IHDP Industrial Transformation Project
Status Report (January, 2001)
IT Scientific Steering Committee (SSC)
Together with the publication of the IT Science Plan in December 1999 the Scientific Planning Committee
(SPC) has fulfilled its role and has completed the planning phase of the project. A new committee, the IT
Scientific Steering Committee has been appointed in July 2000. The members of the SSC are:
Prof. Dr. Pier Vellinga (Chair)
Dr. Titus Adeboye
Prof. Dr. Marina Fischer-Kowalski
Prof. Dr. Ken Green
Prof. Dr. Stuart Hart
Prof. Dr. Hidefumi Imura
Dr. Nina Poussenkova
Prof. Dr. Richard Rockwell
Dr. Leena Srivastava
Dr. Luis Fernando Vieira
Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands
African Technology Development Link, Kenya
Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Austrian Universities, Austria
Manchester School of Management, UK
University of North Carolina, USA
Kyushu University, Japan
Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
University of Connecticut, USA
Tata Energy Research Institute, India
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Brazil
First Meeting of the SSC
The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) convened for the first time on 1-2 December 2000 in
Amsterdam, Netherlands. The main objective for this meeting was to initiate the development of an
Implementation Strategy to foster a fruitful continuation of the IT Project and to agree on the mode of work
and roles of the SSC members and the International Programme Office (IPO).
The members reviewed positively the progress made up to now. It was highlighted that Industrial
Transformation is increasingly present at IT-relevant international events and, as a result of the promotion
activities, the IPO has been receiving an increasing number of project proposals. The SSC emphasised the
necessity to engage a catalytic approach and also prompt projects that would not occur otherwise.
During the meeting, the IT-SSC discussed the development of the Implementation Strategy for the IT
research agenda. The SSC members agreed on a three-level implementation strategy. The first group of
projects will include projects that aim at answering one or more IT research questions 1 and comply with all
requirements of IT research1. The second group would comprise IT-focused projects that address one or
more IT research questions as well as those that contribute to the development of projects of the first group.
The third group would include projects that address IT research questions indirectly as well as those that
provide a partial or disciplinary contribution relevant to IT. Subsequently, a set of project endorsement
procedures as well as criteria for the selection of IT projects will be defined. Details about the criteria and
endorsement procedures will be posted shortly on our web site (www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it).
To strengthen the co-ordination of the research efforts, each IT-SSC member pledged to guide the process
for one or more IT foci in accordance with his/her expertise and interests. This includes both providing
information to proposers with regards to funding possibilities and seeking partners, as well as supporting
ongoing projects through disseminating results and organising workshops. They will also help reviewing
and evaluating submitted project proposals. Table 1 presents an overview of SSC members’ commitments
by focus.
Although the IT SSC has initiated its activities, it is still seeking 2-3 new members, most likely from the
private sector or national governments.
1
Defined in the Science Plan available on-line at www.uni-bonn.de/ihdp/ITSciencePlan/index.htm
IHDP Industrial Transformation Status Report January 2001
2
Table 1. Responsibilities of SSC members by IT focus
Members
Titus Adeboye
Ken Green
Stuart Hart
Hidefumi Imura
Marina FischerKovwalski
Nina
Poussenkova
Richard Rockwell
Leena Srivastava
Pier Vellinga
Luis Vieira
Energy and
Material Flows
Food
Cities
Information and
Communication
Governance and
Transformation
Processes

HIDP/WCRP/
IGBP
crosscutting themes
Food








Water


Carbon
Food

ENRICH
The International Project Office is happy to announce that the ENRICH proposal submitted by the IPO to
the European Commission in February 2000 has been accepted. Activities in relation to this project will
begin in February 2001. As mentioned in the previous Status Report (June 2000), the partners in this
proposal are:
Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
FEEM - Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Italy
Czech Environmental Institute, Czech Republic
Warsaw Ecological Economics Centre of the University of Warsaw, Poland
The Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Science and Technology Policy Research of the Sussex University, United Kingdom
The CFEWE project is a 2-year endeavour and has the aim to explore the possibilities of the use of low
carbon energy resources in Eastern Europe, such as natural gas and biomass. The opportunities of carbon
flows between Eastern and Western Europe will be examined. As the Eastern European region is well
endowed with these resources, this project may be important for the development of Industrial
Transformation in both this region and Western Europe. The central question of this project is: Is it
possible that the various economies of Western and Eastern Europe benefit, while simultaneously meeting
climate policy goals?
