In light of intensifying climate change, cities face the task of adapting to climate change impacts and mitigating climate change, as more than half of the world’s population live in urban areas....Show moreIn light of intensifying climate change, cities face the task of adapting to climate change impacts and mitigating climate change, as more than half of the world’s population live in urban areas. Drafting climate resilience strategies, it is important to consider environmental justice to ensure that no one is left behind, and all citizens have the equal right and possibility to live in a just and sustainable way. So far, research has barely considered the difference of how and whether cities in the Global North advance urban environmental justice, compared to the Global South. This global comparison is important as it enables mutual learning from cities that face the task of adapting to climate change impacts worldwide. This comparative research focuses on Jakarta in the Global South and Miami in the Global North, seeking to investigate how urban environmental justice is advanced in their climate resilience strategies. Findings show that Miami’s strategies pay significantly more attention to recognitional justice. On the other two justice dimensions - procedural and distributive justice - smaller differences were found. All in all, it can be said that Miami’s strategies include more detailed and comprehensive accounts of environmental justice. These findings can be partly attributed to the unique characteristics of both cities, which is why it is difficult to generalize from these two cases to differences in regard to Global North/South. Further research should look at more cases to be able to make a clearer statement about the differences of Global North/ Global South differentiation. Additionally, it could be investigated to what extent these climate resilience strategies are backed with action.Show less
In the past two decades, as the public debate about sustainable development has increasingly gained attention, sustainability goals have also reached the tourism sector, especially in lowand middle...Show moreIn the past two decades, as the public debate about sustainable development has increasingly gained attention, sustainability goals have also reached the tourism sector, especially in lowand middle-income countries. Subsequently, sustainable tourism alternatives like pro-poor, community-based, eco-, or Indigenous tourism emerged, aiming to provide inclusive economic and socio-cultural benefits to the host communities and thus contribute to broader goals like poverty alleviation and regional sustainable development. This thesis focuses on Indigenous tourism, as a particular form of alternative tourism, and assesses its potential in serving as a tool for sustainable development of the tourism sector and the host communities, taking Peru as case study. Whereas singular aspects of Indigenous tourism have already been discussed in prior research, this thesis aims to provide a full overview of the impacts of Indigenous tourism by combining insights from an economic and socio-cultural perspective. The analysis utilizes a mixed-method approach that combines qualitative literature-based research with primary data analyses and is based on neoliberal and Marxist economic theory as well as sustainable tourism studies, critical development, and post-colonial theory. Discussing the various prospects and challenges (both economic and socio-cultural) of Indigenous tourism in Peru, this research identifies clear requirements for successful development and subsequently advocates for the promotion of Indigenous tourism as a mean toward more inclusive and sustainable development of Peru´s tourism sector and the host communities.Show less
This thesis explores the potential of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) to improve mining governance in Sub-Saharan Africa for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It examines the...Show moreThis thesis explores the potential of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) to improve mining governance in Sub-Saharan Africa for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It examines the challenges and opportunities of contemporary mining, highlighting the importance of accountability, transparency and representation in decision-making processes. Transformative governance is found to necessitate multi-stakeholder collaboration and mining-engaged MSPs are proposed as holistic initiatives to this end. The 5-2-3 model is introduced to guide mining-engaged platforms in conflict mitigation through trust-building and continuous reflection. Findings from a stakeholder-informed case study of Sierra Leone show that mining-engaged MSPs can promote inclusive and sustainable mining governance.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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Currently, environmental management initiatives influenced by the discourse of sustainable development are often insufficient and unsuccessful. Improvement schemes and conservation initiatives...Show moreCurrently, environmental management initiatives influenced by the discourse of sustainable development are often insufficient and unsuccessful. Improvement schemes and conservation initiatives often have negative environmental and socio-economic consequences, leading to all kinds of resistance. The present study was designed to determine how the influence of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is affecting (environmental) improvement schemes and shaping indigenous responses. This thesis is an essay in which I have put revised literature into conversation with each other. This study has found that the currently most dominant way of conceptualizing environmental matter – the discourse of sustainable development – is a persuasive slogan that disguises the capitalist end goals and neoliberal aspirations. Neoliberal environmental management, is not everything it promises to be and seems to be the rotten apple, spoiling true sustainability. Such environmental management in the name of development, accompanied by (unwanted) environmental and social impacts, leads to three kinds of responses: adaptation, resistance and protest.Show less
The sustainability development challenge has caused an abrupt rise in the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in recent years, as these minerals are critical for the production of low-carbon...Show moreThe sustainability development challenge has caused an abrupt rise in the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in recent years, as these minerals are critical for the production of low-carbon technologies that enable this green transition (e.g., magnet-based turbines, PV solar cells, electric and hybrid vehicles, phosphors for energy-efficient lighting). The REEs is a group of 17 elements listed as Critical Raw Materials by the European Commission, based on their economic importance and their supply risk. In fact, China virtually produces and refines all these minerals worldwide, as well as supplies the EU. This has caused a dangerous relationship of dependency which has raised recent academic concern over the potential geopolitical, environmental, and economic challenges that for both regions might face surrounding REEs in the near future. To what extent might such concern become a reality? This paper will explore current production, supply and demand trends of REEs and analyze the potential recycling and fabrication alternatives that facilitate a sustainable development free from economic and geopolitical disputes over REEs.Show less
