Is waste a good measure of economic system’s efficiency?
Key Global Issues
Industrialization of the agro-slivo-pastoral economic
systems has determined the quantitative growth in
waste generation.
In the 20th century the world’s urban
population grew tenfold, most of it in the
less industrialized countries where their inbuilt weaknesses in waste management
(unfamiliarity, technical deficit, lack of public
awareness) are creating very risky
situations
The combination of industrialization and
urbanization is responsible for the generation of
billions of tonnes of waste every year on a
global scale.
Strategic imperatives for global sustainability:
a) resource-productivity above labourproductivity; b) checking urbanization; c)
improving the conditions of work
(diversification) and life in the rural areas.
Key Global Issues
Current international conventions (e.g. Basel
Convention) and national regulations are
insufficient and inadequate to tackle the global
waste management because the waste is
embedded in the materials and products that
are being traded in the world market. With the
expansion of global market and with the
increase in the volume of trade in materials
and products the waste is ever-increasing and
widely circulating.
The ‘growth’-centered paradigm of economic
development, championed by governments and
international organizations, inevitably promotes
a voracious consumership and, therefore, a
waste-generating tendency everywhere.
The growth imperative is in direct contradiction
with the search for global sustainability.
New Horizons
A strong single global institution to standardize and monitor and a
multiple-lane decentralized cooperation among various local actors of
different countries (municipalities, provinces, NGOs, firms); global
monitoring (traceability and impact assessment)
Decentralized cooperation for civic and institutional development; public
scrutiny of waste management in each locality; sustained local and nationallevel public campaigns are needed to raise awareness about waste-related
issues
Three possible parameters for sustainable economic progress
measurement of communities and nations which, once scientifically
established, may eventually accomplish the paradigm shift in global
economy:
•Habitat Integrity Index: universally verifiable measurement to determine
the general health and carrying capacity of a specific locality (it means less
waste, more re-use and re-cycle, better disposal).
•Human Vulnerability Assessment Score: ranking of the societies based
on the threats to human security, public health, livelihood, rights and dignity
(waste as one of the major threats).
•Place-brand Value Index: prestige and attractiveness (visits, investments)
New urgent global issue: waste.
New challenge: prosperity without (or, with as less as possible) waste
Focus shift needed:
•From hazardous to all in waste-related international agreements, regulation and
enforcement (all wastes are ‘hazardous’).
•From global to multi-local.
•From downstream solutions to upstream prevention, care and control.
Strategic postures:
•Outward posture: managing the waste already generated (reducing vulnerability and
risks)
•Inward posture: wellness culture - the commons, the essentials and the intangibles.
•Forward posture: innovative solutions in the transition to sustainable economy
•Leadership: scenario of reference (?), role-models (!)
Paradigm shift needed:
•From ‘development’ centered on ‘growth’ to ‘upliftment’ measured by Freedomfrom-Waste Index (FWI, is the central criterion for habitat integrity).
•From Human Development Index (HDI) to Human Vulnerability Assessment Score
(HumVAS)
•From labour productivity to resource efficiency.
•From quality of products to the quality of context (place-brand).
Ecological footprint
• The ecological footprint compares human demand with
planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate.
• Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how
much of the Earth (or how many planet Earths) it would
take to support humanity if everybody lived a given
lifestyle
• For 2005, humanity's total ecological footprint was
estimated at 1.3 planet Earths - in other words, humanity
uses ecological services 1.3 times as fast as Earth can
renew them
Ecological footprint
Source: Global Footprint Network, 2011
Ecological creditors and debtors, 1961 - 2005
Source: Global Footprint Network, 2009
Genuine Progress Indicator
Source: European Union, 2011
Happy Planet Index
Source: New Economic Foundation, 2006
Happy Planet Index vs GDP per capita (2005)
Source: New Economic Foundation, 2006
Old Economy
Next Economy?
Sustainable livelihoods and business,
holistic and efficient management.
New Economy