Two workshops will be held to explore the possibilities. Researchers, public policy makers, and
stakeholders from industry, representing both Western and Eastern Europe, will be invited, and will
contribute to the workshop with position papers on specific project topics, among others 3 country case
studies.
ENRICH is one of the sources to apply with projects. We urge you to visit the EU web site
(www.cordis.lu/fp5) and explore possibilities of applying with your own projects.
Crosscutting Projects of IHDP, WCRP and IGBP
IHDP, WCRP and IGBP are attempting to develop an international research framework on global
environmental change and food systems, water and carbon cycles, to be launched in Amsterdam in July. IT
has been actively contributing to the creation of these research agendas:
 on water (Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Neil Summerton, Tom Downing, Richard Rockwell);
 carbon (Wiliam Moomaw, Pier Vellinga, Richard Tol);
 food (Luis Vieira, Ken Green).
Industrial Transformation International Project Office
c/o Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1115
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-4449504
Fax: +31-20-4449553
Pier. Vellinga@ivm.vu.nl or Anna.J.Wieczorek@ivm.vu.nl
http://www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it
IHDP Industrial Transformation Status Report January 2001
3
IT Events
Since the last Status Report (June 2000), the Science Plan and the Industrial Transformation project have
been promoted through a session, a speech or a poster: 7 meetings, 6 workshops, 4 conferences, 2 seminars
and 1 PhD course (see Table 2).
Table 2. IT-relevant events –months of 2000
Date
June 11-16, 2000
Title, topic
Gordon Conference on ‘Industrial Ecology’
Venue
New London, NH
June 21-23, 2000
Meeting on the Crosscutting Theme ‘Carbon Cycle’:
‘Terrestrial Research Agenda’
Eco-Management and Auditing Conference 2000
Meeting on the Crosscutting Theme ‘Food Systems’
International High-Level Seminar on Technological
Innovation
Meeting on the Crosscutting Theme ‘Water’
IHDP/START International Human Dimensions
Workshop
International Workshop on Climate Change:
‘Implications for the Hydrological Cycle and Water
Management’
Workshop on ‘Sustainable Patterns in Consumption and
Production vis-à-vis the Rise of the Information-Based
Economy’
Meeting on the Crosscutting Theme ‘Carbon’
Stockholm,
Sweden
Manchester, UK
Reading, UK
Beijing, China
Oct 17, 2000
Seminar on ‘Effective Environmental Regulation:
Learning from Poland’s Experience’
Amsterdam, NL
Oct 18-20, 2000
EURO Environment 2000 Conference on ‘Industry and
Environmental Performance’
Workshop on ‘Socio-Economics of Climate Change in
Alpine Regions: Impact and Mitigation’
CUSP On-Line Forum on ‘Scale and Sustainability:
Managing Consumption in a Growth-Oriented
Economy’
Meeting of IHDP Projects Leaders and Executive
Officers
Sixth Conference of Parties to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change
Workshop on ‘Economic Modelling of Environmental
Policy and Endogenous Technological Change’
Meeting on the Crosscutting Theme ‘Food Systems’
Aalborg,
Denmark
Innsbruck,
Austria
On-Line
June 29-30, 2000
July 20-2, 2000
Sep 4-7, 2000
Sep 5, 2000
Sep 10-22, 2000
Sep 17-29, 2000
Oct 13, 2000
Oct 16-20, 2000
Oct 18-20, 2000
Oct 24-30, 2000
Nov 10-12, 2000
Nov 13-24, 2000
Nov 16-17, 2000
Nov 20-22, 2000
Nov 20-24, 2000
Nov 25-27, 2000
Dec 1-2, 2000
PhD Course on ‘Human Dimensions on Global
Environmental Change’
Winter Workshop on ‘Infrastructures of Consumption
and Environment’
1st Industrial Transformation Scientific Steering
Committee Meeting
Industrial Transformation International Project Office
c/o Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1115
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Presentation by:
Ester v/d Voet, Robert
Socolow, Marina
Fischer-Kowalski
Rik Leemans
Ken Green
Luis Vieira
Ken Green
Paris, France
Bonn, Germany
Neil Summerton
Richard Rockwell
Wengen,
Switzerland
Claudia Pahl-Wostl
Maastricht, NL
Viki Sonntag
Durham, USA
Richard Tol,
Bill Moomaw
Halina Brown, David
Angel, Pier Velinga,
Anna J. Wieczorek and
Philip Vergragt
Anna J. Wieczorek
Frankfurt,
Germany
The Hague, NL
Amsterdam, NL
Stockholm,
Sweden
Wageningen, NL
Karl Steininger
Viki Sonntag
Pier Vellinga and
Anna J. Wieczorek
Anna J. Wieczorek, Pier
Vellinga
Pier Vellinga, Anna J.
