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With the increasing consciousness of the value of wetland ecological and environmental functions and its fast rate of decline in the size of this important and rich ecosystem globally, the Niger Delta ecosystem has been reported to be undergoing tremendous change, hence the need for this research, to identify the challenges and proffer solutions. This study focuses on ascertaining if a change has occurred in the Upper Orashi Forest Reserved wetland, to know and evaluate the policies used in managing the wetland in the region and Nigeria. To ascertain the wetland change, land cover change detection was carried out using Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing to produce paradigm or data to detect change occurrence in the wetland area. Supervised classification of land use and land cover change was carried out using LANDSAT data from 2002, 2008, and 2019. Thereafter, the land cover transition was mapped for the period 2002 to 2019 and this was computed for the net land cover change for the period of study. The site was classified into three different classes and each class was analyzed using the land use and land cover change model formula. The result from this part shows that there is a consistent decrease in the wetland area for the period under review and in the other two identified classes, some interchangeable compositions were observed for the period of study. To validate this result, the opinion of experts and the host community is needed. Two sets of questionnaires were designed for experts and local community dwellers to sample their opinion in relation to the wetland and its management. The information collected was analyzed using Microsoft excel and the result shows that changes have occurred in the wetland of Upper Orashi Forest (decrease in size and other challenging issues with respect to policies and regulations). This study has identified critical challenging issues facing wetlands in the region or driving factors of wetland loss in the study area. Thereafter making recommendations that will help address these issues to actualize environmental sustainability and sustainable wetland in the region and Nigeria at large.
Background: Food sustainability is becoming increasingly important for the achievement of sustainable development goals, especially in light of recent global challenges of climate change, geopolitical conflict and the increasing vulnerability of food systems. The world is emphasising the importance of holistic approaches to agriculture and food systems to tackle these challenges. Germany’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2030 associates SDGs 2, 3 12 and 15 with sustainable agriculture and food systems as crucial elements to achieve these goals. However, with the lack of knowledge in this area, and the scarcity of tools to monitor and assess food sustainability, it has become crucial to investigate potential holistic approaches and frameworks to assess the sustainability of food systems.
Purpose: This study uses the national framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the only available valid holistic framework, to explore the sustainability of the bread system in Germany. It operationalises the SDGs to bakery level to identify significant indicators that could, potentially, be used to assess the sustainability of artisan bakeries, and identify to which SDGs the bakeries contribute.
Methods: This study utilises a mixed-methods research design to address the multi-disciplinary nature of the food sustainability concept. It critically evaluates the SDG framework and identifies a set of indicators, which are expanded with further indicators to address the cultural dimension of bread as a cultural heritage. To collect data, a 26-item questionnaire was issued to 586 artisan bakeries with a response rate of 8.8% (n = 52); the 52 bakeries own 562 branches. This was followed by interviews with an acceptance rate of 19% (n = 10). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the interviews were transcribed from German to English and coded using NVivo 11.
Results: Sustainable bread is redefined from a holistic perspective encompassing theory, policies and artisan bakeries. The results confirm that bakeries positively contribute to bread sustainability in Germany, as well as towards achieving the national SDGs. Progress areas include energy efficiency, sustainable packaging, local procurement, heritage promotion, waste reduction and ecolabels. Interestingly, individual bakeries appear to be slightly more sustainable than chains due to their flexibility in adapting to new practices and their use of organic products; however, chain bakeries are slightly less sustainable, but are proven to be more efficient in terms of productivity and market reach.
Der Nutzungsdauer elektronischer Geräte wird in der Debatte um einen zukunftsfähigen, nachhaltigen Konsum eine zentrale Rolle beigemessen, da die Produktion von Geräten mit einer vergleichsweise hohen Umweltlast verbunden ist. Während in der aktuellen Forschung insbesondere das Produktdesign und Geschäftsmodelle fokussiert werden, wird in der vorliegenden Untersuchung die Nutzungsphase in den Blick genommen. Dabei wird den Fragen nachgegangen, welche Bedingungen den Umgang mit Geräten im Alltag prägen und wie soziale Praktiken gefördert werden können, die lange Nutzungsdauern stützen. Theoretisches Fundament bilden Praxistheorien, Narratologie und Bewertungssoziologie.
