Urban
|
| Efficiency Through Proximity: Changes in Phosphorus Cycling at the Urban–Agricultural Interface of a Rapidly Urbanizing Desert Region In tightly coupled socioecological systems, such as cities, the interactions between socio-economic and biophysical characteristics of an area strongly influence ecosystem function. Very often the effects of socioeconomic activities on ecosystem function are unintended, but can impact the sustainability of a city and can have irreversible effects. The food system in its entirety, from production to treatment of human waste, is one of the most important contributors to the way phosphorus (P) cycles through cities. In this article we examined the changes in P dynamics at the urban–agricultural interface of the Phoenix, Arizona, USA, metropolitan area between 1978 and 2008. We found that the contribution of cotton to harvested P decreased while the contribution of alfalfa, which is used as feed for local dairy cows, increased over the study period. This change in cropping pattern was accompanied by growth in the dairy industry and increased internal recycling of P due to dairy cow manure application to alfalfa fields and the local recycling of biosolids and treated wastewater. The proximity of urban populations with dairies and feed production and low runoff in this arid climate have facilitated this serendipitous recycling. Currently P is not strongly regulated or intentionally managed in this system, but farmers' behaviors, shaped largely by market forces and policies related to water recycling, unintentionally affect P cycling. This underscores the need to move from unintentional to deliberate and holistic management of P dynamics through collaborations between practitioners and researchers in order to enhance urban sustainability. | Efficiency Through Proximity: Changes in Phosphorus Cycling at the Urban–Agricultural ... | Metson, Geneviève; Aggarwal, Rimjhim; Childers, Daniel L. | Journal Article | academic | 2012 |
Case Study
Food
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Phosphorus
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Building waste management core indicators through Spatial Material Flow Analysis: Net recovery and transport intensity indexes In this paper, the material and spatial characterization of the flows within a municipal solid waste (MSW) management system are combined through a Network-Based Spatial Material Flow Analysis. Using this information, two core indicators are developed for the bio-waste fraction, the Net Recovery Index (NRI) and the Transport Intensity Index (TII), which are aimed at assessing progress towards policy-related sustainable MSW management strategies and objectives. The NRI approaches the capacity of a MSW management system for converting waste into resources through a systematic metabolic approach, whereas the TII addresses efficiency in terms of the transport requirements to manage a specific waste flow throughout the entire MSW management life cycle. Therefore, both indicators could be useful in assessing key MSW management policy strategies, such as the consecution of higher recycling levels (sustainability principle) or the minimization of transport by locating treatment facilities closer to generation sources (proximity principle). To apply this methodological approach, the bio-waste management system of the region of Catalonia (Spain) has been chosen as a case study. Results show the adequacy of both indicators for identifying those points within the system with higher capacity to compromise its environmental, economic and social performance and therefore establishing clear targets for policy prioritization. Moreover, this methodological approach permits scenario building, which could be useful in assessing the outcomes of hypothetical scenarios, thus proving its adequacy for strategic planning. | Building waste management core indicators through Spatial Material Flow Analysis: ... | Vivanco, David Font and Ventosa, Ignasi Puig and Durany, Xavier Gabarrell | Journal Article | academic | 2012 |
Case Study
Sub-national
Zotero import
Zotero2
|
| Material Flows and Energy Analysis of Glass Containers Discarded in New Jersey, USA The use of glass cullet (crushed recycled glass containers) as aggregate in construction projects and landfills has increased rapidly even though the use of cullet as feedstock in new glass container and fiberglass production is energetically more sound. The effect of increased use of cullet as aggregate has not yet been thoroughly assessed. The objectives of this study were to model and quantify glass container flows across New Jersey and the associated life cycle energy consumption, and then compare life cycle energy consumption for two different recycling scenarios and three different end‐use/disposal scenarios. The results of a material flow analysis showed that in 2008 only about 11% of the glass containers consumed in New Jersey were used as glass container or fiberglass feedstock, while five times more were used as construction aggregate. However, a lower system energy requirement can be achieved by increased use of cullet as container feedstock compared to construction aggregate, even when the cullet is transported 1,600 miles to a glass container manufacturer. Based on the uncertainty analysis, there is about an 80% probability for the scenario with increased use as container feedstock to have a lower system energy requirement when compared with all other scenarios. To achieve increased use of cullet as glass container feedstock in New Jersey, the quality of the cullet must be improved. | Material Flows and Energy Analysis of Glass Containers Discarded in ... | Ching-Ling Tsai and Uta Krogmann | Journal Article | academic | 2012 |
Case Study
Energy Accounting
Glass
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Scenario analysis
Single point in time
Sub-national
|
| Socio-metabolic transitions in subsistence communities. Boserup Revisted In the context of sustainable development, we investigatefour subsistence communities, one each from India, Bolivia,Laos and Thailand,to understand the systemic interrelationsbetween the food production systems and related environ-mental pressures. In doing so, we revisit Ester Boserup’s the-ory of increasing land productivity at the expense of declin-ing labour productivity as a consequence of agricultural in-tensification. Our data confirm Boserup’s assumptions with-in the reach of traditional agriculture, but find them not toapply to hunting & gathering communities and to agricultur-al systems now increasingly dependent on fossil fuels and in-dustrial fertilizers. Instead we propose a theory of “so-ciometabolic transitions” as being more appropriate to un-derstanding transitions in land and labour productivityacross a wider range of modes of subsistence. | Socio-metabolic transitions in subsistence communities. Boserup Revisted | Fischer-Kowalski, M; Singh, S. J; Ringhofer, L; Grünbühel, C; Lauk, C; Remesch, A. | Journal Article | academic | 2011 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Food and agriculture
Island
Single point in time
Sub-national
Sustainable production and consumption
|
| Urban Water Mass Balance Analysis Planning for “water‐sensitive” cities has become a priority for sustainable urban development in Australia. There has been little quantification of the term, however. Furthermore, the water balance of most cities is not well known. Following prolonged drought, there has also been a growing need to make Australian cities more water self‐reliant: to source water from within. This article formalizes a systematic mass‐balance framework to quantify all anthropogenic and natural flows into and out of the urban environment. Quantitative performance indicators are derived, including (1) degree of system centralization; (2) overall balance; potential of (3) rainfall, (4) stormwater, and (5) wastewater to offset current demand; and (6) water cycle rate. Using the method, we evaluate Sydney, Melbourne, South East Queensland and Perth using reported and modeled data. The approach makes visible large flows of water that have previously been unaccounted and ignored. It also highlights significant intercity variation. In 2004–2005, the cities varied 54% to 100% in their supply centralization, 257% to 397% in the ratio of rainfall and water use, 47% to 104% in their potential stormwater recycling potential, and 26% to 86% in wastewater recycling potential. The approach provides a practical, water‐focused application of the urban metabolism framework. It demonstrates how the principles of mass balance can help foster robust water accounting, monitoring, and management. More important, it contributes to the design and quantitative assessment of water‐sensitive cities of the future. | Urban Water Mass Balance Analysis | Steven Kenway, Alan Gregory, Joseph McMahon | Journal Article | academic | 2011 |
Case Study
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Method
Sub-national
Time series
Urban
Wastewater
Water
Water mass balance analysis
|
| Transforming the Greek Island of Samothraki into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: An Experience in Transdisciplinarity This research explored the feasibility of transforming the island of Samothraki, Greece, into a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The goal was to assess whether this would help to foster a sustainable socio-economic development and to preserve the unique natural and cultural heritage of the island. In recent years the number of seasonal residents and tourists on the island has been growing substantially, and so, too, have the demands upon facili ties and infrastructures. The number of livestock, primarily goats and sheep, has increased exponentially, enhanced by the agricultu ral policies of the EU. Overgrazing, in combination with the steepness of terrain, has led to severe soil erosion, even within the existing Natura 2000 conserva tion area. Such conditions made it apparent that a new develop ment model was needed, and an initiative was started to create a biosphere reserve. In a transdisciplinary process, the scientists gradually transferred ownership of this vision to local stakeholders. A biophysical and socio-economic assess ment showed that a biosphere reserve would be appropriate and be welcomed by the majority of stakeholders. The community council recently endorsed an application to UNESCO. | Transforming the Greek Island of Samothraki into a UNESCO Biosphere ... | Fischer-Kowalski, Marina; Xenidis, Lazaros ; Singh, Simron Jit; Pallua, Irene | Journal Article | academic | 2011 |
Island
Sub-national
Tourism
|
