Partners and International Organizations
(English)
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Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Wassergüte und Abfallwirtschaft (A), Linsköping University,
Department of Water and Environmental Studies (S), Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, Centrum voor Milieukunde (NL), Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Ökonometrie (A)
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Abstract
(English)
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Mactempo
The project aims at evaluating the benefits of using Material Flow Analysis as a decision support tool in environmental policy. This issue is discussed in four case studies investigating the material flows of the two cities of Vienna (materials: C, N, Fe, Al, Zn, Pb) and Stockholm (materials: Cd, Chr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn), a region in the Swiss Lowlands (materials: water, biomass and construction materials) and the EU (chlorinated compounds, mainly organic).
The Swiss partner's project (SYNOIKOS)
This project is part of the large program called SYNOIKOS investigating the restructuring of a region in the Swiss Lowlands in view of sustainable development. The main objective was to elaborate material management models for water, biomass and construction materials, and to develop long term scenarios with regard to concrete goals of regional development, such as 'sustainability' and regional self-sufficiency. The results of SYNOIKOS have been implemented into regional policy through workshops with local leaders (political, economic, social). A new project titled: 'Stadt der Wigger' has begun leading into the development and management of regional action plans by regional enterprises (public and private).
The following conclusions from SYNQIKOS were drawn:
Water regime:
In the Synoikos region, systems for water supply as well as waste water collection and treatment are highly developed. The region depends on ground water as a source of drinking water. The quality of this source is gradually decreasing mainly due to agricultural activities. An appropriate hydrological model for regional water management is still lacking. Such a model is indispensable to evaluate scenarios regarding the sustainable use of water resources. Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are still increasing (very slowly). If no additional measures in agricultural practice are taken, then drinking water quality limits on a long-term scale could be exceeded. This regional metabolic process does not fulfil the criteria of sustainability.
Biomass:
The case study focuses on wood and shows, that today, wood is not a scarce resource anymore in this region. Even at a high consumption rate of about 0.5 t/c.y, the degree of self sufficiency in the study region amounts to 85 %. Scenarios were developed to get a better understanding of the future role of wood as a renewable resource. The project revealed, that regional forestry should be directed towards the production of timber rather than paper. Sustainable forestry practice alone is insufficient to attain sustainable regional management of wood. In addition, production, processing, consumption, and disposal of wood have to be well balanced.
Construction materials:
Flows and stocks of construction materials and construction wastes were analyzed, and the effects of control measures on material and energy flows were investigated by modeling three scenarios. It was found, that for sustainable management of residential buildings, the key factor is the energy demand for the building's operation, and not the amount or kind of construction materials used. Thus, energy policy concepts focusing on sustainable development must also take into account the long-term goals of settlement policy. As the existing stock of residential buildings determines the energy demand of the system, its future development depends upon the change in the settlement area. A significant reduction of energy consumption can only be reached, if the stock of residential buildings stops growing and the existing buildings are raised to the highest available standard of energy conservation.
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