The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean holds significant reserves of polymetallic nodules, making it a potential exploitation area for deep sea mining. However, the exploitation of...Show moreThe Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean holds significant reserves of polymetallic nodules, making it a potential exploitation area for deep sea mining. However, the exploitation of this shared natural resource poses challenges in terms of sustainability and resource management. This thesis examines the governing framework of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the management of deep sea mining in the CCZ. The study draws upon the design principles for governing the commons proposed by Elinor Ostrom to analyze the policies and draft regulations of the ISA. By examining to what extent the policies and regulations of the ISA are aligned with Ostrom's principles, this research aims to evaluate the current governance framework for the management of the CCZ and its resources.Show less
This paper investigates the responsibilities of the private sector in climate change mitigation within a capitalist system. It examines the incentives inherent in capitalism that drive corporate...Show moreThis paper investigates the responsibilities of the private sector in climate change mitigation within a capitalist system. It examines the incentives inherent in capitalism that drive corporate behaviour, particularly the pursuit of profit maximization, and how this affects the sector’s ability to engage in environmental sustainability. The research reveals that while companies can undertake certain green initiatives autonomously, their efforts are constrained by the need for profitability. Consequently, the paper argues that government intervention is essential to facilitate and enhance the private sector’s contributions to climate change mitigation. By analysing various academic perspectives, such as business sciences, environmental sciences, and legal sciences, as well as political sciences, this paper concludes that the division of responsibility between the state and private businesses is clear-cut: it is the government’s role to set moral and legal boundaries within which businesses must operate. This study contributes to the dialogue on corporate environmental responsibility by highlighting the limitations of private sector initiatives and the crucial role of government in enabling meaningful progress in climate change mitigation.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Ecofeminist debate around ‘women as closer to nature’ centers the intersection between gender and climate. This assumption is put as unreliable, however ethnographic findings reveal that women of...Show moreEcofeminist debate around ‘women as closer to nature’ centers the intersection between gender and climate. This assumption is put as unreliable, however ethnographic findings reveal that women of the Greek island Corfu redefine ‘closeness to nature’ through the practice of herbalism. This study shows a nuanced depiction of the relationship between women and the natural environment, by revaluating notions of care and labor. Through ethnographic methods based on participant observation, in-depth interviews and filming, data is obtained. The data shows that the women of Corfu use herbalism as a means to be independent from their demanding role as caregivers; traditional knowledge is based on connections with past generations that refer to survival skills; herbalism teaches how mainstream society can live more sustainable. Concluding, herbalism is more than a practice. In the context of Corfu, herbalism critiques capitalist economies and creates a sustainable relationship with the natural environment. Through redefining labor and performing care as herbalist practice, lived experiences refine discussions on ‘women as closer to nature’.Show less
This study examines the efficacy of a climate label intervention to affect consumer buying behaviour in an Amsterdam based grocery store. Three label categories were introduced, green, yellow, and...Show moreThis study examines the efficacy of a climate label intervention to affect consumer buying behaviour in an Amsterdam based grocery store. Three label categories were introduced, green, yellow, and red, representing low, medium, and high climate impact, respectively. Data from one month before the label implementation of the labelling system and one month after were collected and analysed. The results show no significant differences between the three label groups when analysing a change score between pre- and post-label implementation. However, when combining red and negative labels into a negative label group to raise power, we find marginally significant differences between changes in the positive label group and the negative label group, showing that the intervention may have had a marginally statistically significant negative impact on negative label product purchases. In addition to these findings, our research expresses the importance of policy changes, including climate labels, to influence climate change and explores future avenues for research.Show less