Das mittels der Grounded Theory entwickelte Modell Doing Value konzipiert die Nutzungsdauer als einen dynamischen, soziotechnischen Prozess, in dem elektronischen Geräten durch den Umgang mit ihnen Wert zugewiesen wird. Zentral für den Wertzuweisungsprozess sind Geschichten über Geräte, die durch den Akt des Erzählens reproduziert und zugleich mit den Narrativen des sozialen Umfeldes abgeglichen werden. Ob diese lebensweltlichen Technik-Narrative Bedarfe, geplante Obsoleszenz oder Reparaturen thematisieren, sie sind sowohl als interpretierte Erfahrungen Resultat der früheren Produktnutzung als auch Referenzmaßstab für die Sinnhaftigkeit zukünftiger Handlungen. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung werden zehn häufig vorkommende und für die Nutzungsdauer bedeutsame Narrative rekonstruiert und systematisiert sowie abgeleitet, wie darauf aufbauend Lebensdauer begünstigende Praktiken gestützt werden können. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen wurde eine Diskursintervention zum positiven Framing langlebiger Geräte (#LangLebeTechnik) konzipiert und in Kooperation mit Akteur*innen aus der Zivilgesellschaft umgesetzt. Parallel wurden berufliche Akteur*innen aus Politik und Verwaltung sowie Verbraucher- und Umweltschutz, die sich mit Kreislaufwirtschaft und Obsoleszenz befassen, dazu befragt, welche Ansatzpunkte sie sehen, um Lebensdauer begünstigende Praktiken im Alltag der Nutzer*innen zu stärken. Basierend auf einem Vergleich mit den Ergebnissen der Nutzer*innen-Befragung werden Empfehlungen für die strategische Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation abgeleitet, um suffiziente Konsummuster im Umgang mit elektronischen Geräten zu fördern. Dabei werden den Ansatzpunkten zugrundeliegende Menschenbilder reflektiert und aufgezeigt, dass Kooperationen zwischen Nutzer*innen bei technischen Anliegen bedeutsam für lange Nutzungsdauern sind.
Den Schwerpunkt des Mixed-Methods-Studien-Designs bilden problemzentrierte Interviews mit Nutzer*innen (In-Homes inklusive Tagebuchmethode und Fotodokumentation) und beruflichen Akteur*innen sowie online gesammelte Geräteschichten. Quantitative Daten (CAPI und CAWI) werden flankierend einbezogen. Die Dissertation wurde angefertigt im Rahmen der inter- und transdisziplinären Forschungsgruppe Obsoleszenz als Herausforderung für Nachhaltigkeit (https://langlebetechnik.de).
Die deutsche Wirtschaft und ihre international anerkannten Qualitätsstandards sind insbesondere von einer hohen Anzahl an kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (KMU) geprägt. Diese Unternehmen sind gekennzeichnet von hoher Spezialisierung, traditionsreichen Unternehmensgeschichten mit familiärem Hintergrund und einer regionalen Verwurzelung, aber ebenso auch von begrenzten Ressourcen, limitierter Infrastrukturanbindung, Fachkräftemangel sowie Nachfolgeproblemen. Vor dem Hintergrund der stetig voranschreitenden internationalen Nachhaltigkeitstransformation, die sowohl auf gesellschaftlicher, finanzieller als auch regulatorischer Ebene stattfindet, wird diese Unternehmensgruppe vor große Herausforderungen gestellt. Dennoch liegen hinsichtlich der KMU-Unternehmensgruppe nur begrenzt wissenschaftliche Arbeiten vor, die sich empirisch mit der Integration von nachhaltigen Finanzierungsformen und -zwecken auseinandergesetzt haben. Der vorliegende wissenschaftliche Beitrag ging unter Durchführung einer theoretischen Literaturrecherche und einer empirischen Unternehmensbefragung von 100 deutschen KMU der Frage nach, inwiefern Hemmnisse hinsichtlich der Integration nachhaltiger Finanzierungsformen und -zwecke bestehen. Des Weiteren wurde untersucht inwiefern die Integrationsbereitschaft in Zusammenhang mit charakteristischen Unternehmensmerkmalen wie u. a. der Unternehmensgröße und dem Alter der Unternehmensführung bzw. Ausprägungsmerkmalen von nachhaltigen Finanzierungsformen wie u. a. deren Verständlichkeit und finanzielle Rentabilität stehen. Im Rahmen der empirischen Untersuchung wurden deskriptive Auswertungsformen, Korrelationsanalysen sowie die multiple lineare Regression angewendet. Es konnte festgestellt werden, dass hinsichtlich der Unternehmensmerkmale ausschließlich das Alter der Unternehmensführung und die Bedeutung des öffentlichen Unternehmensimages signifikant in einem Zusammenhang mit der Integrationsbereitschaft standen. Ausprägungsmerkmale nachhaltiger Finanzierungsformen konnten hingegen kaum in Zusammenhang mit der Integrationsbereitschaft gesetzt werden, was vermutlich auf den bisher eher gering ausgeprägten diesbezüglichen Kenntnis- und Erfahrungsstand in den Unternehmen zurückgeführt werden kann. Anhand dieser Ergebnissen kann abgeleitet werden, dass in der aktuellen Situation besonders niederschwellige Beratungs- und Informationsangebote sowie eine politische Dialogkultur, die sich an den individuellen Rahmenbedingungen von KMU orientieren, förderlich sein können, um den Wissensstand und die Integrationsbereitschaft auszubauen. Ebenso könnten die gezielte Ansprache durch Finanzpartner sowie wirtschaftliche Anreize in Verbindung mit nachhaltigen Finanzierungsformen und -zwecken dazu führen, dass das Thema stärker in den Unternehmensfokus gerückt werden kann.
