Indonesia is experiencing various environmental challenges related to its fast economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to have measurable and applicable indicators to obtain accurate data and... Show moreIndonesia is experiencing various environmental challenges related to its fast economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to have measurable and applicable indicators to obtain accurate data and information regarding the costs of adverse environmental impacts arising from economic activities to support more effective and targeted decision-making. Therefore, this thesis aims to answer how we can set up environmental-economic accounts in developing countries such as Indonesia and how such accounts can support both development as environmental policies. So, the overall objective of this PhD thesis can be formulated as follows: how can we set up environmental-economic accounts in developing countries such as Indonesia, and how can such accounts support both development as environmental policies? Show less
In-use stocks of products can be considered as intermediaries between human needs and the physical world. During use, they fulfil important functions, but they can also be seen as a source of... Show moreIn-use stocks of products can be considered as intermediaries between human needs and the physical world. During use, they fulfil important functions, but they can also be seen as a source of materials for the future: the production of secondary materials. This idea of an urban mine is applied to copper in China in this dissertation. Taking into account that most modern technologies rely on copper, consumption of diverse copper-containing products in China is increasing rapidly. The in-use copper stocks have become a large reservoir for urban mining. It is of crucial importance to secure future supply by closing copper cycles, thereby also reducing environmental pressure. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore how the stocks and flows related to the Chinese copper cycle can be transformed into a sustainable and circular economy. The material flow analysis and life cycle assessment approaches are used to quantify the in-use stocks, demand and waste generation for copper under the Chinese policies related to general economic development, the energy transition and ambitions with regard to circular economy, and assess associated environmental impacts as well as identify potential options to realize the dematerialization and environmental sustainability of the copper cycle in China. Show less
Weerd, M. van; Gatan-Balbas, M.; Luning, S.; Taggueg, J. 2019
Since 2011, the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University, in cooperation with Isabela State University and the Mabuwaya Foundation in... Show moreSince 2011, the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSW) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University, in cooperation with Isabela State University and the Mabuwaya Foundation in the Philippines organize an annual month–long international, interdisciplinary course on sustainable development, water issues and water management in the Cagayan River basin in Northeast Luzon in the Philippines. Thirty students participate in this course, 15 through Leiden University and 15 through Isabela State University. The students are enrolled in different studies, encompassing social, natural and applied sciences. The annual report contains background information, all student reports and the online blog that the students maintained during the course. Show less
There is an increasing amount of attention on EU and its Member States contributions to implementation of two landmark agreements: the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Agenda 2030 with... Show moreThere is an increasing amount of attention on EU and its Member States contributions to implementation of two landmark agreements: the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Agenda 2030 with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Absent from the current literature is an analysis of the political effect of legal competences on coordination between EU and Member State actors. Legal competences will become increasingly important for transformative sustainability policies. By using different case studies focusing on alternative fuel policies, ‘Team EU’ in climate negotiations and SDG implementation, this dissertation attempts to explore the potential of including legal competences as independent variables explaining coordination of EU and Member State actors. The findings nuance some of the theories in which the role of EU Treaties is often neglected. The dissertation also shows, however, that the legal competences are sometimes not used habitually unless clear examples of behaviours ‘contrary to the Treaty-logic’ or ‘contrary to sustainable development objectives’. The dissertation not only serves academic integrative purposes. There is increased societal attention for legal avenues to influence political decision-making. As an example, the Dutch ‘Urgenda’ case demonstrate that Courts can be responsive to the argument that Member States’ policies are ‘unlawful’ to avoid dangerous climate change. Show less
The thesis is based on a decade of research in Cameroon, with several rounds of interviews at all stages of the rattan production chain, from the forest to the consumer. One of the findings was... Show moreThe thesis is based on a decade of research in Cameroon, with several rounds of interviews at all stages of the rattan production chain, from the forest to the consumer. One of the findings was that this chain is relatively short: few middlemen on the product flow producer-workshop-customer. Rattan is not produced on plantations but cut in relatively intact forests close to villages and then transported to town. It is transformed into furniture, utilities or artwork in very small workshops, with very simple tools. There is little innovation in design, hardly any marketing effort and virtually no export. Income from rattan and number of jobs created is modest, though the impact on some individuals is distinctly positive. This contrasts with the situation in The Philippines, where the rattan sector is well d eveloped and creates much employment and foreign exchange. In the Philippines, however, exploitation has been unsustainable, and the sector has to face serious shortages and problems related to import of unprocessed rattan. The ecological impact of rattan cutting in Cameroon is currently not alarming, due to the weaknesses of the sector, but care should be taken to prevent resource scarcity. Little evidence was found of the hypothesized contribution of this non-timber forest product to halt deforestation, both in Cameroon and in The Philippines. The thesis ends with recommendations on the sustainable development of the rattan sector. Show less