In the context of a global transition away from fossil-fuelled energy production, the coming shift to low-carbon electromobility will require substantial increases in the extraction of so-called...Show moreIn the context of a global transition away from fossil-fuelled energy production, the coming shift to low-carbon electromobility will require substantial increases in the extraction of so-called energy transition materials. Critical for the production of battery-based electric vehicles, lithium represents a metal whose accelerating extraction in the Chilean salt flats of Atacama and its local consequences are set to pose fundamental questions for the sustainability of the global political economy. In my thesis, I view lithium extraction through an extractivist lens, exploring how corporate sustainability reporting discursively frames and justifies extractive activities in light of shifting global contexts. My point of departure is rooted in critical discourse analysis: Using frame analysis in a qualitative methodological approach, I analyze documents published by the Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), one of Chile’s foremost lithium producers, to answer the following research question: To what extent are discourses of sustainability employed to legitimize the persistence of lithium extractivism in Chile in the context of the global energy transition? I argue that through its sustainability policies and reporting, SQM develops a corporate brand that situates the company at the intersection of local sustainable development and global climate action. The sustainability frames it employs establish a narrative in which the extraction of natural resources, particularly energy transition metals, becomes a global necessity – SQM positions itself as part of the solution, rather than the cause of socio-environmental challenges. In this way, extractivist modes of economic organization perpetuate themselves through discursive auto-insertion in global visions of more sustainable futures.Show less
The sector for food and agriculture has an extensive impact on climate change, there the understanding of sustainable consumer behaviour from a psychological stance is more important than ever. The...Show moreThe sector for food and agriculture has an extensive impact on climate change, there the understanding of sustainable consumer behaviour from a psychological stance is more important than ever. The present study explores the association between the extent to which consumers perceive themselves as sustainable and their attributions made regarding sustainable and non- sustainable foodstuffs. It is hypothesized that in-group identity has a significant main effect on the experience of sustainable foodstuffs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on higher education students (n=166), using the Adjusted In-Group Identity Scale and the Food Attributes Assessment (FAA). In a mixed-model design, one-sample t-tests and repeated measures ANOVAs were run. Analysis showed that in-group identity only had a small influence on food attribution. Overall, the presence of a sustainability label prompts a sustainability halo regardless of ones’ identity. The effect was strongest for non-hedonic foodstuffs among participants that do not identify as being sustainable.Show less
Climate change has presented a threat during the last decade, as ecological systems are unstable and cannot regulate themselves anymore. In current times, the world is connected more than ever...Show moreClimate change has presented a threat during the last decade, as ecological systems are unstable and cannot regulate themselves anymore. In current times, the world is connected more than ever especially in regards to agricultural production such as banana production. In that way, for consumers, it is essential to be aware of their role as buyer and consumer and the impact their behaviour may have on nature and society. Especially, with the pressuring foreign demand for bananas which increased in the past years substantially. They must also understand how this impacts the sustainability of the banana production and its environmental consequences on the labour conditions of banana workers. In that way, this thesis will explore the Fairtrade banana production in Ecuadorian province of El Oro, by putting the fairness in Fairtrade into question. Additionally, small farmers from the Global South are responsible for at best 70 percent of the global food supply production, while at the same time they depend on the trade of their agricultural products as a source of income. Precisely, the province El Oro represents one of the three principal export-producers in the nation, containing the highest number of producers, and by being involved with Fairtrade International, this makes the El Oro banana production an intriguing case study.Show less
The shrimp farming industry in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, is one of the most polluting industries in the country leading to much ecological degradation in the area. The Vietnamese government and...Show moreThe shrimp farming industry in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, is one of the most polluting industries in the country leading to much ecological degradation in the area. The Vietnamese government and national and international organizations use the sustainable development discourse to encourage shrimp systems that are less harmful to the ecosystem. Nevertheless, individual socio-economic circumstances are often neglected while implementing these discourses in the region. This thesis discusses what the relevance of the socio-economic indicators education, household income, and support network are for shrimp farmers to the acceptance of sustainable development discourse concerning ecological degradation in the Mekong Delta. Case study research into two types of sustainable shrimp farming systems was used to find the necessary information and data. Primary and secondary sources were utilised, as well as answers from interviews with experts in the field and shrimp farmers. The thesis concludes that these indicators are very relevant and must not be set aside as being unimportant within the sustainable development projects of the delta because this would lead to impracticality, bad implementation of the shrimp systems, and less sustainable improvement.Show less