Cultural heritage faces many types of threats such as neglect, conflicts, disasters caused by natural and human induced hazards, unplanned infrastructure projects, climate change, etc. Over time, a number of institutions, organisations, programmes and initiatives to address the issues related to heritage at risk through varied modes of interventions such as advocacy work, conservation efforts, funding, awareness-raising regarding particular sites, etc. have emerged. Despite the stimulus and support of the various institutions, organisations and initiatives, diverse threats continue to impact cultural heritage in present times with some factors amplifying more than before, leading to the subsequent damages to or losses of heritage assets. Though reasons for these issues are varied and complex, one of the important factors to look into is the agency of the diverse ‘Heritage at Risk’ programmes or initiatives. ICOMOS being one of the pioneers in this global discourse of threatened heritage, its role is strategically vital. 20 years after ICOMOS’s first attempts to initiate one of the first ‘Heritage at Risk’ programmes, this research is an opportunity to re-examine and analyse the effectiveness of ICOMOS’ ‘Heritage at Risk’ programme within the current organisational/ institutional landscape of initiatives in the field of heritage at risk, that ICOMOS is embedded in. It is also an opportunity to situate the programme within the diverse views of the heritage at risk framework and the continuing shifts in the foundational paradigms of the international discourse on heritage conservation. The purpose of this analysis is to guide programme improvement for optimising efforts in favour of cultural heritage at risk within and/ or beyond ICOMOS and improve their ability to contribute towards - safeguarding heritage at risk, increasing the resilience of cultural heritage and sustainable development.
Learning from the past, designing for the future : sustainability of the Mediterranean vernacular
(2020)
With climate change and the depleting ozone layer, awareness about protecting the environment is increasing and “Sustainable Architecture” is becoming an essential part of the architectural future of cities. However, sustainable buildings of today are being built with high cost, high tech systems which can be reduced by taking advantage of past technologies and systems. The brilliance of vernacular architecture and the way man adapted to his surroundings fascinated me and inspired me to do further research on the sustainable characteristics of vernacular settlements of the Mediterranean area in order to determine if these characteristics can be applied to present and future architecture in an innovative way to create sustainable buildings with least possible energy consumption.
The method of research was based upon a general analysis of the passive design (solar and wind) characteristics of a town or settlement in Mediterranean climate starting from its site elements such as topography, vegetation, water. After that its urban structure, such as the geometry, block and street orientation and dimensions. Following that, the dwelling characteristics like dwelling shape, orientation and dimensions and finally the thermal regulating elements found in these dwellings, such as windows and vegetation. These elements were given a score according to their contribution to energy savings in buildings. Four case studies were chosen: two vernacular case studies from the region of study (the Mediterranean Coasts) and two modern case studies inspired by the Mediterranean vernacular. The analysis was repeated in the same sequence mentioned: Site, Settlement, Dwelling, Element, for the actual performance of each case study. The elements were given a number of points out of the score assigned for each element in the general analysis.
A total score and rating for each case study resulted from this analysis. The objective of these scores were to compare the performance of the vernacular case studies to the vernacular inspired case studies in terms of energy savings. The final scores displayed comparable results between both types of case studies meaning that when these modern settlements were designed with an influence from the Mediterranean vernacular, their performance in energy savings was close to that of a vernacular settlement. That means that it is possible to design settlements which are influenced by vernacular settlements and can even defeat them by following the general guidelines of the vernacular passive design characteristics in addition to modern tools and innovative methods. These guidelines can be reflected in a handbook and rating system which can become a simple step by step guide for architects and planners to design sustainable settlements without the need for expensive and complicated rating systems and consultants.
In this paper, through a literature review, I clarify the meaning of public space and reflect on theoretical approaches to and methods of assessing the ability of historic public spaces to enhance social sustainability. I explain how the definition of public space and approaches to urban planning share concepts with social sustainability.
Finally, reflecting on examples of empirical research that attempt to
link physical and social components of public spaces, I point out the
methodological strengths and weaknesses in the field.