| Analyses of water footprint of Beijing in an interregional input-output framework Beijing is under severe water resource pressure due to the rapid economic development and growing population. This study quantitatively evaluates the water footprint of Beijing in an interregional input-output framework with a focus on blue water resources and uses. The inter-connections of water resources between Beijing and other provinces are analyzed with a sectoral specification. The results show that the total water footprint of Beijing is 4498.4 106 m3/year, of which 51% is from the external water footprint acquired through virtual water import. Agriculture has the highest water footprint of 1524.5 106 m3/year with 56% coming from external sources. The main virtual water provider for Beijing is Hebei, another water scarce region, from which Beijing receives virtual water of 373.3 106 m3/year with 40% from agriculture. The results of this study suggest that the interregional trade coordination, especially for the main sectors with high water use intensity, is important for enhancing the efficiency of regional and national water resource utilization. | Analyses of water footprint of Beijing in an interregional input-output ... | Zhuoying Zhang and Hong Yang and Minjun Shi | Journal Article | academic | 2011 |
Case Study
Multi-Region Input-Output (MRIO) Analysis
Sub-national
Urban
Water
Water (sector)
Water Footprint (WF)
|
| Methodology for inventorying greenhouse gas emissions from global cities This paper describes the methodology and data used to determine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to ten cities or city-regions: Los Angeles County, Denver City and County, Greater Toronto, New York City, Greater London, Geneva Canton, Greater Prague, Barcelona, Cape Town and Bangkok. Equations for determining emissions are developed for contributions from: electricity; heating and industrial fuels; ground transportation fuels; air and marine fuels; industrial processes; and waste. Gasoline consumption is estimated using three approaches: from local fuel sales; by scaling from regional fuel sales; and from counts of vehicle kilometres travelled. A simplified version of an intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) method for estimating the GHG emissions from landfill waste is applied. Three measures of overall emissions are suggested: (i) actual emissions within the boundary of the city; (ii) single process emissions (from a life-cycle perspective) associated with the city's metabolism; and (iii) life-cycle emissions associated with the city's metabolism. The results and analysis of the study will be published in a second paper. | Methodology for inventorying greenhouse gas emissions from global cities | Kennedy, Christopher and Steinberger, Julia and Gasson, Barrie and Hansen, Yvonne and Hillman, Timothy and Havranek, Miroslav and Pataki, Diane and Phdungsilp, Aumnad and Ramaswami, Anu and Villalba, Gara | Journal Article | academic | 2010 |
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Case Study
Emissions
Energy
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
Method
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Material flow accounting of an Indian village We are presenting material flow accounting and related indicators for an Indian adivasis village in 1983 (Sarowar, Dangs, Gujarat). It gives a point of comparison with modern nation-wide material flow accounting. The aim is to test the feasibility of indicators of dematerialization of the economy in poor economies. We measured the annual material flows within the Sarowar village (670 inhabitants) in 1982-1983. The method was a combination of surveys, real time measurements, indirect measurements and laboratory dry matter measurements. The results were translated into recent concepts of material flow accounting (MFA), and compared with nation-wide studies. The total material requirement (TMR) of Sarowar (excluding air and water), USA, Japan, Germany and The Netherlands is respectively about 5, 84, 46, 86 and 84 tons per capita per year. The input (all biotic materials are expressed in tons of dry matter per capita per year) totalised 15,8 t DM cap-1 y-1 in Sarowar, which consists mainly of air (11 t cap-1 y-1) and biotic primary materials (4,1 t DM cap-1 y-1). The latest was composed of 29% of pastures, 25% of branches for field burning, 35% of fuel wood, 6% fodder, 1% of construction wood and 4% of grains. The outputs (15.8 t cap-1 y-1) were dominated by CO2 (15.1 t cap-1 y-1). In contrast, the output of The Netherlands (66.8 t cap-1 y-1) is dominated by export with air emissions (19 t cap-1 y-1), export (16 t cap-1 y-1) and embedded export (29 t cap-1 y-1). The apparent ecoefficiency (kg per US dollar, excluding air and water, including hidden flows) is 70, 3, 3, 3 and 3 kg $-1 respectively for Sarowar, Japan, USA, Germany and The Netherlands. The corrected ecoefficiency using Purchasing Power Parity is less contrasted with respectively 18, 3, 3, 4 and 3 kg $-1. Traditional human ecosystem measurements can serve as a basic comparison point, and as a test for dematerialization indicators. The limit of the indicator of ecoefficiency resides in the different degrees of monetarization of the economies. In less monetarized economies, this indicator is highly biased by the underlying non-market material flows. We discuss the use of ratios of non-substituable factors in dematerialization assessment and we suggest the use of use multicriteria analysis instead. | Material flow accounting of an Indian village | Kestemont, B; Kerkhove, M. | Manuscript | academic | 2010 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Rural
Sub-national
|
| Catalonia's energy metabolism: Using the MuSIASEM approach at different scales This paper applies the so-called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), based on Georgescu-Roegen's fund-flow model, to the Spanish region of Catalonia. It arrives to the conclusion that within the context of the end of cheap oil, the current development model of the Catalan economy, based on the growth of low-productivity sectors such as services and construction, must be changed. The change is needed not only because of the increasing scarcity of affordable energy and the increasing environmental impact of present development, but also because of the aging population. Moreover, the situation experienced by Catalonia is similar to that of other European countries and many other developed countries. This implies that we can expect a wave of major structural changes in the economy of developed countries worldwide. To make things more challenging, according to current trends, the energy intensity and exosomatic energy metabolism of Catalonia will keep increasing in the near future. To avoid a reduction in the standard of living of Catalans due to a reduction in the available energy it is important that the Government of Catalonia implement major adjustments and conservation efforts in both the household and paid-work sectors. | Catalonia's energy metabolism: Using the MuSIASEM approach at different scales | Jesús Ramos-Martín and Sílvia Cañellas-Boltà and Mario Giampietro and Gonzalo Gamboa | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Case Study
Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM)
Sub-national
Time series
|
| Reverse Problem Formulation for Integrating Process Discharges with Watersheds and Drainage Systems This work introduces a new approach to integrating the discharges of industrial processes with macroscopic watershed systems. The key concept is that environmental quality models (such as material flow analysis) can be inverted and included in an optimization formulation that seeks to determine the maximum allowable target for the process discharges while meeting the overall environmental requirements of the watershed. Because of its holistic nature, this approach simultaneously considers the effects of the inputs and outputs to the watershed (e.g., agricultural, residential, wastewater treatment plants, industrial, and so on) and the various physical, chemical, and biological phenomena occurring within the watershed. An optimization formulation is developed to systematically represent the reverse problem formulation. To illustrate the effectiveness of this approach, a case study is solved to manage phosphorus in Bahr El‐Baqar drainage system leading to Lake Manzala in Egypt. The key environmental and economic aspects are addressed and used to screen plant location and discharges. | Reverse Problem Formulation for Integrating Process Discharges with Watersheds and ... | Lovelady, Eva M. | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
|
| Using Total Material Requirement to Reduce the Global Environmental Burden Total material requirement (TMR), a measure of all of the material input required by a national economy, is sometimes criticized for failing to link material flows within an economy and their global environmental impacts. This article presents a three‐step method for bridging this gap. The method shows how to (1) analyze TMR accounts to identify potentially environmentally relevant flows (PERF), that is, material flows with potential environmental impacts abroad; (2) assess the socioenvironmental impacts of the identified PERF; and (3) determine the main economic activities underlying these PERF. Using this method we are able to add an environmental dimension to TMR accounts and to make the connection between economic activities and their socioenvironmental impacts worldwide. This methodology has been applied to the Basque Country (BC) region (Spain). An in‐depth analysis of the trends in the TMR of the BC shows that tin imports associated with tin capsule production account for around 7% of the TMR. These high figures are due to the substantial hidden flows (HF) of tin imports, which is an indicator of potential environmental impacts abroad. We find that tin extraction and concentration involve several social and environmental impacts such as waste generation, soil, water, and air pollution affecting biodiversity and human health, and child labor. These impacts are located in Indonesia, China, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Thailand. | Using Total Material Requirement to Reduce the Global Environmental Burden | Iñaki Arto | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Raw Materials Equivalent (RME)
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
|
| Analysis of regional material flows: The case of the Czech Republic This article deals with regional material flows and the related environmental pressures and impacts in the Czech Republic. We assess the regional domestic extraction used for groups of materials (DE) such as biomass, fossil fuels, non-metallic minerals and metal ores and examine the inter-regional trade in these materials in terms of physical imports (IMr), physical exports (EXr) and physical trade balance (PTBr). We further discuss the significance of various material flow indicators including DMI and DMC, their relations to other socio-economic variables and their possible application in policies. We argue that more effort should be put into developing indicators presenting imports and exports in raw material equivalents (RME). | Analysis of regional material flows: The case of the Czech ... | Kovanda, Jan and Weinzettel, Jan and Hak, Tomas | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Direct Material Consumption (DMC)
