Urban Economies Resource Productivity and Decoupling: Metabolism Trends of 1996-2011 in Sweden, Stockholm, and Gothenburg

Resource productivity and evidence of economic decoupling were investigated on the basis of the time series in 1996-2011 of material flow analysis for Sweden, Stockholm, and Gothenburg. In the three cases, absolute reductions in CO2 emissions by about 20% were observed, energy consumption per capita decreased, while gross domestic product (GDP) per capita grew. The energy consumption of the residential and public sectors decreased drastically, while the transport energy consumption is still growing steadily. Decoupling of the economy as a whole (i.e., including materials) is not yet happening at any scale. The domestic material consumption (DMC) continues to increase, in parallel with the GDP. The rate of increase for DMC is slower than that for GDP in both Stockholm and Sweden as a whole (i.e., relative decoupling). The metabolism of the cities does not replicate the national metabolism, and the two cities each have their own distinct metabolism profiles. As a consequence, policy implications for each of the case studies were suggested. In general, because of the necessarily different roles of the two cities in the national economy, generic resource productivity benchmarks, such as CO2 per capita, should be avoided in favor of sectorial benchmarks, such as industry, transport, or residential CO2 per capita. In addition, the share of the city impacts caused by the provision of a service for the rest of the country, such as a port, could be allocated to the national economy

Machine learning-based stocks and flowsmodeling of road infrastructure

This paper introduces a new method to account for the stocks and flows of road infrastructure at the national level based on material flow accounting (MFA). The proposed method closes some of the current shortcomings in road infrastructures that were identified through MFA: (1) the insufficient implementation of prospective analysis, (2) heavy use of archetypes as a way to represent road infrastructure, (3) inadequate attention to the inclusion of dissipative flows, and (4) limited coverage of the uncertainties. The proposed dynamic bottom-up MFA method was tested on the Norwegian road network to estimate and predict the material stocks and flows between 1980 and 2050. Here, a supervised machine learning model was introduced to estimate the road infrastructure instead of archetypical mapping of different roads. The dissipation of materials from the road infrastructure based on tire–pavement interaction was incorporated. Moreover, this study utilizes iterative classified and regression trees, lifetime distributions, randomized material intensities, and sensitivity analyses to quantify the uncertainties

How is the construction sector addressing the Circular Economy? Lessons from current practices and perceptions in Argentina

The Construction and demolition (C&D) sector mobilise a significant number of resources and at the same time is responsible for a large fraction of waste worldwide (40%-60%). Although, the environmental impact of these by-products is low, waste generated finishes in landfills, is downgraded and because of its volume it has become a priority at different governmental levels. In this context, the Circular Economy (CE) provides a set of strategies to improve efficient use of resources, thus reducing the environmental footprint of C&D. Most academic literature has focused on China, Europe, or the US, but knowledge about CE practices and perceptions in global south countries is scarce. To reduce this knowledge gap, this study focuses on Argentina and explores what are the perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for adopting CE strategies by the C&D sector. To achieve this goal, a survey was developed and distributed with support from the Argentinean Chamber of Construction (CAMARCO), among members of the chamber and other C&D relevant networks. The survey was carried out in the Autumn of 2021 and 88 C&D firms representing different size, longevity and business cycle responded. The results of the survey show that most of surveyed firms are trying to engage with the concept of CE. Secondly, a lack of digitalisation and information are seen as important barriers to transition to CE. Finally, policy makers should focus on providing financial and tax incentives to secure a better environmental future

Drivers and barriers to energy-efficient technologies (EETs) in EU residential buildings