The overall research goal of this doctoral thesis is to better understand the determinants of sustainable purchase behaviour. By approaching several context-specific subgoals in a series of four quantitative empirical studies, major research gaps in the field of sustainable consumption are addressed. The first article examines the market potential for social banking in Germany. By means of an experimental survey using adaptive conjoint analysis, a sample of 2896 German social banking customers and a population-representative sample of 641 German conventional banking customers are compiled. Logistic regression modelling reveals that social banking customers differ significantly from their conventional counterparts regarding several consumer characteristics. The results further indicate a large untapped market potential ranging between 10 and 26% of the German population in 2011. The second article investigates the phenomenon of the attitude-behaviour gap in the context of sustainable clothing. Based on survey data of 1085 female German consumers, a structural equation model is estimated to assess how large the possible gap between a positive attitude towards sustainable clothing and the corresponding purchase behaviour is. Apart from a considerable attitude-behaviour gap, the article indicates that a positive attitude, self-transcendence values, as well as an affinity to online and catalogue shopping, significantly enhance sustainable clothing purchases. Self-enhancement values and, remarkably, a preference for durability constitute purchase barriers. The third article studies the influence of product lifetime labelling by the example of electrical appliances. Using choice-based conjoint analysis, experimental survey data is collected from a population-representative sample of 499 German consumers. Hierarchical Bayes utility modelling suggests a decreasing positive effect of the label on purchase decisions and a deterioration of the purchase influence of existing brands. Structural equation modelling indicates, for instance, that the preference for a long product lifetime is fostered by a respective positive attitude and subjective norm. However, the attitude only exerts a significant influence if it is driven by personal rather than environmental gains. The fourth article sheds light on the effects of favourable and unfavourable environmental product information. The analysis draws on data gained from a survey-based experiment conducted among a population-representative sample of 524 German consumers. Using a two-level structural equation model, the results document that the negative effect caused by unfavourable product carbon footprint information on consumers’ willingness to pay is significantly stronger than the positive effect caused by respective favourable information. Furthermore, consumers tend to not substantially differentiate between different high-range degrees of positive or negative environmental information.
Cameroon’s forest is one of the richest ecosystems in the Congo Basin and in Africa as a whole in terms of its biodiversity. These forest types are currently subjected to multiple categories of threats. By enacting a new forestry law in 1994, the government of Cameroon intended to intensify efforts toward the protection and conservation of this rich biodiversity. This study aimed to compare two forest management systems, a state management system (the case of Takamanda National Park) and a community-based management system (the case of Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), to determine which management system better conserves and protects the forest against biodiversity loss. The study applied a methodological framework that made use of selected indicators and criteria to evaluate the extent of sustainability of the two forest management systems and challenges faced in implementing them. Both quantitative and qualitative results were realized through the administration of questionnaires, semi-structure interview and in-depth contents analysis of Law No.94-1 of 20th January 1994 that lays down forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations and the 1996 Environmental Management Law that directs Cameroon’s compliance to the international standard of protecting the environment.Results indicated that community-based system of forest management is a much more sustainable approach of forest management than a state management system. Based on the criterion of cultural values attributed to natural resources in the community-based management zone (Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), 78.2% of the local communities were more willing to protect biodiversity as opposed to 48.3% from state management zone (Takamanda National Park). This study found that the level of participation in the community-based management system was much more inclusive and transparent. On the other hand, in the state management system, a high level of corruption, lack of transparency, delayed and irregular salaries of forest guards and minimal participation of local communities in forest management decision-making was noted and likely responsible for the ineffectiveness and unsustainable management efforts in this system. The study recommends the adoption and implementation of a more inclusive, transparent and accountable management in the state managed system (Takamada national park), particularly the full involvement of respected Elites, Chiefs and Traditional Councils.
Nachhaltig und Geschäftsprozesse sind häufig benutzte Schlagworte der heutigen Zeit, vor allem in Politik und Wissenschaft. Auch deren Verbindung nachhaltige Geschäftsprozesse hat Aufnahme in den allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch und Wortschatz gefunden. Das Ziel nachhaltiger Geschäftsprozesse ist es, die Effektivität und Effizienz des Unternehmens langfristig zu verbessern, ohne die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit des Unternehmens zu beinträchtigen. Nachhaltige Geschäftsprozesse fokussieren dabei insbesondere auf drei unterschiedliche Aspekte: Ökonomie, Ökologie und Soziales. Diese Aspekte sind unter dem allgemeinen Grundsatz der Nachhaltigkeit zu betrachten und in das bestehende Management zu integrieren. Auch dieses funktionale Managen von Geschäftsprozessen oder der Nachhaltigkeit ist zwischenzeitlich wissenschaftlich bearbeitet worden. Dessen Umsetzung in der Wirtschaft lässt jedoch zu wünschen übrig. Diese Arbeit hatte sich daher zur Aufgabe gemacht, das funktionale Managen, d. h. das Planen, das Steuern und Kontrollieren von nachhaltigen Geschäftsprozessen in einen Kontext zu bringen. Dabei wurde unter den Gesichtspunkten der Effektivität und der Effizienz geprüft, ob für dieses komplexe Management ein separates Konzept notwendig wird. Es wurde daher untersucht, ob sich mit dem Geschäftsprozessmanagement die Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte planen, steuern und kontrollieren lassen. Zur Prüfung dieser These wurden die deutschen Automobilhersteller als Validierungsobjekte herangezogen.