Domestic extraction (DE)
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Raw Materials Equivalent (RME)
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
|
| Using Material Flow Analysis to Illuminate Long-Term Waste Management Solutions in Oahu, Hawaii Home to the capital city and nearly a million people, the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii, USA, is highly dependent on external resources. Over the past decade, large-scale agricultural production has diminished dramatically, leaving the island greatly reliant on imports for food and most other basic goods. A strong tourism sector and high levels of affluence contribute to per capita municipal waste generation rates exceeding all other U.S. states. The only municipal landfill requires immediate expansion if it is to remain in operation, and it has proven extremely difficult to find additional disposal sites. An island-wide material flow analysis (MFA) was performed as an innovative means of considering issues of import, export, consumption, and substitution, resulting in long-term strategies for diminishing the generation of waste that could complement current local conservation and recycling efforts. The findings indicate several opportunities for using domestic waste resources to substitute for imports and simultaneously reduce waste generation, particularly for construction materials. Legislative constraints and possible changes in this regard are also considered. Although past efforts by both the city and state governments to encourage on-island recycling and reuse have not achieved set goals, the MFA results suggest numerous opportunities that could be pursued to increase material self-sufficiency and/or reduce waste disposal by several hundred thousand short tons, enhancing the long-term sustainability of the island. | Using Material Flow Analysis to Illuminate Long-Term Waste Management Solutions ... | Eckelman, Matthew J and Chertow, Marian R | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Single point in time
Sub-national
|
| The food-print of Paris: long-term reconstruction of the nitrogen flows imported into the city from its rural hinterland Between the tenth and twentieth century the population of Paris city increased from a few thousand to near 10 million inhabitants. In response to the growing urban demand during this period, the agrarian systems of the surrounding rural areas tremendously increased their potential for commercial export of agricultural products, made possible by a surplus of agricultural production over local consumption by humans and livestock in these areas. Expressed in terms of nitrogen, the potential for export increased from about 60 kg N/km²/year of rural territory in the Middle Ages, to more than 5,000 kg N/km²/year from modern agriculture. As a result of the balance between urban population growth and rural productivity, the rural area required to supply Paris (i.e. its food-print) did not change substantially for several centuries, remaining at the size of the Seine watershed surrounding the city (around 60,000 km²). The theoretical estimate of the size of the supplying hinterland at the end of the eighteenth century is confirmed by the figures deduced from the analysis of the historical city toll data (octroi). During the second half of the twentieth century, the ‘food-print' of Paris reduced in size, owing to an unprecedented increase in the potential for commercial export associated with modern agricultural systems based on chemical N fertilization. We argue that analysing the capacity of territories to satisfy the demand for nitrogen-containing food products of local or distant urban population and markets might provide new and useful insights when assessing world food resource allocation in the context of increasing population and urbanization. | The food-print of Paris: long-term reconstruction of the nitrogen flows ... | Billen, Giles, and Barles, Sabine, and Garnier, Josette, and Rouillard, Josephine, and Benoit, Paul | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Case Study
Food
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Nitrogen
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Global mapping of Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn in-use stocks and in-ground resources Human activity has become a significant geomorphic force in modern times, resulting in unprecedented movements of material around Earth. An essential constituent of this material movement, the major industrial metals aluminium, copper, iron, and zinc in the human-built environment are mapped globally at 1-km nominal resolution for the year 2000 and compared with the locations of present-day in-ground resources. While the maps of in-ground resources generated essentially combine available databases, the mapping methodology of in-use stocks relies on the linear regression between gross domestic product and both in-use stock estimates and the Nighttime Lights of the World dataset. As the first global maps of in-use metal stocks, they reveal that a full 25% of the world's Fe, Al, Cu, and Zn in-use deposits are concentrated in three bands: (i) the Eastern seaboard from Washington, D.C. to Boston in the United States, (ii) England, Benelux into Germany and Northern Italy, and (iii) South Korea and Japan. This pattern is consistent across all metals investigated. In contrast, the global maps of primary metal resources reveal these deposits are more evenly distributed between the developed and developing worlds, with the distribution pattern differing depending on the metal. This analysis highlights the magnitude at which inground metal resources have been translocated to in-use stocks, largely from highly concentrated but globally dispersed in-ground deposits to more diffuse in-use stocks located primarily in developed urban regions. | Global mapping of Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn in-use stocks ... | J.N. Rauch | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Global
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Multi-scale
National
Rural
Single point in time
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Study of Demand and Supply of Agricultural Products in Galapagos Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: BID-FOMIN, CAPTURGAL. Cited in: Cecchin, Andrea (2016). Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ecosystems. A case study in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos). Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. | Study of Demand and Supply of Agricultural Products in Galapagos | Zapata, C. | Report | reports | 2009 |
Food and agriculture
Island
Sub-national
|
| Urban Metabolism of Paris and Its Region The article presents the results of a research project aimed at (1) examining the feasibility of material flow analysis (MFA) on a regional and urban scale in France, (2) selecting the most appropriate method, (3) identifying the available data, and (4) calculating the material balance for a specific case. Using the Eurostat method, the study was conducted for the year 2003 and for three regional levels: Paris, Paris and its suburbs, and the entire region. Applying the method on a local scale required two local indicators to be defined in order to take into account the impact of exported wastes on MFA: LEPO, local and exported flows to nature, and DMCcorr, a modified domestic material consumption (DMC) that excludes exported wastes (and imported ones if necessary).As the region extracts, produces, and transforms less material than the country as a whole, its direct material input (DMI) is lower than the national DMI. In all the areas, LEPO exceeds 50% of DMI; in contrast, recycling is very low. The multiscale approach reveals that urban metabolism is strongly impacted by density and the distribution of activities: the dense city center (Paris) exports all of its wastes to the other parts of the region and concentrates food consumption, whereas the agricultural and urban sprawl area consumes high levels of construction materials and fuel. This supports the use of MFA on an urban and regional scale as a basis for material flow management and dematerialization strategies and clearly reveals the important interactions between urban and regional planning and development, and material flows. | Urban Metabolism of Paris and Its Region | Sabine Barles | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Case Study
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Zotero import
Zotero2
|
| Analysis of water consumption using a regional input-output model: Model development and application to Zhangye City, Northwestern China Based on a regional input-output model, we developed a method to identify the relationships between production activities and the related water consumption, as well as the relationships established between different sectors concerning water resources (i.e. indirect consumption). This method is applied to Zhangye City, an arid area of northwestern China that is characterized by water shortages. Our results confirm that although Zhangye suffers from a serious water shortage, the city's economic structure is based on sectors that consume large quantities of water. On the one hand, food production and forestry consume large quantities of water, reflecting the large scale of these water-intensive forms of land use. On the other hand, the industrial and service sectors use a smaller amount of water directly in production, but to produce the intermediate inputs that they incorporate into their production processes, a high consumption of water is often necessary. At present, there is no evidence that the city alleviates its water scarcity by importing virtual water in the form of economic inputs produced in other regions, suggesting that planners should include both direct and indirect water consumption in their resource allocation planning. | Analysis of water consumption using a regional input-output model: Model ... | Y. Wang and H.L. Xiao and M.F. Lu | Journal Article | academic | 2009 |
Case Study
Environmentally-Extended Input-Output Analysis (EE-IOA)
Input-Output Analysis (IOA)
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Water
|
| Proposal for Market-Focused Agriculture and Livestock Policy in Galapagos Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: FUNDAR, UNPD, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador. Cited in: Cecchin, Andrea (2016). Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ecosystems. A case study in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos). Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. | Proposal for Market-Focused Agriculture and Livestock Policy in Galapagos | Zapata, C. | Report | reports | 2008 |
Food and agriculture
Island
Sub-national
|
