Planned project
Global
Material Flows
Sectoral disaggregation of the material flows through national economies. Empirical analyses and scenarios towards sustainable development.
Research Proposal submitted to the IHDP-IT Programme
|
Dr.
Friedrich Hinterberger |
SERI |
| Dr. Peter Barthelmus | |
| Dr. Stefan Bringezu | |
| Dr. Helmut Schütz | Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy |
| Dipl.-Geogr.
Stephan Moll |
in cooperation
with:
| Prof. Dr. Bernd Meyer |
University of Osnabrück, Department of Economics, Osnabrück, Germany |
| GWS-GmbH, Osnabrück | |
| Prof. Kimio Uno, PhD | Keio-University, Tokio |
|
and other associated partners worldwide |
Target questions
-
Data Compilation of direct domestic material inputs (including domestic hidden flows) following the Wuppertal approach/concept (MAIA) for all countries of the world, disaggregated by sectors according to the systematic used in COMPASS. In addition, CO2 emissions are derived from COMPASS based on the inputs of different fossil energy carriers. The research target here is to develop correlation figures for material throughput and CO2.
Calculation of other aggregates such as the Total Material Requirement (TMR) considering "ecological rucksacks". This can be done by COMPASS considering national and international intermediate connections. In other words, re-attribution (vertical integration) of direct domestic material inputs to categories of final demand (final demand of private households and state, investments, stock changes, exports) for all countries. -
Calculation and analysis of several ratios relating vertical integrated material input aggregates to traditional economic aggregates resulting in resource productivity and labour-intensities of resource use.
Empirical findings concerning the "globalisation and sustainability" issue
Specifying
the statement "80% of world population are using only 20% of world-wide
resources according to the Wuppertal approach"; with other words,
ecological footprints in terms of TMR.
Specifying Factor-X reduction targets according to the environmental
space concept (i.e. which countries are still able to grow physically,
how are the reduction targets allocated as regards North-South and East-West
respectively).
How have financial flows been de-linked from resource flows over time
and space.
Maybe a special problem could be addressed: Most of the developing countries
refuse concepts like "dematerialisation" or "Factor X"
since they are dependent on earnings stemming from exports of raw materials.
Transferring the eco-tax revenues of industrialised countries to developing
countries would be one consideration/scenario. The project findings
could contribute to clarify this problem.
Instruments
-
Taxes, tradable permits, environmental agreements, joint implementation Scenarios. Trends of resource uses under business as usual assumptions and two other scenario settings.
-
Proving the feasibility of the above mentioned reduction targets on a global scale assuming realistic economic growth rates in different parts of the world (is an equal distribution of resource uses possible within the next 50 years?). Which kind of technological and behavioural changes are necessary?
-
What are the economic and environmental effects of different strategies of ecological economics (material input tax, tradable permits etc.) assuming both co-ordinated and non-co-ordinated policies among countries.
Contact
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