Heutzutage ist Nachhaltigkeit in allen Lebensaspekten besonders wichtig. Durch den Klimawandel und den übermäßigen Konsum aufgrund des Bevölkerungswachstums, werden die globalen Trinkwasservorräte in großen Maßen ausgenutzt. Um diese negativen Tendenzen zu unterbrechen, sind entsprechende Maßnahmen zur effizienten Nutzung der Wasserressourcen in den urbanen Räumen weltweit zwingend erforderlich. Diese Masterarbeit beschäftigt sich mit einem Entwurf für einen effizienten und nachhaltigen Teil des städtischen Bereiches, mit besonderer Betrachtung von Systemen zur Wasserwiederverwendung, Regenwasserbewirtschaftung und Low Impact Development sowie deren Abhängigkeit von regionalen Aspekten. Der Entwurf soll eine Grundlage zur Entwicklung und Planung für urbane Räume in Verbindung mit Wassereffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit in bestimmten Regionen bilden. Auf Grundlage der Bewertung anhand der Kriterien der Gebäudezertifizierung wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Integration der oben beschriebenen Methoden sowohl auf regionaler als auch auf globaler Ebene mehrere Vorteile für Gebäude und deren Umgebung bringen. Es wurde eine Tendenz beim nachhaltigen Bauen, das auf natürliche Systeme und Methoden zurückgreift, erkannt. Heutzutage sollen Gebäude in einer Harmonie mit der Umgebung und der Umwelt gebaut werden, was zur Reduktion der menschlichen Einflüsse auf den Klimawandel führt. Durch die Förderung dieser Art der Entwicklung in urbanen Räumen, können zukünftige Städte zur Bewältigung der Wasserknappheit, Verbesserung der Wasserqualität und Regeneration der Wasserressourcen einen Beitrag leisten. Eine gelungene Planung erfordert jedoch Beobachtungen der vielfältigen Wechselwirkungen sowie der verschiedenen sozialen, ökologischen, ökonomischen, rechtlichen und politischen Aspekte.
Rural electrification has been one of the challenges faced by the government of Ghana due to extremely high cost of electricity extension to the rural areas. In order to meet up this challenge, the government of Ghana has been keen with the introduction of renewable energy programs as a solution for rural electrification. However, most of programs are also faced with the problem of being sustainable. After government and sponsors hand-over completed project to local users, they usually last only few years of their life span and are abandoned. This challenge has inspired this study to identify the potential barriers to the sustainability of rural electrification programs through technical and socio-economic evaluation of a solar PV rural electrification project in Ghana.
The approach of this study selected an on-going solar PV project (community solar system-CSS), that has been introduced on a pilot base across the whole of Ghana, which is to be adopted as a standard system for electrification solutions in rural areas in Ghana. This project was subjected to both technical and socio-economic evaluations covering 13 rural communities across the southern part of the country. Stakeholder interviews and review of literature were additional methodologies employed to gather information pertinent to the theme of the study.
The results of the study show that technically, the CSS project has simple design and operational technologies, which gives it high integration potential. However, the project faces the problem of technology misuse by the rural users and frequent failure of its components. The socio-economic barriers identified are: (1) ineffective management of the project due to a long chain of bureaucratic administrative management system, inadequate monitoring and supervision, and inconsistency in standardizing the cash flow of the project, and (2) low electricity capacity of the CSS project and other similar small scale renewable projects to meet the electricity requirements of the rural populates. These problems lead to gradual decline of users’ interest for such small scale renewable energy projects and subsequently result in project abandonment. It was concluded that small scale renewable energy programs lack the capacity to fully meet the energy requirement of rural populates; however, they are crucial as intervening solutions and play key role in rural development.