| Detailed assessment of structural characteristics of Turkish RC building stock for loss assessment models Assessment of the seismic vulnerability of the building stock in the earthquake-prone Marmara region of Turkey is of growing importance since such information is needed for reliable estimation of the losses that possible future earthquakes are likely to induce. The outcome of such loss assessment exercises can be used in planning of urban/regional-scale earthquake protection strategies; this is a priority in Turkey, particularly following the destructive earthquakes of 1999. Considering the size of the building inventory, Istanbul and its surrounding area is a case for which it is not easy to determine the structural properties and characteristics of the building stock. In this paper, geometrical, functional and material properties of the building stock in the northern Marmara Region, particularly around Istanbul, have been investigated and evaluated for use in loss estimation models and other types of statistic- or probability-based studies. In order to do that, the existing reinforced concrete (RC) stock has been classified as ‘compliant' or ‘non-compliant' buildings, dual (frame-wall) or frame structures and emergent or embedded-beam systems. In addition to the statistical parameters such as mean values, standard deviations, etc., probability density functions and their goodness-of-fit have also been investigated for all types of parameters. Functionalities such as purpose of use and floor area properties have been defined. Concrete properties of existing and recently constructed buildings and also characteristics of 220 and 420MPa types of steel have been documented. Finally, the financial effects of retrofitting operations and damage repair have been investigated. | Detailed assessment of structural characteristics of Turkish RC building stock ... | Bal, İ. Engin; Crowley, Helen; Pinho, Rui; Gülay, F. Gülten | Journal Article | academic | 2008 |
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Sub-national
|
| Applying physical input–output tables of energy to estimate the energy ecological footprint (EEF) of Galicia (NW Spain) Nowadays, the achievement of sustainable development constitutes an important constraint in the design of energy policies, being necessary the development of reliable indicators to obtain helpful information about the use of energy resources. The ecological footprint (EF) provides a referential framework for the analysis of human demand for bioproductivity, including energy issues. In this article, the theoretical bases of the footprint analysis are described by applying input–output tables of energy to estimate the Galician energy ecological footprint (EEF). It is concluded that the location of highly polluting industries in Galicia makes the Galician EEF quite higher than more developed regions of Spain. The relevance of the outer component of the Galician EEF is also studied. First, available information seems to indicate that the energy incorporated to the trading of manufactured goods would notably increase the Galician consumption of energy. On the other hand, the inclusion of electricity trade in the EEF analysis, including an adjustment, following the same philosophy as with manufactured goods is proposed. This adjustment would substantially reduce the Galician EEF, as the exported electricity widely exceeds the imported one. | Applying physical input–output tables of energy to estimate the energy ... | Carballo Penela, Adolfo; Sebastián Villasante, Carlos | Journal Article | academic | 2008 |
Case Study
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Energy
Energy Ecological Footprint (EEF)
Environmentally-Extended Input-Output Analysis (EE-IOA)
Sub-national
UM review paper import
|
| A method for regional-scale material flow and decoupling analysis: A demonstration case study of Aichi prefecture, Japan We have developed a method to analyse the annual material flow in a prefecture and have calculated environmental indicators for a prefecture. Material flow analysis (MFA) is important to clarify the structure of a regional society and obtain environmental indicators for a circular society. However, MFA has not advanced in local governments because of few local statistics. We have developed a method to analyse the annual material flow in Aichi prefecture from 1980 to 2000 using an input–output (I–O) table and statistics of Aichi. We have verified the accuracy of this method by comparing its results for 2000 which calculated on the basis of official I–O table for 1995 with the I–O table data for 2000; the correlation coefficient obtained in this case is greater than 0.95. Moreover, by performing MFA, we have estimated the resource consumption and decoupling indicator of each industry in Aichi prefecture from 1980 to 2000. We could obtain more detailed and accurate environmental indicators by using our method. From these results, we could estimate the progress of Aichi prefecture towards a circular society. | A method for regional-scale material flow and decoupling analysis: A ... | Tachibana, Junzo; Hirota, Keiko; Goto, Naohiro; Fujie, Koichi | Journal Article | academic | 2008 |
Case Study
Circular Economy
Input-Output Analysis (IOA)
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Method
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Various Materials
|
| Spatial characterisation of multi-level in-use copper and zinc stocks in Australia A methodology has been developed to characterise the in-use stocks of copper and zinc at a variety of spatial levels. The approach employs representative concentrations of copper and zinc in their main in-use reservoirs (which account for virtually all the metal put into service) together with geographic information system (GIS) data sets of the spatial locations and densities of these reservoirs. The authors have applied this methodology to Australia at four spatial levels: central city, urban region, states/territories, and country, to produce what is believed to be the first multi-level spatial characterisations of the in-use stocks of technological materials. The results are presented quantitatively and as a series of stock density maps for Inner Sydney, Sydney Metro, all Australian states/territories, and Australia itself. The total stocks in Australia are estimated at about 4.3 Tg Cu (4.3 thousand million kg) and 3.8 Tg Zn (3.8 thousand million kg), or about 240 kg Cu/capita and 205 kg Zn/capita. A statistical analysis of the data shows that the metal stock density at a given spatial level is largely determined by a small number of high-density components at the next lower level. The spatial analysis of the in-use stocks indicates that 50% of all copper and zinc stock resides in just 10% of Australia's local government areas. The largest stocks occur in large urban regions, which can contain copper and zinc densities more than a hundred times higher than rural areas. These regions are expected to be major Australian 'metal mines' in the future. | Spatial characterisation of multi-level in-use copper and zinc stocks in ... | D. van Beers and Thomas E. Graedel | Journal Article | academic | 2007 |
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Multi-scale
National
Rural
Single point in time
Sub-national
Urban
Zotero import
|
| An Integrated Framework for Regional Studies: Emergy Based Spatial Analysis of the Province of Cagliari This research proposes an integrated framework to investigate human-dominated systems and provide a basic approach to urban and regional studies in which the multiple interactions between economic and ecological processes are considered as a whole. Humans generate patterns of land use, infrastructures and other settings and redistribute ecosystem functions as flows of energy and matter for self-maintenance. To understand these emerging interactions between humans and ecological processes, human activities (e.g. transformation processes, land conversions, use of resources) and biophysical agents such as geomorphology, climate and natural cycles need to be considered. Emergy Analysis (spelled with an “m”) is then used as an environmental accounting method to evaluate different categories of resource use with reference to their environmental cost. A case study of the Province of Cagliari (in the island of Sardinia, Italy) is reported and the procedure for allocating emergy flows, assigning them to districts and managing point data is discussed. Outcomes plotted on a map showed non-homogeneous spatial distribution of emergy flows throughout the region, suggesting the way ecosystem functions are affected and restructured by the human economy. None | An Integrated Framework for Regional Studies: Emergy Based Spatial Analysis ... | Pulselli, Riccardo Maria; Rustici, Mauro; Marchettini, Nadia | Journal Article | academic | 2007 |
Case Study
Emergy Analysis
Single point in time
Sub-national
|
| Approximate Analysis of Agricultural Product Flows and Market Elements in Galapagos Cited in: Cecchin, Andrea (2016). Material flow analysis for a sustainable resource management in island ecosystems. A case study in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos). Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. | Approximate Analysis of Agricultural Product Flows and Market Elements in ... | Chiriboga, R; Maignan, S. | Report | reports | 2006 |
Food and agriculture
Island
Sub-national
|
| Analysis of water demand and water pollutant discharge using a regional input-output table: An application to the City of Chongqing, upstream of the Three Gorges Dam in China China has faced serious water problems as a result of economic growth and some development projects and it is widely thought that integrated management, including socio-economic factors in each basin unit, is effective. Hence, the target of this paper is to evaluate the structures of water demand and water pollutant discharge with socio-economic activities in the City of Chongqing, the main city upstream of the Three Gorges Dam. First we have developed a methodology for estimating water demand and water pollutants (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) based on an inter-industry analysis model, and then applied it to the City of Chongqing. As a result, we conclude that industry is the largest source of water demand and water pollutants in the City of Chongqing and accounts for more than 50% of the total of each. Water demand from agriculture, forestry and livestock accounts for 35% of the total, and about 20% of water pollutants are discharged from agriculture, forestry and livestock. Furthermore, water pollutants from households constitute more than 20% of the total in the City of Chongqing though water demand and wastewater account for less than 15% of each total. In addition, it becomes clear that about 20% of the water demand and water pollutant discharge in the City of Chongqing is caused by other provinces and foreign countries, with most of the demand and discharge being industrial. | Analysis of water demand and water pollutant discharge using a ... | Tomohiro Okadera and Masataka Watanabe and Kaiqin Xu | Journal Article | academic | 2006 |