To achieve carbon targets, the European Union (EU) aims to promote nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEB). To enable the necessary transition, technical solutions need to converge with socio-economic factors, such values and awareness of stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. In this light, the aim of this paper is to characterise perceived drivers and barriers to nine energy-efficient technologies (EET), according to key decision-makers\u27 and persuaders of the technology selection in the EU residential building context. Results are collected across eight EU countries, i.e. Belgium (BE), Germany (DE), Spain (ES), France (FR), Italy (IT), Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), and United Kingdom (UK). The stakeholders’ selected are architects, construction companies, engineers, installers and demand-side actors. Data from a multi-country survey is analysed to calculate the share of 15 drivers and 21 barriers (aggregated to 5 groups), being selected for each EET and country. The 5 groups considered to analyse drivers and barriers are environmental, technical, economic, social, legal. The perceived barriers and drivers were further studied for their association across the countries using the Pearson\u27s Chi2 and a Cramer\u27s V tests. The results demonstrate that across all EETs and countries, the technical and economic driver groups are perceived to have the highest potential to increase the implementation rate of EET. In terms of barriers, economic aspects are seen as the foremost reason that EET are not scaling faster. In both drivers and barriers legal aspects are the least often selected. In overall the barrier groups show significant variation across countries compared to driver groups. These findings provide an evidence-basis to better understand arguments in favour and against specific EETs and, in this way, support policy makers and other interested parties to increase the market share of the selected solutions

Climate-Smart Stormwater Management

Increased precipitation and risk of flooding are major effects due to climate change that Swedish municipalities need to consider, while facing an ongoing growth in population and densification of urban areas. In this context, urban stormwater management represents a growing challenge. The vulnerability of the society towards climate change depends on the capability of the city to responds to environmental issues.This report presents the challenges and the needs for the implementation of sustainable stormwater solutions encountered in the urban planning process for the city of Gothenburg. The decision making process can be facilitated by the adoption of a stormwater toolbox, which functionalities are designed to support the stakeholders at each step of the planning process. The modules of the toolbox should be designed around a collaboration platform that assists with transparent information flows and allocation of responsibilities. The specific modules (e.g. hydrology, cost-benefit analysis, experience database) should support the needs along the different phases in the process.This study was financially supported by Climate KIC. The Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are partnerships set up by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT, that bring together businesses, research centers and universities with the purpose of developing innovative products and services, starting new companies and training a new generation of entrepreneurs. EIT Climate-KIC\u27s mission is to bring together, inspire and empower a dynamic community to build a zero carbon economy and climate resilient society and to enable Europe to lead the global transformation towards sustainability

Methods for Downscaling National Material Consumption Data to the Regional and Municipal Levels

Decision makers are looking to reach consumption-based environmental impact targets like Sustainable Development Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production. These goals require multifaceted action at municipal, regional, and national levels; however, there are limitations to calculating consumption at the regional and municipal levels. Consumption is dependent on the socioeconomic metabolism of the area, with its unique composition of industries, consumers, and public facilities, which may affect the most appropriate measures to meet goals effectively. In this study, we evaluated several methods to extrapolate municipality- and region-specific consumption from national-level data so that consumption estimates can be used to aid decision makers or make further analyses like environmental impact evaluation. We compared four approaches and validated our findings using reported consumption values as well as results from another model in use. We found that using per capita values for consumption is satisfactory for counties, but consumption in municipalities and metropolitan areas with populations smaller than 500,000 inhabitants was better described by one of the suggested methods on average

Informing sustainable consumption in urban districts: A method for transforming household expenditures into physical quantities

Interventions targeted at district-level are a potentially effective way to reduce consumption-based urban impacts; however, a systematic method for accounting these impacts at district scale has not yet been developed. This article outlines a method for transforming household expenditure data into consumption quantified on a physical basis. Data sources are combined to calculate monetary value per unit mass for different products consumed by households. Socio-economic household archetypes are selected, and typical consumption for these archetypes is calculated by combining expenditure data from a household budget survey with the calculated monetary values per unit mass. The resulting physical quantities of different products consumed are envisaged as an essential part of performing district scale material flow analysis and urban metabolism studies, also as an input for assessing consumption-based environmental impacts and for designing sustainable consumption policies. The method was applied to characterise consumption in urban districts. The obtained results were used to assess of districts\u27 consumption-based impacts with life cycle assessment (LCA) and to inform design of sharing economy. The method was found to be an effective way to evaluate the demand for products in different districts; this in turn could inform objective measures to aid more sustainable urban consumption