China is the main supplier of rare earths, which are 17 metals that are needed for various technologies. The increasing demand for clean energy has also grown the demand for rare earths. In...Show moreChina is the main supplier of rare earths, which are 17 metals that are needed for various technologies. The increasing demand for clean energy has also grown the demand for rare earths. In particular, the EU will need a substantial amount of rare earths for the EU’s Green Deal goal: net zero emissions before 2050. While clean energy will greatly help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, there are environmental and social problems that need to be discussed. China’s rare earth mining and processing activities are not sustainable, as it causes serious human health risks, water pollution and other environmental harm. This thesis will discuss the dilemma between clean energy and the unsustainable supply chain of rare earths. Furthermore, recommendations on how the EU should deal with this dilemma are presented.Show less
Anthropogenic environmental destruction on a global scale continues at an ever-increasing pace, driven by a disconnect between the valuation of short-term economic gains and their ecological impact...Show moreAnthropogenic environmental destruction on a global scale continues at an ever-increasing pace, driven by a disconnect between the valuation of short-term economic gains and their ecological impact. Increasingly, the introduction of indigenous intellectual perspectives to the global stage – many of whom have been custodians of ecologically important land for centuries – is being treated as a potential solution to this conundrum. In this evolving context, this thesis seeks to understand the role of African indigenous knowledge in global environmental protection. To answer this, a review of the practical and philosophical contributions of African indigenous communities to ecology is conducted, followed by a discourse analysis of the 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, to identify how these knowledges are treated in a global context. Analysis of the report and of academic literature shows that African indigenous knowledges, while potentially incredibly valuable as environmental protection, are poorly represented on a global level, both in their content, and in comparison with other regions.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
In recent years, a debate has emerged around the potential of plastic pollution to direct attention away from other, arguably more urgent environmental issues, such as climate change. Little...Show moreIn recent years, a debate has emerged around the potential of plastic pollution to direct attention away from other, arguably more urgent environmental issues, such as climate change. Little research has examined pro-environmental behavior (PEB) spillover from engaging in action against plastic pollution (plastic PEB) to supporting climate change policy. In this study, 81 undergraduate students at a university in the Netherlands completed a plastic cleanup activity as part of a sustainability-focused course. Subsequently, these students, as well as 80 students in a control condition, completed an online survey assessing frequency of engagement in plastic PEB, climate change concern, environmental self-identity, and support for a campus climate change fund. Results showed no spillover from plastic PEB to climate change policy support. However, this study also investigated the potential mediating effect of climate change concern, which revealed that frequency of engagement in plastic PEB had a significant positive effect on climate change concern, but climate change concern had no effect on climate change policy support. These findings suggest that encouraging individuals to engage in plastic PEB can increase awareness and concern about climate change, yet there is a disconnect between climate change concern and climate change policy support. The results of this study have implications for those interested in PEB spillover between different environmental issues, specifically using widespread initiatives, such as plastic cleanup activities and recycling, to increase awareness and policy support for other sustainability efforts.Show less
This study hopes to reflect the theoretical significance of DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) institutional isomorphism theory in order to explain the growing similarity between Dutch higher education...Show moreThis study hopes to reflect the theoretical significance of DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) institutional isomorphism theory in order to explain the growing similarity between Dutch higher education institutions with regards to sustainability efforts and practices. To provide an extensive look into how organizational change shapes the unfolding substansive developments in higher education institutions, a qualitative multiple case study methodology is utilized. While doing so, institutional document analysis will be used to explore the dynamics of isomorphic pressures. The research question that will be discussed in this study seeks to analyze the effect of isomorphic pressures on the adoption of sustainable practices. As one of the leading exponents of institutional theory literature, DiMaggio and Powell guide the conventional understanding by arguing that organizations converge in terms of their practices and behaviors over time, which leads to an increasing homogeneity within an organizational field. In their work and in related references, it was observed that this homogeneity can be explained through three types of driving forces: coercive, normative and mimetic pressures. These three individual forces create a sense of legitimacy and acceptance within an organizational field which determines the survival of an institution. By building on this theory, this study reviews the sources of isomorphic pressures and investigates the Dutch higher education institutional field to explore its effect on the adoption of sustainable practices.Show less