Carbon
Environmentally-Extended Input-Output Analysis (EE-IOA)
Multi-scale
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Single point in time
Sub-national
Urban
Water
|
| The ecological sustainability of regional metabolisms: Material flow analyses of the regions of Hamburg, Vienna and Leipzig The paper describes the material consumption in the regions of Hamburg and Leipzig for the years 1992-2001 and for the region of Vienna for the years 1995-2003. With a so called material flow analysis (MFA) the total consumption of materials has been accounted for and put into relation to economic development. Indicators of material consumption serve as measure for ecological sustainability and the relation to economic development allows an analysis of the material intensity of the economy and its eco-efficiency. The region of Hamburg shows a slightly fluctuating material consumption per capita on a constant level with a slightly decreasing material intensity. The region of Vienna shows a light decrease in per capita consumption and material intensity. Both material consumption and intensity are higher in the surrounding areas of the cities than in the cities themselves. The region of Leipzig is an exception concerning the level of material flows as well as the strongly decreasing trends in material consumption and intensity. The paper discusses the methodological problems in accounting regional MFAs and formulates improvements for regional statistics that help to develop sustainability indicators on a regional level. Der Text beschreibt den Materialverbrauch der Regionen Hamburg und Leipzig für die Jahre 1992-2001 sowie für Wien für die Jahre 1995-2003. Mit Hilfe einer Materialflussanalyse wurde der gesamtgesellschaftliche Materialverbrauch in den drei Regionen erhoben und in Beziehung zur wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung gesetzt. Indikatoren für den Materialverbrauch dienen als Maß für ökologische Nachhaltigkeit. Die Darstellung der Beziehung zur wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung erlaubt Rückschlüsse auf die Materialintensität der Ökonomie und ihre Ökoeffizienz. Neben der Darstellung der Ergebnisse beschreibt der Text die methodischen Probleme bei der Erstellung regionaler Materialflussanalysen, diskutiert die Auswirkungen von Materialflüssen hinsichtlich der Flächennutzung und formuliert Herausforderungen für die Regionalstatistik als Grundlage für die Entwicklung regionaler Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren. | The ecological sustainability of regional metabolisms: Material flow analyses of ... | Mark Hammer, Stefan Giljum, Fred Luks, Matthias Winkler | Journal Article | academic | 2006 |
Case Study
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Towards an Integrated Regional Materials Flow Accounting Model A key challenge in attaining regional sustainability is to reduce both the direct and the indirect environmental impacts associated with economic and household activity in the region. Knowing what these flows are and how they change over time is a prerequisite for this task.This article describes the early development of an integrated regional materials flow accounting framework. The framework is based on a hybrid (material and economic) multiregional input‐output model. Using readily available economic and materials data sets together with transport and logistics data, the framework attempts to provide estimates of household resource flows for any U.K. region at quite detailed levels of product and material disaggregation. It is also capable of disaggregating these flows according to specific socioeconomic criteria such as income level or occupation of the head of household. Allied to appropriate energy and life‐cycle assessment data sets, the model could, in addition, be used to map both direct and indirect environmental impacts associated with these flows.The benefits of such an approach are likely to be a considerable reduction of uncertainties in (1) our knowledge of the household metabolism, and hence our predictions of regional household waste generation; (2) our assessment of the impacts of contemplated changes in industrial process siting, and thereby on other aspects of local and regional planning; and (3) our understanding of the impacts of changes in the pattern of demand for different materials and products. It is concluded that the use of such an integrated assessment tool has much to contribute to the debate on regional sustainability. | Towards an Integrated Regional Materials Flow Accounting Model | Philip Sinclair, Eleni Papathanasopoulou, Warren Mellor, Tim Jackson | Journal Article | academic | 2005 |
Case Study
Construction Materials
Dairy products
Household
Multi-Region Input-Output (MRIO) Analysis
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Paper
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Zotero import
|
| Material flow analysis of industrial systems in Antarctica The unique and otherworldly continent of Antarctica has always played a key role in global environmental science and environmental policy. This Dissertation proposes and explores a new role for Antarctica in both environmental science and policy research, namely as a Petri dish for industrial ecologists to study industrial material flows. This Dissertation begins by performing comprehensive industrial material flow analyses of New Zealand's Scott Base and the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera and Halley stations. The highly detailed material flow data from the study of the British Antarctic Survey's stations are then used to generate a first-order approximation of the total and per capita material flows for the entire continent of Antarctica. The continent-scaled material flow data are then translated into continent-scaled flows of copper, zinc, and silver, according to the principles and methods of the Stocks and Flows (STAF) Project at the Center for Industrial Ecology of the Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. The Dissertation also compares the fossil fuel flows for co-generation of twelve Antarctic scientific research stations operated by Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Finally, the Dissertation investigates the role industrial material flow analysis could play in both United States and international environmental law and policy. | Material flow analysis of industrial systems in Antarctica | Klee, Robert Jason | Thesis | theses | 2005 |
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
|
| Pursuing More Sustainable Consumption by Analyzing Household Metabolism in European Countries and Cities Bringing about more sustainable consumption patterns is an important challenge for society and science. In this article the concept of household metabolism is applied to analyzing consumption patterns and to identifying possibilities for the development of sustainable household consumption patterns. Household metabolism is determined in terms of total energy requirements, including both direct and indirect energy requirements, using a hybrid method. This method enables us to evaluate various determinants of the environmental load of consumption consistently at several levels—the national level, the local level, and the household level.The average annual energy requirement of households varies considerably between the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden, as well as within these countries. The average expenditure level per household explains a large part of the observed variations. Differences between these countries are also related to the efficiency of the production sectors and to the energy supply system. The consumption categories of food, transport, and recreation show the largest contributions to the environmental load. A comparison of consumer groups with different household characteristics shows remarkable differences in the division of spending over the consumption categories.Thus, analyses of different types of households are important for providing a basis for options to induce decreases of the environmental load of household consumption. At the city level, options for change are provided by an analysis of the city infrastructure, which determines a large part of the direct energy use by households (for transport and heating). At the national level, energy efficiency in production and in electricity generation is an important trigger for decreasing household energy requirements. | Pursuing More Sustainable Consumption by Analyzing Household Metabolism in European ... | Moll, Henri C. | Journal Article | academic | 2005 |
National
Sub-national
Urban
|
| Visualization of Regional Material Flow using Over-flow Potential Maps Construction materials are stocked as structures in some years, but overage and unnecessary structures can cause new material flow to be wasted. In the near future, a huge overage stock that was built during a period of rapid growth will cause the new flow to become waste. Therefore, it's important to see "where" and "how much" material flow may emerge in any given city. An Over-flow Potential Map, or OPM, offers a way to visualize Material Flow related to the construction sector. In the course of estimating regional Material Flow using GIS, many map layers must be calculated. An OPM is produced by taking the 'recycled In-flow layer' away from the 'Outflow layer'. The Over-flow potential is concerned with the age of structures, construction materials used, and maintenance needed. OPM can show both the density of over-flow material, and the contents of over-flow in cities. | Visualization of Regional Material Flow using Over-flow Potential Maps | Tanikawa, Hiroki; Sakamoto, Tetsunori; Hashimoto, Seiji; Moriguchi, Yuichi | Report | reports | 2004 |
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Material Stock Analysis (MSA)
Sub-national
|
| Transition towards improved regional wood flows by integrating material flux analysis and agent analysis: the case of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland This paper discusses the integration of material flux analysis and agent analysis as the basis for a transition towards improved regional wood management in Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR), a small Swiss canton located in the Pre-Alps of Switzerland. We present a wood flow analysis for forests, wood processing industries and consumption in AR, accounting for different wood products. We find that the forest is currently significantly underutilized although there are sizeable imports of wood and fuel to this small region. The underutilization of the forest contributes to a skewed age distribution, jeopardizing long-term sustainable development of the forest, as the fulfillment of its protective and production function are likely to be at risk. The wood resources, however, are capable of satisfying current wood demand among the population of AR and wood could even be exported. Underutilization has two main causes: first, wood prices are so low that harvesting trees is a money-losing proposition; second, consumer wood demand and the current supply from forest owners are not aligned. Furthermore, cultural values, lifestyle trends and traditions make an alignment of supply and demand difficult. Consensus and strategy building with the relevant stakeholders on the basis of the results obtained from the wood flow analysis and agent analysis is a reasonable next step to take. We conclude that wood flow analysis combined with agent analysis provide a useful and straightforward tool to be used as the basis of a transition process towards improved regional wood flows, which in turn should contribute to sustainable forest management. | Transition towards improved regional wood flows by integrating material flux ... | Binder, Claudia R; Hofer, Christoph; Wiek, Arnim; Scholz, Roland W | Journal Article | academic | 2004 |