A CONFIGURAÇÃO DISCURSIVA NOS QUADROS O VIOLEIRO E CHICO VIOLEIRO, SOB A PERSPECTIVA DA GDV

O objetivo do presente artigo é descrever a composição visual dos quadros O Violeiro, do pintor realista brasileiro Almeida Júnior, e do quadro/paródia Chico Violeiro, do cartunista Maurício de Souza, de forma a observar quais discursos são veiculados nos quadros e se, no processo de parodiaziação, esses mesmos discursos são mantidos ou não. Para a realização deste objetivo, utilizamos o arcabouço teórico-metodológico fornecido pela Gramática do Design Visual, de Kress e van Leeuwen. Os resultados mostram que os recursos semióticos utilizados por ambos produtores reproduzem discursos hegemônicos sobre a segregação social de gênero, em que a mulher é representada como sendo inferior ao homem. Dessa maneira, observamos que no processo de parodiaziação há a manutenção de tais discursos

Combining Industrial Symbiosis with Sustainable Supply Chain Management for Development of Urban Communities

Growing urban population is putting pressure on the supply of natural resources leading to global environmental impacts and calling for new ways to manage urban development. Circular economy strategies can provide the means to both increase resource productivity and generate new business opportunities. Industrial symbiosis is one such strategy. We explore an industrial symbiosis application in this article. While most previous industrial symbiosis applications has been limited to eco-industrial parks, here we propose an adaptation of the industrial symbiosis and sustainable supply chain management concepts to urban areas in general. It is a way to develop economic clusters incorporating symbiotic links between multiple products supply chains. A proposed iterative facilitated industrial symbiosis method identifies an economic cluster focus, stakeholders, opportunities for resource exchange and sharing of infrastructure, as well as other important elements. The method provides systematic guidance for practitioners seeking ways to grow local industry and economy, increase resource productivity, reduce wastes, and better utilize local resources. Benefits of industrial symbiosis and barriers to its implementation are also identified in the method. The method comprises 5 phases, each illustrated on an example drawn from our application of the method in an urban development in Gothenburg, a city in Sweden

Analysis of data from Vallenata music and culture industries

El enfoque del presente proyecto es brindar a las industrias culturales que organizan los 5 principales eventos alrededor de la música y la cultura Vallenata, en los Departamentos Cesar y Guajira, en el año 2020, herramientas para el análisis de datos, por medio de mapeos, encuestas, base de datos e información externa sobre sus actividades culturales, tales como concursos, eventos musicales, operación logística y gestión de talentos. Bajo este panorama, el trabajo con los clientes se orienta hacia la implementación de planes de acción que faciliten recopilar, sistematizar, analizar y difundir información confiable, oportuna y relevante, en un periodo determinado, sobre un evento o actividad específica. Lo anterior, permite construir estrategias creativas, conducentes a elaborar registros únicos de proyectos culturales en la región, lo cual aportará transparencia para la rendición de cuentas en toda esta industria; facilitando a las organizaciones transformar los datos en información; de tal manera, que genere claridad en la definición de la situación actual, y acceda a optimizar la planeación de acciones en escenarios futuros, mejorando la toma de decisiones inteligentes basadas en el conocimiento y manejo de la información. En resumen, estas herramientas de análisis de datos les permitirán a las ICC tener información clave e indispensable para planear, controlar, evaluar e incrementar los niveles de eficacia y eficiencia de sus actividades, gestionando óptimamente los recursos tanto públicos como privados de la mejor maneraThe focus of this project is to provide cultural industries that organize the 5 main events around Vallenato music and culture, in the Departments of Cesar and Guajira, in 2020, tools for data analysis, through mapping , surveys, databases and external information on their cultural activities, such as contests, musical events, logistics operations and talent management. Under this scenario, we are oriented to work with our clients in the implementation of action plans that facilitate the collection, systematization, analysis and dissemination of reliable, timely and relevant information, in a given period, about a specific event or activity. This will allow the creation of creative strategies, aimed at preparing unique records of cultural projects in the region, which will provide transparency for accountability throughout this industry; facilitating organizations to transform data into information, in such a way that it generates clarity in the definition of the current situation, and allows optimizing the planning of actions in future scenarios, improving intelligent decision-making based on knowledge and information management . In summary, these data analysis tools will allow them to have key and essential information to plan, control, evaluate and increase the levels of effectiveness and efficiency of their activities, optimally managing resources, public and private in the best way