The Japanese Government, since the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol, has failed in effectively addressing climate change. Research has shown that the Japanese Government’s failure in combination...Show moreThe Japanese Government, since the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol, has failed in effectively addressing climate change. Research has shown that the Japanese Government’s failure in combination with its control over the media developed a misleading conception among the Japanese population of its efficacy in implementing environmentally-friendly policies, thus different kinds of communication are needed. This study aims to determine how employing art as a surrogate form of communication might raise awareness on the necessity and urgency of tackling environmental issues in Japan. Building on an alternative conception of the human-nature relationship arising from Zen Buddhist and Shinto values, this study asks: “To what extent can ecological art in Japan promote a message of sustainability that raises awareness and enhances the action of everyday actors?” By means of process-tracing combined with a case study analysis, this study illustrates the causal mechanisms between the Japanese religio-cultural inspired conception of the human-nature relationship, ecoart, and the establishment of a more environmentally friendly society. The case study analyses on the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field (ETAF) initiative showed that, by means of ecoart focused on community, locality and emotions, ETAF represents a viable model for Japan to increase ecoart initiatives and stimulate grassroots efforts towards environmental protection by means of art. Further research is needed on the initiatives engaging with the Japanese public aimed at delivering a message of environmental betterment by means of art and culture, as well as to determine the effects of ecoart in other parts of the world.Show less
This thesis demonstrates that the Triple Bottom Line (3BL) analysis is not only a useful tool for assessing the state of sustainability in corporations, but also on a country level. To do so, Saudi...Show moreThis thesis demonstrates that the Triple Bottom Line (3BL) analysis is not only a useful tool for assessing the state of sustainability in corporations, but also on a country level. To do so, Saudi Arabia is employed as a case study. The three sectors of economy, environment, and society are analyzed. Results show that the 3BL analysis is valuable to achieve sustainable development for nation-states, nevertheless the assessment tool should be developed further to reach its full potential.Show less
The municipality of Leiden wants to disconnect several neighborhoods from the gas grid by 2030. In order to run this process as smooth as possible, they wanted to know which are factors that...Show moreThe municipality of Leiden wants to disconnect several neighborhoods from the gas grid by 2030. In order to run this process as smooth as possible, they wanted to know which are factors that enhances this process. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the social and personal norms about disconnecting from the gas grid on the perception about disconnecting from the gas grid, and if these relationships are moderated by social identification. An online survey was distributed (N = 240) among inhabitants within the municipality of Leiden. As predicted, the social and personal norms are important predictors in changing someone’s perception about disconnecting from the gas grid. When there is a social norm where it is normal to disconnect from the gas grid, people are more likely to change their personal norms and perception about disconnection from the gas grid according to this social norm. However, contradicting our predictions, identifying with the neighbors or with people that are important to you did not moderate these relations. These findings confirm that social and personal norms foster the perception about disconnecting from the gas grid. Moreover, the municipality can use these findings as a direction in further research or with developing interventions.Show less
With the challenges of global warming and the loss of biodiversity worsening, scientists are calling for unprecedented, multi-level societal change in the next several decades, especially in...Show moreWith the challenges of global warming and the loss of biodiversity worsening, scientists are calling for unprecedented, multi-level societal change in the next several decades, especially in affluent societies. Such change is required in order to abate the worst possible consequences of societal collapse and human extinction in the coming centuries. If such change is ever to happen, a comprehensive understanding of why people would be willing to bear the costs of change in order to ensure the fate of future generations is required. Many philosophers have provided moral arguments to answer this question. In this thesis I examine the work of Samuel Scheffler who addresses this issue from a different angle, questioning whether and in what ways future generations matter to us. Scheffler argues that compelling reasons for wanting to ensure that humanity continues to thrive in the remote future are implicit in many of the things that matter to people today. I discuss various challenges to Scheffler’s work and argue that, besides minor amendments, his core claims are viable. Indeed, the survival and flourishing of humanity into the remote future matter to us in its own right and because it is a condition for our ability to live a value-laden life. Moreover, it enables us to answer our conservative desire to preserve and sustain the things that we value beyond our own lifespan. Consequently, I stress the importance of incorporating these reasons into communication strategies aimed at enhancing public support for environmental policies, as these reasons have strong motivational power.Show less