Case Study
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Wood
|
| An island approach to industrial ecology: towards sustainability in the island context Many fields of study have employed geophysical islands in experimental design with a great deal of success. An island is a closed and bounded system in many respects and presents a manageable unit of study. The island microcosm has been the basis for significant advances in areas such as evolutionary biology, ecosystem ecology and physical anthropology. The same properties that make islands so useful to scientists present island populations with pressing sustainability challenges of limited resource availability and natural carrying capacity. This paper discusses the characteristics of the island context to show the severity and immediacy of these challenges. Based on this discussion, it is apparent that new approaches are needed to address sustainable development on islands. Island systems and the study of industrial ecology, which examines industry embedded within the finite natural environment, have much to gain from one another in this respect. Several industrial ecology case studies, primarily drawn from research in Puerto Rico, are presented to illustrate the compatibility of islands as a study unit in this field. Industrial ecology presents new solutions to the challenges of sustainable island development, while well‐defined island systems offer a unique opportunity for the approach of industrial ecology. | An island approach to industrial ecology: towards sustainability in the ... | Deschenes, P.J; Chertow, Marian | Journal Article | academic | 2004 |
Circular Economy
Island
Sub-national
|
| Long-term Coordination of Timber Production and Consumption Using a Dynamic Material and Energy Flow Analysis A dynamic model for wood and energy flows is used to analyze regional timber management. The model combines a site quality‐dependent forest‐growth module with modules for the timber industry, timber products use, waste management, and energy supply. The model is calibrated with data of a Swiss lowland region for the period of 1900–1997. Scenarios are developed for the period until 2100 in order to discuss possible future roles of domestic timber.Model simulations show that, with present strategies, timber overproduction will further increase in the twenty‐first century because of an increase in forest site quality in the second half of the twentieth century, among other reasons. The increase in building gross floor area of the region by a factor of 5 during the twentieth century coincides with a reduction of timber use in building construction by a factor of 4.5, from 90 kg/m2 to 20 kg/m2. Increasing timber density in buildings could address overproduction; however, a strategy of timber construction could not be accomplished with domestic timber alone. A balance of production and consumption on the present level could also be achieved in a scenario in which the present building stock is gradually exchanged during the twenty‐first century with buildings that exclusively use a combination of solar panels on roofs and domestic firewood and used wood as heat‐energy sources. These replacement buildings would have density typical of late twentieth‐century buildings, and they would need to perform on a low‐energy standard of not more than 130 MJ/m2/yr. | Long-term Coordination of Timber Production and Consumption Using a Dynamic ... | Daniel B. Müller, Hans-Peter Bader, and Peter Baccini | Journal Article | academic | 2004 |
Case Study
Energy Accounting
Future Scenario
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
Time series
Wood
|
| Managing the Flow of Construction Minerals in the North West Region of England This article, focusing on the flow of bulk construction minerals, establishes a mass balance framework for the North West of England, a region that imports more aggregate material than any other in the United Kingdom. The problems associated with construction minerals are of a different nature than most other resource flow issues: Depletion of resources and contamination are not considered major problems; rather it is the environmental impact resulting from life‐cycle stages from extraction, transport, processing, through to final disposal that is most important. A mass balance framework can promote a better understanding of the regional flow of materials, and the impact of human activity on surrounding ecosystems, and hence underpin informed decision making. This is of particular relevance at the current time because increasing political emphasis is placed on sustainable resource management and resource productivity at the United Kingdom and European Union levels. Using a mass balance framework to analyze the sustainability impacts of construction and mineral flows in the North West of England, this study finds that flows resulting from construction activity account for 34,075 terajoules (TJ) of energy resulting in 2,701 gigagrams (Gg) of carbon dioxide emissions related to energy use, and 387 Gg of carbon dioxide emissions related to the transportation of the minerals. Against these impacts, the flow of bulk construction mineral salso supports 147,000 jobs within the region. | Managing the Flow of Construction Minerals in the North West ... | Darryn McEvoy | Journal Article | academic | 2004 |
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Case Study
Construction Materials
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
|
| Ecological Footprints and interdependencies of New Zealand regions Bicknell et al.'s [Ecological Economics 27 (1998) 149] input–output methodology is extended to investigate the Ecological Footprints and interdependencies of 16 regions in New Zealand. There is a particular focus on the Auckland region as a case study example of the application of the methodology. Auckland, New Zealand's primate city, was found to have the largest regional footprint of 2.32 million ha (20% of New Zealand's footprint). However, on a per capita basis it had the second lowest footprint of all regions at 2.00 ha per person. The footprint analysis was extended to demonstrate how Auckland was ecologically dependent on other regions, particularly the Waikato region. The footprints of other New Zealand regions are reported, along with international comparisons. The paper also reviews the theory and practice of Ecological Footprinting, as well as commenting on various methodological issues that have arisen in the calculation of Ecological Footprints. | Ecological Footprints and interdependencies of New Zealand regions | McDonald, Garry W.; Patterson, Murray G. | Journal Article | academic | 2004 |
Case Study
Comparison
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Input-Output Analysis (IOA)
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
Zotero2
|
| Material Flow Analysis on the Regional Level: Questions, Problems, Solutions This paper aims at developing a method for applying the framework of material flow accounting and analysis (MFA) on the regional level. Starting from a discussion on the state-of-the-art in MFA on the national level, already published regional case studies are reviewed and details concerning the different methodological approaches discussed. The review reveals that existing studies differ considerably with regard to the size of the investigated regions, the methods applied and the data generated. Based on this review, a method for compiling regional MFA accounts is derived, which is compatible with the standard method for national MFA. Special focus is put on the description of possible estimation methods to overcome expected data gaps, in particular with regard to international and intranational trade flows. Finally, interlinkages between material flow accounting and land use accounting are discussed. | Material Flow Analysis on the Regional Level: Questions, Problems, Solutions | Hammer, Mark and Giljum, Stefan and Bargigli, Silvia and Hinterberger, Friedrich | Report | reports | 2003 |
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| In the Sea of Influence: A World System Perspective of the Nicobar Islands From a “world system” perspective, this monograph describes the processes by which the Nicobar Islands became integrated into the global economy. Situated some 1,200 km off the east coast of India in the Bay of Bengal, the islands are home to an indigenous population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants who draw their sustenance from horticulture, pig rearing, fishing and, more recently, copra production. The location of the Nicobar Islands on an ancient trade route to southeast Asia has had inevitable consequences for both the inhabitants and the islands’ ecology; the pace of change increasing with the European colonisation of Asia. The islands are no longer a source of food and shelter to passing vessels as they used to be in former times, but are positioned, despite present protectionist measures, on the disadvantaged side of an exploitative relationship through an unequal exchange of resources within the modern world system. In drawing linkages between the world system perspective and environmental change, this monograph emphasises a shift from monetary indicators to biophysical indicators. Based on archival material and prolonged fieldwork, the monograph is a first detailed account of the colonial and economic history of the Nicobar Islands, and hence of interest not only to the scientific community, but to the general reader as well. | In the Sea of Influence: A World System Perspective of ... | Singh, Simron J. | Book | academic | 2003 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Environmental justice
Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production (HANPP)
Island
Sub-national
|
| Total material requirements in the Basque Country no abstract available https://www.mincotur.gob.es/Publicaciones/Publicacionesperiodicas/EconomiaIndustrial/RevistaEconomiaIndustrial/351/Economia07.pdf | Total material requirements in the Basque Country | Arto Olaizola, I | Journal Article | academic | 2003 |
Case Study
Sub-national