Yemen is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. The water deficit has been aggravated by the rapidly increasing demands for both surface and groundwater resources that are being unsustainably exploited. To address the country’s severe water scarcity, the government has adopted long-term intervention policies as stated in ‘Yemen's Strategic Vision 2025’. These policies are aimed at restoring the balance between water demand and availability, and at reducing the existing water deficit. Although 11 years have passed since this vision was adopted, the water deficit is still on the rise. The present situation raises questions about the efficiency of the intervention policies adopted by ‘Yemen's Strategic Vision 2025’ and about the effectiveness of implementing these policies. Another fundamental question pertains to the availability of a strategic assessment tool in the water resources sector that can be used to assess strategically future and current policies, strategies and plans, in order to ensure their efficiency in supporting water resources and in producing the positive impacts for which these strategic initiatives were developed in the first place. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an assessment tool designed to function at a strategic level and help to bring aspects of environmental sustainability into the decisionmaking process. This research aims to demonstrate the potential of SEA in enhancing environmental sustainability in water policies for achieving sustainability of water resources in Yemen. In order to show the potential of SEA in the Yemeni water resources sector, this research has applied SEA methodologies and adopted a scenario-building approach for assessing the intervention policies adopted by ‘Yemen's Strategic Vision 2025’ to support augmentation of water resources. Qualitative and quantitative approaches have been used in this research. Quantitative historical data on water availability, water demand and water savings by interventions have been collected from the databases of national institutions and international organizations concerned. Statistical analyses have been used to project future trends until 2025. Qualitative analyses of relevant studies and reports covering the environmental, administrative, sociocultural and political-economic aspects of water resources management in Yemen have been implemented as well. In addition, 13 semi-structured key informant interviews have been conducted with decision-makers, managers and leading experts in the water and irrigation sectors. The research produced three future scenarios for the total water balance that may play out until 2025 in Yemen. These scenarios provide impact assessment and alternatives’ comparison of the existing intervention policies. The resulting scenarios are as follows: the ‘Business as Usual’ scenario, which forms an assessment of currently applied interventions and provides an image for the future, if current interventions are maintained at the same pace; the ‘Do-nothing’ scenario representing the situation if no interventions are implemented; and the ‘Sustainability’ scenario, which represents the potential future of the total water balance if existing interventions are to be scaled up and out. The findings confirm the significant potential of currently adopted intervention policies to support water resources. They also reveal that the current level of implementing the intervention policies has hindered the potential of these intervention policies in achieving the expected positive impact on the water balance by 2025. In order to achieve a significant decrease in the water deficit, the strategic quantitative targets that need to be implemented were identified. The methodology followed in implementing the research and achieving the findings demonstrates the potential of SEA in enhancing environmental sustainability in water policies for achieving integrated and sustainable water resources management in Yemen. The recommendations of the research covered improving the existing water balance as well as improving the assessment and planning context in the water resources sector. In order to improve the water balance situation, the research recommends implementing quantitative targets for water savings and augmentations, such as those developed by this research. These targets have been identified based on the capacities of sectors implementing these interventions. The research also recommends further decentralization of planning and management of water resources and the establishment of Water User Associations (WUAs) as the main vehicles for ensuring sustainable planning and management of water resources, including the scale out of interventions, subject to assessment in this research. In order to improve assessment and planning of water resources, the research recommends the adoption of SEA, the updating of water resources data and conducting regular assessments of policies, plans and programmes as part of monitoring their impact and providing a chance for amending these policies and strategies, if required, to achieve sustainability of water resources.
The unprecedented population growth, rising in community living standard and urbanization have left most municipalities in African Countries grappling to find viable solutions to their waste management problems. Improper waste management is attributed to systemic failure of policy makers and municipal authorities to identify the most sustainable approach to dealing with it so as to meet environmental and socio-economic aspirations. This study aims to find a new approach involving people of different social, ethnic, gender and religious groups in the reconstruction of local waste management systems creating typical win-win situations. The main objectives of this research are as follows: • Investigates how gender affects solid waste planning and the influence of different social status of the community especially the role of households. • Examines the level of community involvement in solid waste management in terms of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. The case study area Cameroon “Africa in miniature” is used to highlight waste management burdens and challenges which are characteristic of most African cities. This research sought to answer one principal question: Can top-down approaches in municipal solid waste management be successful without sufficient community engagement and sense of ownership? Top-down approaches where considered in terms of policies and technology transfer. An integrated methodology was used involving a desk study, field survey for situation analysis, household questionnaire survey, habitat scale, “waste to cash seminar” for stakeholders’ analysis and focus group discussion. The outcome of this holistic investigation reveals a strong concern for a clean environment thus citizens’ participation and awareness creation is so vital to take the message to grass roots level. Municipal waste collection services are more effective when they work in collaboration with community led primary collection from households. It is clear that where a reliable service can be guaranteed communities are willing to pay for it. Building the capacity of communities implies empowering community to sustainably manage their waste. An integration of several factors is vital to increase sustainability. However, this does not undermine the fact that the best implementation in some situations is some sort of a middle ground between Top-down and Bottom-up.
