geplantes Projekt

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
(coordinator)

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

Friedrich Hinterberger

 


SERI - Personen - Projekte - Schriften - Links


by abono 1999-2000