Time series
|
| The Biomass Metabolism of the Food System: A Model-Based Survey of the Global and Regional Turnover of Food Biomass The food and agriculture system is among the largest anthropogenic activities in terms of appropriation of land and biological primary production, as well as alteration of the grand biogeochemical cycles of carbon, water, and nitrogen. Despite its importance in these respects, physically coherent descriptions and analyses of the food and agriculture system regarding the total turnover of fundamental flows (such as biomass) and resource use and efficiency of critical processes (such as animal food production) are relatively scarce. This article presents a survey of the current flows of biomass in the food and agriculture system. The survey gives a mass‐ and energy‐balanced description of biomass from its production on cropland and grassland through its transformations into animal and vegetable food products to its final conversion into respiratory heat, feces, and other residues. This assessment was carried out by means of a physical model that, for eight world regions, calculates the necessary production of crops and other phytomass (plant biomass) from a prescribed end use of food, efficiency in food production and processing, and use of system‐internal by‐products and residues as feed, feedstock, and food. The global appropriation of terrestrial phytomass production by the food system was estimated to be some 13 Pg (1.43 × 1010 short tons) dry matter, or 230 EJ (2.18 × 1017 Btu) gross energy (higher heating value), per year in 1992‐1994. Of this phytomass, about 8% ended up in food commodities eaten. Animal food systems accounted for roughly two‐thirds of the total appropriation of phytomass, whereas their contribution to the human diet was about 13% (both on a gross energy basis). The ruminant meat systems were found to have a far greater influence than any other subsystem on the food system's biomass metabolism, primarily because of the lower feed‐conversion efficiency (calculated as carcass produced by total feed intake, including pasture and other human‐inedible feedstuffs) of those systems. | The Biomass Metabolism of the Food System: A Model-Based Survey ... | Stefan Wirsenius | Journal Article | academic | 2003 |
Biomass
Food and agriculture
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Regional
Sub-national
|
| City Limits. A resource flow and ecological footprint analysis of Greater London A resource flow and ecological footprint analysis of Greater London, prepared by Best Foot Forward Ltd in 2002 found that London's EF was 42 times London's current capacity, or 293 times the size of London. This equated to 49 million global hectares, twice the size of the UK, and roughly the same size as Spain. | City Limits. A resource flow and ecological footprint analysis of ... | Best Foot Forward | Report | reports | 2002 |
Case Study
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Total material requirement of the Basque Country Foreword from report: In the coming decade the Basque Country will have a great opportunity to produce more well-being using more human resources and less natural resources. It is essential that economic growth be decoupled from the use of resources and from contamination if sustainable development is to be achieved. A transformation can and must take place which will reduce the use of natural resources and increase productivity, thus generating lower environmental impacts in all sectors of the economy throughout the life cycle of products and services.This new document has been drawn up under the Environmental Framework Programme to analyse the progress made in this decoupling process. It looks at developments in the use of natural resources in the Basque Country between 1989 and 1998. It also presents a series of indicators which can be used to monitor the pressure exerted by the Basque production system on the environment year by year, to determine the sources of that pressure and to promote action to palliate them. Chief among these indicators is the Total Material Requirement, which indicates the accumulated volume (measured in tonnes per inhabitant per annum) of materials extracted from nature by economic activities.This study has been drawn up by the Environmental Economy Unit of the University of the Basque Country. This unit was set up jointly by the Basque Government Department of Land Use and the Environment and the Institute for Public Economics of the University of the Basque Country. Its main purpose is to analyse the relationship between economic activity in the Basque Country and the environment. | Total material requirement of the Basque Country | IHOBE | Report | reports | 2002 |
Case Study
Sub-national
Time series
UM review paper import
|
| A comparison of the sustainability of public and private transportation systems: Study of the Greater Toronto Area A macroscopic assessment of the impacts of private and public transportation systems on the sustainability of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is undertaken from economic, environmental and social perspectives. The methodology draws upon the urban metabolism and sustainability indicators approaches to assessing urban sustainability, but compares modes in terms of passenger-kms. In assessing the economic sustainability of a city, transportation should be recognized as a product, a driver and a cost. In 1993, the traded costs of automobile use in the GTA were approximately balanced by the value of the automobile parts and assembly industry. But local transit costs 1/3 to 1/6 of the auto costs per person-km, in traded dollars, mainly because local labour is the primary cost.Public transportation is more sustainable from an environmental perspective. Automobile emissions are a major contributor to air pollution, which is a serious contemporary environmental health problem in Toronto. Public transportation modes are less energy intensive (including indirect energy consumption) and produce CO2 at an order of magnitude lower, although these benefits are partially undermined by under-utilization of transit capacity and the source of electricity generation.The social benefits of automobile use are likely more significant than costs in determining GTA residents' preferential mode choice. The speed and access of auto use provide important economic benefits, e.g. relating to employment and product choice. Nevertheless, offsetting the service attributes of private transportation are large social costs in terms of accidents. The costs of automobile insurance provide one tangible measure of such negative impacts.In order to improve the sustainability of the GTA, innovative approaches are required for improving the performance level of public transportation or substantially reducing the need for the service level provided by automobiles. Efforts such as greater integration of bicycles with public transit, or construction of light-rail systems in wide roadways, might be considered. But to be sustainable overall, a transportation system has to be flexible and adaptable and so must combine a mixture of modes. | A comparison of the sustainability of public and private transportation ... | Kennedy, Christopher A. | Journal Article | academic | 2002 |
Case Study
Energy Accounting
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Sub-national
Transportation
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Urban nutrient balance for Bangkok To explore the options for recycling of nutrients from mega-cities to agricultural land, a nutrient balance model was developed. The balancing was done for Bangkok Province and considered nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). To estimate the food supply, the most decisive nutrient flow, an online database (faostat) was employed; its country level data are disaggregated to the urban level. A simple approach to estimate nutrient food flows is suggested. The balance shows that only a small fraction of nutrients is recovered of the amount of N and P in the total food supply, currently about 7% and 10%, respectively. On the other hand most (about 97%), of the total loss of N can be accounted for by elevated N levels in the Chao Phraya river, and also much (about 41%) of the P is lost through the river. So it appears that in- and outflow of N are almost in balance, but a large amount of P accumulates. The balance also shows that the organic waste from Bangkok Province discharged into the river (and the sea) contains huge quantities of plant nutrients that should be recovered and reused to close the ecological nutrient cycle. | Urban nutrient balance for Bangkok | Færge, Jens; Magid, Jakob; Penning de Vries, Frits W. T. | Journal Article | academic | 2001 |
Case Study
Food
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
|
| Nitrogen Balance for the Central Arizona–Phoenix (CAP) Ecosystem A detailed fixed nitrogen (N) mass balance was constructed for the Central Arizona–Phoenix (CAP) ecosystem. Input of fixed N input to the ecosystem was 98 Gg y−1. Of this, humans deliberately imported or mediated the fixation of 51 Gg N y−1; combustion processes added another 36 Gg y−1. Fixation by desert plants, wet deposition, and surface water input accounted for 11% of total N input. Total fixed N output was 78 Gg N y−1, a large component of which was gaseous N products of combustion and denitrification. Computed accumulation of N was 21 Gg y−1 (total input minus total output) or alternatively, 17 Gg y−1 (summing individual accumulation fluxes). Key uncertainties include dry deposition of atmospheric N and changes in soil storage. Inputs to the urban and agricultural components of the ecosystem were an order of magnitude higher than inputs to the desert. Human hydrologic modifications in this ecosystem promote the accumulation and volatilization of N while keeping riverine export low (3% of input). Interplay among the form and amount of N inputs, edaphic and climatic characteristics of the system, hydrologic modifications, and deliberate efforts to reduce N pollution controls the fate of N in human-dominated ecosystems. | Nitrogen Balance for the Central Arizona–Phoenix (CAP) Ecosystem | Baker, Lawrence A.; Hope, Diane; Xu, Ying; Edmonds, Jennifer; Lauver, Lisa | Journal Article | academic | 2001 |
Case Study
Nitrogen