Wieczorek
Pier Vellinga
Wageningen, NL
Karl Steininger
Amsterdam, NL
SSC members, IPO
Tel: +31-20-4449504
Fax: +31-20-4449553
Pier. Vellinga@ivm.vu.nl or Anna.J.Wieczorek@ivm.vu.nl
http://www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it
IHDP Industrial Transformation Status Report January 2001
4
In 2001, IT will be present at the following events (see Table 3). Please keep the IPO informed of ITrelevant events you plan on participating in so that we can share the information with the whole IT
community. Such information will be posted on our web site (www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it).
Table 3. IT-relevant upcoming events in 2001
Date
Jan 21-25, 2001
Title, topic
9th International Greening of Industry Network
Conference on ‘Sustainability at the Millennium:
Globalisation, Competitiveness and the Public Trust’
Venue
Bangkok,
Thailand
Jan 23, 2001
Informal Open Meeting of IT Community (back-toback with GIN)
Regional Science-Policy Conference on ‘Global Change
and Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia’
WCRP, IGBP, and IHDP Global Change Open Science
Conference on ‘Challenges of a Changing Earth’
Bangkok,
Thailand
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
Amsterdam, NL
Oct 4-5, 2001
2nd IT-SSC Meeting
Oct 6-8, 2001
Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global
Environmental Change Research Community
Industrial Ecology Conference
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Amsterdam, NL
Feb 17-19, 2001
July 10-13, 2001
Nov 12-14, 2001
Presentation by:
Pier Vellinga, Anna J.
Wieczorek, Hidefumi
Imura, Harry Aiking and
others
Pier Vellinga, Anna J.
Wieczorek
David Angel
Pier Vellinga, Anna J.
Wieczorek, Richard
Rockwell, Hidefumi
Imura
SSC members, IPO
IHDP community
Marina Fischer-Kowalski
and others t.b.a.
Announcements
A community of researchers, policy makers, industrial strategists, and environmental advocates have
recently launched the International Society of Industrial Ecology. The Society’s aims at fostering
communication among scientists, engineers, policymakers, managers and others interested in exploring
ways to better integrate environmental and economic concerns. The IT International Project Office look
forward to cooperating with active members of the Society.
International Project Office and Fundraising






It is with regret that the IPO is announcing the leave of Jeroen van Leur from the IPO office.
Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun will be temporarily fulfilling this task pending the appointment of a new
research assistant.
The IPO staff includes in total 2.2 fte (Pier Vellinga – SSC chair 0.2fte, Anna J. Wieczorek –
coordinator 1.0fte, Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun – research assistant 0.8fte, Els Hunfeld – secretary
0.2fte).
The financial situation of the IPO allows the office run on a moderate mode.
Fundraising activities in 2001 include an application to the Dutch Environmental Ministry for the
short-term and an application to a group of Netherlands’ ministries and other stakeholders for a fiveyear funding period.
Funding of concrete research projects must be done through research programmes and by the project
leaders/ proposers. In this respect, some IPO representatives and SSC members will visit this spring
the European Commission and other funding agencies to emphasise the importance of human
dimension research and seek new opportunities for the funding of IT projects.
