Flows, system boundaries and the politics of urban metabolism: Waste management in Mexico City and Santiago de Chile

Guibrunet, Louise; Calvet, Martín Sanzana; Broto, Vanesa Castán

doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2016.10.011

Cited by 70 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…As "not all the interesting data about material flows is of a quantitative nature" [76] (p. 2), our approach proved to be useful for going beyond the (theoretical) quantities of P flows and stocks in different scenarios. We gained insights into the overall socio-technical context and into how transition processes on different levels might contribute to a CE of P. Furthermore, integrating SFA in MLP studies made a methodological contribution to transition theory, which has been criticized for its lack of quantitative methods in empirical studies [77].…”

Section: Conceptual and Methodological Insightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus System towards a Circular Economy—Part 2: Socio-Technical Scenarios

Jedelhauser¹,

Mehr

Binder

2018

Sustainability

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Abstract:A transition towards a circular economy of phosphorus (P) in Switzerland is a multi-faceted challenge as P use is subject to a variety of influencing factors comprising policy interventions, consumption trends, or technological innovations on different spatial scales. Therefore, scenarios for P use that take into account both the social and the technical dimension of change are needed for investigating possible pathways of a transition towards more sustainable P futures. Drawing on the multi-level perspective of transition theory, we develop scenarios on the landscape level, i.e., a balanced and healthy human diet, on the regime level, i.e., P recovery from sewage sludge (ash) and meat and bone meal, and on the niche level, i.e., urine separation. Based on the P system of the year 2015, we assess the quantitative implications of the scenarios for the Swiss P system. While scenario 1 mainly affects the agricultural system by reducing the overall P throughput, scenario 2 significantly changes P use in waste management, because P losses to landfills and cement plants decrease and the production of secondary P increases. Scenario 3 shows little quantitative impact on the national P system. From a qualitative transition perspective, however, urine separation entails fundamental socio-technical shifts in the wastewater system, whereas P recovery from sewage sludge (ash) represents an incremental system adaptation. The combination of flow-and transition-oriented research provides more general insights into how a circular economy of P can be reached. Furthermore, the analysis of P recycling scenarios reveals that transition processes in Switzerland are embedded in a global resource economy. Thus, a sole focus on concepts of national P self-sufficiency and the reduction of Switzerland's P import dependency tend to fall short when analysing the economisation of secondary P materials in the face of transnational resource flows and markets.

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Section: Conceptual and Methodological Insightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus System towards a Circular Economy—Part 2: Socio-Technical Scenarios

Jedelhauser¹,

Mehr

Binder

2018

Sustainability

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“…; Guibrunet and Castán Broto ; Guibrunet et al. ; Attia and Khalil ). Informal settlements, or slums, are recognized by the United Nations (UN) Human Settlement program (UN‐Habitat ) as households lacking any of the following conditions: (1) access to improved water; (2) access to improved sanitation facilities; (3) sufficient living area—not overcrowded; (4) structural quality/durability of dwellings; and (5) security of tenure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…; Guibrunet et al. ; Currie and Musango ). This has led several authors to call for a politicization of UM (Newell and Cousins ; Smit et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…; Guibrunet et al. ; Attia and Khalil ; Currie and Musango ). Furthermore, effective policy and infrastructure planning requires understanding the variations of resource consumption within the city (Horta and Keirstead ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To our knowledge, theoretical and empirical studies on the metabolism of the informal city are limited, although a small body of work in this field is emerging. For example, Guibrunet and colleagues () analyze system boundaries and waste flows as a means to politicize UM research; Demaria and Schindler () concentrate on waste‐to‐energy as a means of highlighting contestations over the (re)configuration of UMs; Attia and Khalil () analyze water flows and quality of life to understand the role of informal areas in achieving sustainable cities; and Kovacic and colleagues () investigate energy flows and energy policies to address misconceptions of slum communities, and to illuminate inequality and marginalization. In terms of philosophical underpinnings, Guibrunet and colleagues () confront ontological assumptions about the concept of city , whereas Kovacic and colleagues () deal with the methodological, technical, and epistemological uncertainties that characterize energy interventions in urban informal settlements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Towards Measuring the Informal City: A Societal Metabolism Approach

Smit

Musango

Kovacic

et al. 2018

J of Industrial Ecology

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Summary The rapid growth of urban informal settlements, or slums, poses a particular challenge for balancing developmental and environmental goals. In South Africa, high levels of inequality, poverty, and unemployment contribute to widespread migration. The influx of migrant workers to cities, however, is rarely matched with adequate housing and infrastructure, resulting in the formation and growth of urban informal settlements. Despite the persistence of the slum phenomenon, very few studies provide an in‐depth understanding of the metabolic processes that link these spaces, and informal economies, to the broader urban environment and economy. This article therefore utilized a multiscale integrated assessment of the societal and ecosystem metabolism approach to examine human activity and land use in Enkanini, an urban informal settlement in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The results highlight a number of issues to be addressed through spatial, developmental, and local economic policy, such as the need for improved transport linkages. The time‐use results show that Enkanini is a net provider of labor to the surrounding area. Further, geographical mapping indicates Enkanini as a small, but vibrant, informal economy, while being grossly underserviced in terms of water, waste, and sanitation infrastructure. Key implications are discussed in terms of the theoretical, methodological, societal, and policy impact of the study, including the need for city observatories that conduct regular data collection and analysis.

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A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

Urbina

Luna‐Jorquera²,

Thiel³

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Marine plastic pollution is worse than expected, and we are starting to realize its full extent and severity. Solving the plastic pollution problem is not easy, as it requires the action and commitment of all sectors of our society. With a coastline extending over 4,000 km (from 18 S to 56 S), Chile is a maritime country, and since plastics are potentially harmful for marine and coastal ecosystems, food security, and public health, plastic pollution is a real threat. 2. Chile is the sixth-largest exporter of seafood (fish, invertebrates, and algae) in the world, but the extent of plastic contamination of marine organisms, its potential effects on commercial species and aquaculture, and its subsequent effects on human health are mostly unknown. 3. Chile has recently introduced some legislation to prevent plastics from reaching the environment and the coastal ocean. Governmental and non-governmental organizations have joined an informal alliance to take action against plastic pollution, both at a national and regional level, but stronger involvement of producers and commerce is required for effective measures. 4. Chilean scientists working on plastic pollution have created the Scientific Plastic Pollution Alliance of Chile network, aiming to promote collaborative and coordinated research focused on this pollutant. The wide geographical extent of Chile, with researchers working in diverse ecosystems, provides a unique opportunity to better understand the consequences of one of the most recent and severe threats to biodiversity. 5. Rather than solely presenting the plastic pollution problem from the scientific perspective, this paper includes views from different sectors of society. Mitigating plastic pollution is exceptionally complex, with this study highlighting the importance of local engagement, media, solving social inequities, new legislation, and law enforcement in order to advance on decreasing plastic pollution from a country-wide perspective.

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Flows, system boundaries and the politics of urban metabolism: Waste management in Mexico City and Santiago de Chile

Cited by 70 publications

References 54 publications

Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus System towards a Circular Economy—Part 2: Socio-Technical Scenarios

Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus System towards a Circular Economy—Part 2: Socio-Technical Scenarios

Towards Measuring the Informal City: A Societal Metabolism Approach

A country's response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way

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