Cameroon has vast renewable energy resource potentials, with a hydropower potential of about 55,200MW, second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. So far, its energy needs are met by 4.8% hydropower (which accounts for less than 5% of its total hydropower potential), 0% wind and 0% solar. Cameroons’ energy sector still goes through insufficient electrical energy production, especially during the heart of the dry season, which runs from December through March. Coincidentally, the wind and solar power potentials for Cameroon are at their peak during these months and could conveniently supplement for the shortfalls in generation during these periods. In this research, technical analysis were carried out to determine the wind and solar energy resource potentials for Cameroon using the RETScreen software tool provided by CANMET Canada. These analysis revealed that the northern regions of Cameroon had higher wind and solar resource potentials than any other location in Cameroon. A 2MW installed wind energy capacity would be capable of generating well over 1.5GWh electrical energy per year, while a 2KW installed solar energy capacity will be capable of generating well over 3MWh electrical energy per year. In the final sections, financial analysis were carried out to determine the economic viability of such projects and the possibility for self-financing. Emission analyses were also done based on the ability for such projects to offset greenhouse gas emissions and ensure sustainability in the energy sector. The analysis for Maroua revealed that 78.6tCO2/yr for wind and 0.1tCO2/yr for solar could be reduced by those installations. Finally, the legislations and legal frameworks governing the energy sector in Cameroon were dissected to determine possible weaknesses and constraints limiting the use, promotion and development of the full potential of Cameroon’s renewable energy resources.
The economic crises of the mid 1980s and 1990s due to a fall in economic productivity inflicted serious negative consequences on Cameroon’s forest ecosystems and forest resources which became the target of intense exploitation for multiple purposes. A forest policy reform at the behest of the World Bank was intended to regulate forest exploitation in a sustainable way. More than a decade since the inception of this policy, this study, through a three-tier methodological approach of survey, content analysis and observation, seeks to assess policy impacts per se, as well as the role of environmental communication in mitigating non-sustainable forest exploitation in Anglophone Cameroon. The study also investigates a valid and reliable option for the sustainable management of forest resources, by comparing and contrasting the two operational forest management paradigms. The outcome of the investigation reveals that both policy and environmental communication have a more positive impact in the community forest area than in the state-managed forest area, implying that the former is a better forest management option than the latter. However, forest sustainability is still at stake in both areas, due, generally, to bad forest governance such as corruption, minimal public participation, lack of transparency and accountability, as well as the ubiquitous presence of poverty, unemployment and inadequate public access to socio-economic development indicators. To this end, the study proffers some robust recommendations that if implemented will greatly enhance the badly needed forest sustainability.
Being one of Ukraine’s major sources of economic revenue, the country’s agro-industrial sector proved, at the same time, to be perhaps the most vulnerable branch of economy in the times of political and social turbulence. While the state is searching for the ways of strengthening its positions at the global market, its agricultural potential to a considerable extent remains both under- and misused. Based on comprehensive historic analysis, this research establishes the origins of the current situation and assesses the possibilities of positive change. Utilizing the experience of other European countries’ with regards to making agriculture more sustainable and competitive in the modern world, the author describes the ways of applying these practices against the background of Ukrainian socio-political system. Drawing knowledge from the experience of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) worldwide, this research aims at harmonizing their methods with evaluation demands in Ukrainian agriculture. It discusses and criticizes the existing assessment approach and suggests measures necessary for making it more comprehensive. The author offers profound analysis of Ukrainian agricultural policies to date, reviews national regulating directives and outlines country-specific challenges as to improving agricultural sustainability. In order to provide Ukrainian decision-makers with a clear and all-round tool for assessing the advances and failures of the acting state policies in the AIS, a set of reliable indices for evaluating agricultural performance has been developed by the author, which is largely based on the widely-acknowledged Driving Force – State – Response framework offered by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Human Development Index (HDI) from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) methodology. At the same time, the newly developed set takes into consideration the peculiarities of Ukrainian socio-political setting. Three major categories of indicators were chosen as a backbone for further elaboration, namely economic, social and political. Therefrom results a list of twelve relevant indices. At the concluding stage of the research, they were processed and transformed to three top-level indices: Economic Development Index, Environmental Situation Index and Social Development Index. These three indices are intended for clear and illustrative presentation of the current situation for high level decision-makers and governmental bodies. Methodology utilized for the purposes of this research with necessary adaptation and fine tuning can also be used with other set of initial data, indicators and indices. Application field can also be downscaled from the highest (national) to the lowest (regional) level by adapting the indicator-indices system to the initial input data. This will considerably simplify the compilation and presentation of regional reports and will provide transparency for interregional comparison within the country.