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Use of resources in economic areas: Material flow analyzes for sustainable spatial development Every economic area is in a material exchange with the environment. Raw materials are extracted on the input side and emissions and waste are released on the output side. The use of resources does not stop at political borders. Here, for the first time, it is described in detail how the global material costs of industrialized regions can be determined. The author presents the possibilities of how the physical basis of economic areas can be aggregated and ascertained and evaluated in detail. This is explained using examples for Germany and other industrialized countries as well as results of sectoral and regional analyzes (e.g. construction area or Ruhr area). Analyzes for the planning of infrastructure facilities (energy / water / traffic) are also presented, with the help of which a more sustainable material-energy supply can be implemented locally. Jeder Wirtschaftsraum steht in einem Stoffaustausch mit der Umwelt. Auf der Input-Seite werden Rohmaterialien entnommen und auf der Output-Seite werden Emissionen und Abfälle abgegeben. Die Ressourcennutzung macht dabei nicht an politischen Grenzen halt. Hier wird erstmals ausführlich beschrieben, wie der globale Materialaufwand industrialisierter Regionen bestimmt werden kann. Der Autor stellt die Möglichkeiten vor, wie die physische Basis von Wirtschaftsräumen aggregiert und detailiert ermittelt und bewertet werden kann. Erläutert wird dies anhand von Beispielen für Deutschland und anderen Industrieländern sowie Ergebnissen sektoraler und regionaler Analysen (z.B. Baubereich bzw. Ruhrgebiet). Auch werden Analysen für die Planung von Infrastrukturanlagen (Energie/Wasser/Verkehr) vorgestellt, mit deren Hilfe eine nachhaltigere stofflich-energetische Versorgung lokal umgesetzt werden kann. | Use of resources in economic areas: Material flow analyzes for ... | Stefan Bringezu | Book | academic | 2000 |
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
|
| Mass balance for wastewater nitrogen in the Central Arizona–Phoenix ecosystem A complete nitrogen mass balance for all wastewater generated in the Central Arizona–Phoenix ecosystem was developed using data from the 18 largest wastewater treatment plants (99% of flow). Components included total N in raw wastewater, denitrification in wastewater treatment plants, biosolids production, and effluent (reuse, recharge, and discharge). Denitrification and biosolids production remove 81% of wastewater N. Nearly all biosolids are recycled to cotton fields within the ecosystem. Most effluent is recycled within the ecosystem. As the result of wastewater management practices developed to reuse wastewater, wastewater N is either deliberately volatilized or accumulates within the system; only 4% of the original wastewater N is exported via the Gila River. | Mass balance for wastewater nitrogen in the Central Arizona–Phoenix ecosystem | Lauver, Lisa; Baker, Lawrence A | Journal Article | academic | 2000 |
Case Study
Nitrogen
Sub-national
Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
UM review paper import
Urban
Wastewater
|
| Material flow analysis: A tool to support environmental policy decision making. Case-studies on the city of Vienna and the Swiss lowlands This paper discusses the use of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) as a tool to support policy decision making in the field of resource and environmental management. In terms of policy, MFA can be used for early recognition, priority setting, to analyse and improve the effectiveness of measures and to design efficient material management strategies in view of sustainability. MFA has a high potential to be implemented as a guiding tool at the regional level, for example as part of a regional environmental management and audit system or as a part of the Local Agenda 21 process. Material management based on MFA is complementary to traditional environmental and resource management strategies, which have tended to focus heavily on specific environmental compartments, and measure the concentration of substances in various media. MFA, in contrast, provides an overview of the total system by linking the anthroposphere (that part of the biosphere in which humans' activities take place) with the environment. This system approach shifts the focus away from the back-end so-called 'filter strategies' to more pro-active front-end measures. MFA examines short- and long-term loadings rather than concentrations and highlights current and potential material accumulations, called material stocks. These stocks represent either potential environmental problems (e.g. large stocks of hazardous materials) or a potential source of future resources (e.g. urban mining). In this way, MFA can assist precautionary policy making by highlighting future environmental or resource issue problems without relying on signals of environmental stress. The objective of materials management is: firstly, to analyse material flows and stocks; secondly, to evaluate these results; and thirdly, to control material flows in view of certain goals such as sustainable development. MFA is an excellent tool for the first objective and is well suited to generate a base for the other two objectives. MFA results can be compared against environmental standards or can be interpreted using assessment or indicator methodologies (such as environmental impact assessment or ecological footprints). Selected results from two studies, carried out for the city of Vienna (substance management) and the Swiss lowlands (timber management), illustrate the use of MFA as a tool for early recognition (resource depletion and environmental quality), for priority setting and for effective policy making. | Material flow analysis: A tool to support environmental policy decision ... | Hendriks, Carolyn and Obernosterer, Richard and Müller, Daniel and Kytzia, Susanne and Baccini, Peter and Brunner, Paul H | Journal Article | academic | 2000 |
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Single point in time
Sub-national
UM review paper import
Urban
|
| Energy flow analysis as a tool for developing a sustainable society—a case study of a Swedish island In order to develop a sustainable society, tools are needed to analyze the relationships between human activities and ecosystems and to estimate the carrying capacity of the natural resource base. In this paper, energy analysis is applied in a study of the small island society Nämdö in the Stockholm archipelago, Sweden. Nämdö has a permanent population of 41 persons and ca. 1000 summer residents. We estimated the energy and material flows on the island, including the primary and secondary production in natural and cultivated ecosystems, human production and consumption of food, and production of waste. Our results show that the island society's consumption exceeds the natural carrying capacity of the island. A great deal of food and energy is imported while only a minor amount of local resources are utilized. The island society is, at present, not constrained by the local resource base, but instead depends heavily on functioning transport communications with the mainland. Based on our findings we make recommendations for greater self-sufficiency, including use of locally available renewable resources and increased recycling. | Energy flow analysis as a tool for developing a sustainable ... | Sundkvist, A; Jansson, A; Enefalk, A; Larsson, P. | Journal Article | academic | 1999 |
Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA)
Island
Sub-national
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| The ecological backpack of the Ruhr area: a comparison with North Rhine-Westphalia and the Federal Republic of Germany The global resource consumption of material, energy (carriers) and area, which is connected with the economic activities of the Ruhr area, is quantified. Through functional and spatially differentiated and actor-related analyzes, framework conditions, priorities and starting points for measures to increase resource productivity are shown. The global net land use of agricultural land in 1991 by the Ruhr region suggests that the material supply can only be increasingly put on a renewable basis if the material demand decreases in the sense of dematerialization. In 1990 a sustainable flow weight between the removal of substances from the environment and the release of substances to the environment as well as the physical imports, exports, purchases and deliveries has not yet been reached. A significant part of the annual (primary) material input is associated with the provision of imports and purchases from the Ruhr area and pollutes the environment in other regions. The energy source productivity of the industry in the districts and cities of the municipal association Ruhrgebiet (KVR) shows a non-energetic purpose, the iron and steel industry, the non-ferrous metal industry, the construction industry and the trade show a particularly high material intensity. In terms of global material input (excluding water and air), the Ruhr area (similar to North Rhine-Westphalia) had a material productivity of around two thirds of the national average in 1990. This is mainly due to the fact that more goods are sold in the Ruhr area for the same added value. Der globale Ressourcenverbrauch an Material, Energie(trägern) und Fläche, der mit den wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten des Ruhrgebiets verbunden ist, wird quantifiziert. Durch funktional und räumlich differenzierte und akteursbezogene Analysen werden Rahmenbedingungen, Prioritäten und Ansatzpunkte für Maßnahmen zur Erhöhung der Ressourcenproduktivität aufgezeigt. Die globale Netto-Flächenbelegung landwirtschaftlicher Fläche 1991 durch das Ruhrgebiet legt nahe, dass die stoffliche Versorgung nur zunehmend auf eine erneuerbare Basis gestellt werden kann, wenn die stoffliche Nachfrage im Sinne einer Dematerialisierung sinkt. 1990 ist ein zukunftsfähiges Fließgewicht zwischen den Stoffentnahmen aus der Umwelt und den Stoffabgaben an die Umwelt sowie den physischen Importen, Exporten, Bezügen und Lieferungen noch nicht erreicht. Ein erheblicher Teil des jährlichen (Primär-) Materialinputs ist mit der Bereitstellung von Importen und Bezügen des Ruhrgebiets verbunden und belastet die Umwelt in anderen Regionen. Die Energieträger-Produktivität der Industrie in den Kreisen und kreisfreien Städten des Kommunalverbandes Ruhrgebiet (KVR) zeigt eine nicht-energetische Zwecke weisen die Eisen- und Stahlindustrie, die Nichteisenmetallindustrie, die Bauwirtschaft und der Handel eine besonders hohe Materialintensität auf. Bezogen auf den globalen Material Input (ohne Wasser und Luft) wies das Ruhrgebiet (ähnlich wie NRW) 1990 eine Materialproduktivität von ca. zwei Drittel des Bundesdurchschnitts auf. Dies liegt hauptsächlich daran, dass im Ruhrgebiet für die gleiche Wertschöpfung mehr Warenmasse verkauft wird. | The ecological backpack of the Ruhr area: a comparison with ... | Bringezu, Stefan; Schütz, Helmut | Working paper | academic | 1996 |
Case Study
Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
Sub-national
UM review paper import
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| The components of Charleroi's ecosystem and the prospects for regional socio-economic development (preliminary study). | The components of Charleroi's ecosystem and the prospects for regional ... | Duvigneaud, P. and Denayer, S. and Brichard, C. and Brichard, C. and Bouchat, A. and Moniquet, J.-C. and Chasseur, C. | Report | reports | 1981 |
Sub-national
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