The IPO would like to serve as a communication channel for IT-interested researchers. We,
therefore, modified our web site (www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it). Thus, in addition to the calendar
of IT-relevant events and the project endorsement procedures, you will soon find on our web site a list
of titles (and possibly summaries) of endorsed projects in order to encourage leaders to exchange
experiences and information on their projects and related issues. This will also be useful for
proposers to seek advice to project leaders.
We also look forward to your help and contribution in shaping both the web site and the project which we
hope will be of great use for all IT researchers. Please feel free to provide us with your comments and
remarks.
Anna J. Wieczorek
Coordinator, IPO, Amsterdam
Industrial Transformation International Project Office
c/o Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1115
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-4449504
Fax: +31-20-4449553
Pier. Vellinga@ivm.vu.nl or Anna.J.Wieczorek@ivm.vu.nl
http://www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it
IHDP Industrial Transformation Status Report January 2001
5
Annex 1: INDUSTRY MEETS ENVIRONMENT IN NEW INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
New Haven, CT -- A community of researchers, policy makers, industrial strategists, and environmental
advocates announces the launch of the International Society of Industrial Ecology. The new field of
industrial ecology applies ecological concepts to the organization and operation of industry.
The Society will encourage communication among scientists, engineers, policymakers, managers and
others who are interested in how environmental and economic concerns can be better integrated.
In continuing support of the field, Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has
volunteered to provide the Society with its preliminary headquarters. John Ehrenfeld, Visiting Fellow at the
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and emeritus director of the MIT Technology,
Business and Environment Program, will serve as the Society's executive director. An international group
of environmental leaders will serve as the steering committee. The Steering Committee members are:
David Allen
Braden Allenby
Helge Brattebø
Stefan Bringezu
Faye Duchin
Marina Fischer-Kowalski
Tom Graedel
Barbara Karn
Rene Kleijn
Reid Lifset
Yuichi Moriguchi
Robert Pfahl
Greg Pitts
Tadatomo Suga
University of Texas, Austin, TX (USA)
AT&T, Basking Ridge, NJ (USA)
National University of Science & Technology, Trondheim (Norway)
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Energy & the Environment, Wuppertal
(Germany)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY (USA)
University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria)
Yale University, New Haven, CT (USA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. (USA)
Leiden University, Leiden (The Netherlands)
Yale University, New Haven, CT (USA)
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba (Japan)
Motorola, Inc, Schaumburg, IL (USA)
Ecolibrium, Austin, TX (USA)
University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan)
Industrial ecology looks to nature for clues on how to create more integrated and efficient industrial
processes. The tools of industrial ecology include eco-design, eco-industrial parks, material and energy
flow studies, life cycle assessment (LCA) and organizational design.
One pioneering example of industrial ecology is the industrial district of Kalundborg, Denmark where
firms have joined together to reduce environmental impacts by exchanging energy, water, and materials. In
Kalundborg, the byproducts of one company become valuable resources for another.
"The extensive re-use of wastes in Kalundborg illustrates one of the basic principles of industrial ecology,"
says Reid Lifset, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Industrial Ecology and Yale University research scholar.
Industrial ecology is a young field that has grown exponentially. Since an inaugural conference convened
by the US National Academy of Sciences in 1991, the field has been the focus of numerous international
conferences and research projects. Industrial ecology is also central to several academic programs
including the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies' graduate program in industrial
environmental management and the undergraduate degree program in industrial ecology at the Norwegian
University Science of Science and Technology.
Soon, the International Society for Industrial Ecology will open its doors to membership. Benefits include a
subscription to the Journal of Industrial Ecology (an international, multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed
quarterly), a newsletter dedicated to providing current news and information about the field, discounts on
international conferences, and access to electronic information about the field. Abstracts are now being
accepted for papers to be presented at the upcoming inaugural meeting for the society, "The Science and
Culture of Industrial Ecology" which will be held in the Netherlands from November 12-14.
Membership applications and information on submitting abstracts for the November conference can be
found on the International Society for Industrial Ecology website: www.yale.edu/is4ie
For further information: +1 (203) 436-4835 or is4ie@yale.edu
Industrial Transformation International Project Office
c/o Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1115
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-4449504
Fax: +31-20-4449553
Pier. Vellinga@ivm.vu.nl or Anna.J.Wieczorek@ivm.vu.nl
http://www.vu.nl/ivm/research/ihdp-it