Recycling and material recovery are gaining more grounds in applicability as viable options to sustainable solid waste management especially in Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) schemes. In this dissertation a critical analyzes is made of the MSWM problem in Cameroon and an assessment of the role Small- and Medium-Size Enterprises have been playing in the area of recycling and material recovery. The main research methods applied in this research include: fieldwork, administration of questionnaires, interview and literature review. Using two case study localities (Limbe and Buea municipalities), the various practices in MSWM are elaborated, the constraints and challenges faced by management discussed and proposals for either expanding/upgrading existing schemes to be more sustainable as well as strategies to initiate new systems presented. Innovations within collection systems such as the introduction of household bins and specialized collection of specific waste could be quite beneficial to existing schemes. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which constitute one of the fastest growing waste streams presents greater management challenges. Two case study localities (Buea and Kumba) are used to analyze the problem of WEEE in Cameroon. An overview of the handling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) at end-of-life (EoL) in Cameroon is made with special focus on households and repair units. At household level, WEEE is disposed of alongside other waste arisings in the available disposal facilities for given household. Repair units represent a very vital connection between dysfunctional EEE and EoL forms as all users of EEE tend to bring these devices to these units for repairs. An inventory of the various EEE at repair units for these two localities shows that above 40% percent of such equipments are totally out of use. In Kumba, Classes 1 and 4 EEE (according to EU WEEE directive classification) dominate while class 3 is almost absent. In Buea, Class 3 and 4 are dominant. These results show that socio-cultural, economic and even climatic factors influence the choice of EEE that people in this area acquire. The intense level of repair activities and recovery of useful parts by repair units show that there exist adaptable options to handle WEEE in especially economically and environmentally beneficial ways. The recycling of aluminum for production of household utensils represents a very basic and adaptive industrial set-up, which can easily be operated and run at very cheap cost and with a little manpower. While this venture seems apparently successful in economic terms as an option to poverty alleviation through income generation, it is plagued by some problems which, if given due consideration will render it a prospective option for poverty alleviation (through small enterprise business development) and environmental sustainability (as an option to sustainable MSWM). In this dissertation, a model is thus presented, which can be utilized by stakeholders to improve on the sector. An assessment of efforts and constraints to implementing comprehensive recycling and recovery schemes in Cameroon was also carried out. Results show that there are existing practices on which comprehensive recycling and recovery can be built upon that would be beneficial to both councils and engaged schemes – mostly SMEs and NGOs. The challenges faced and likely to be faced and the way forward to implementing any broad scale recovery and recycling are presented. If municipal councils choose to operate existing MSWM schemes without significant changes, then collective collaboration will be highly required. Such collaboration will present benefits to both waste collection and disposal. On the other hand, if they wish to expand schemes or create new schemes, adaptive innovation would be highly recommended. Such adaptive innovation would have to incorporate local practices and approaches of MSWM as well as socio-economic considerations so as to ensure new or expanded schemes survive within local socio-economic context. A greater challenge in enhancing recycling and material recovery in particular and MSWM in general, in Cameroon is on the role the government takes on designing appropriate policies and legislative frameworks to cover such activities in economically and ecological beneficial ways. In the absence of these, SMEs, councils and NGOs (working in partnership with other specialized groups) concerned with activities related to recycling and material recovery may be left with the option of regulating activities within their sectors as such activities stand to alleviate poverty and also present ecological benefits.
Sustainable forest management in 1992 was recognized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development as the most important contribution the forestry sector can inject into any sustainable development initiative. The author’s extensive literature review established this as the premise on which Ghana‘s quest for sustainable economic growth and development strategies is being implemented. Since embarking on this endeavour, conscious efforts have been made to define essential components of forest resources against which sustainability assessments could be performed in Ghana. The conceptual framework of the present research rests on FAO’s concept on criteria and indicators as useful tools in monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management and resource-use. In addition, an empirical approach seeks to elicit answers from staffs involved in the management of natural resources as well as from other stakeholder groups in order to address four pertinent questions as; i. the specifics of forest management practices and policies that exist in Ghana‘s high forest zone, ii. interactive forces that come into play with the identification and development of national level criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, iii. who constitute the stakeholders and lastly, iv. the extent to which progress towards sustainable forest management has been achieved and in which direction it is moving. First a quantum of forest management policy documents were reviewed out of which applicable criteria and measurable indicators, specific to the high forest zone of Ghana, were identified. Together with stakeholder's involvement, performance scores were established for indicators identified within the trio-sectors (forest ecosystem, forest communities and the economy) for sustainability assessments. Based on actual performance scores, measures of successes towards sustainable forest management operations were quantitatively performed with estimated maximum and minimum thresholds levels at which resource-use would be sustainable using the measure of forest resource-use sustainable scale-MoFRUSS. Outcomes of these measurement operations, as depicted on the scale, revealed the actual extent to which stakeholder’s initiatives, towards sustainable forest management have progressed and in which direction they are moving. The study also offers optional policy baskets for resource management interventions from which the Socio-eco-Economy bundle is the most recommendable if the environmental aspect of Ghana‘s Vision 2015 (sustainable development) is to be achieved; with improved societal well-being, improved environmental health and vitality and improved economic growth and development. The study concludes with recommendations to both policy makers and the other vested stakeholders a viable opportunity which could be harnessed to improve on management‘s performance through avoided deforestation.