To ensure that the developing world connects to cyberspace in a sustainable and secure way, cyber capacity building is rising on the international agenda. Countries like the Netherlands are...Show moreTo ensure that the developing world connects to cyberspace in a sustainable and secure way, cyber capacity building is rising on the international agenda. Countries like the Netherlands are involved in multiple cyber capacity building initiatives and more developing states are requesting their help. While on the one hand cyber capacity building is welcomed as a ‘neutral’ sustainable development goal, on the other hand scholars raise concerns about the political influence that donor states potentially have on recipient states. When examining the politics of cyberspace that the developing states are entering, the concerns can be justified. For the purpose of validating these concerns, the thesis aims to investigate Dutch cyber capacity building in a case-study. By investigating Dutch political objectives in cyberspace, it is attempted to evaluate the political neutrality of the cyber capacity building initiatives. The thesis finds that the concerns are valid. In the attempt to broaden the coalition of like-minded states, Dutch cyber capacity building promotes Dutch values like human rights and limited government involvement through the promotion of multi-stakeholder internet governance. This implies that recipient states should be aware of the possibility of persuasion by the donor states. Furthermore, more research in the political implications of cyber capacity building is suggested. In the case of Dutch cyber capacity building, more research is needed in the actual effects of the promotion of multi-stakeholderism to assess if this mechanism is successfully deployed as an instrument for foreign policy.Show less
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to serve as a framework to collectively address the socioeconomic and environmental...Show moreIn 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to serve as a framework to collectively address the socioeconomic and environmental challenges the world is facing today. For years, the fashion industry has been under fire for the harm it does to people and planet - specifically, environmental harm has received a lot of attention in response by consumers and producers alike, making the industry an interesting sector to analyze the effectiveness of applying the SDG framework. Specifically, the fast fashion model which is based on fast production in high volumes at the lowest possible costs, has been revealed to have a much higher true cost, as seen in the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013. Since then, many brands have pledged to make changes and adopted the SDG framework after its implementation in 2015. Therefore, this thesis aims to answer the following question: How, if at all, has the implementation of the SDG framework in the business strategies of the fashion industry contributed effectively to improvements in the supply chain, as seen in the cases of fast fashion brands Inditex, Fast Retailing (FR), and Gap Inc?Show less
Public-private Partnerships (PPPs) are today considered an integral avenue for the pursuit of Kenya’s sustainable development agenda. They are seen as a vehicle through which the government...Show morePublic-private Partnerships (PPPs) are today considered an integral avenue for the pursuit of Kenya’s sustainable development agenda. They are seen as a vehicle through which the government involves the private sector in its development agenda to assist in the provision of public goods and services. The international development community continues to promote PPPs as a model for sustainable development too. Nonetheless, our understanding of the contributions of PPPs for sustainable development is limited. The academic streams on the topic hold rival claims, which further impedes our understanding of the limits and contributions of PPPs for sustainable development. Therefore, it is essential to understand the theoretical implications of PPPs applied on a practical context. Through a case study comparison of two PPP projects in Kenya, this thesis finds that PPPs are not inherently effective or ineffective for sustainable development, but that bottom-up people-first objectives can significantly contribute to local sustainable development, to a national development agenda and the SDGs more broadly. This bottom-up approach, as opposed to the more generally used top-down approach, allows for a more effective and efficient PPP process due to political support and community engagement. Furthermore, the thesis finds that next to PPP design, the political economy of a country can significantly influence the overall effectiveness of PPPs. This means that that future PPPs should take into account the political economy context of the country and its sectors, as well as bottom-up approaches, to optimally contribute to sustainable development.Show less
The concept of sustainable development has already been embraced more than three decades ago since the publication of the Brundtland Report by World Commission on Environment and Development. This...Show moreThe concept of sustainable development has already been embraced more than three decades ago since the publication of the Brundtland Report by World Commission on Environment and Development. This report stated that development is not synonymous with economic growth alone, but also includes a social and environmental aspect. In 2015, the United Nations (UN) announced the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which has the purpose to eliminate poverty, fight inequality and justice, and to combat climate change. The state members of the UN have to adopt the SDGs agenda as a framework for their political policies and national development agenda until 2030. The SDGs agenda has also affected the heritage management, because heritage with its value of identity and as a repository of cultural, historical, and social memory forms a vital aspect of the development process. Cultural heritage tourism is one of the methods that can bridge cultural heritage to development. However, in many cases the benefits of cultural heritage tourism do not directly flow to the local communities who in fact are the core element of the SDGs and heritage management. Moreover, in developing countries like Indonesia, the local communities have been excluded from the heritage development planning. Heritage practitioners seems to be not familiar with the implementation of the sustainable development concept. However, the heritage tourism at the USAT Liberty site play an important role in the lives of the local people who live nearby, they even actively participate in the management of the site. Many scholars appreciate the local people’s attempts to protect the USAT Liberty site and to help create sustainable heritage tourism. The USAT Liberty provides valuable data on how cultural heritage can be successfully sustained. Thus, by using the USAT Liberty site as case study, this thesis aims to provide suggestion how to achieve sustainable cultural heritage tourism in accordance with the SDGs principles.Show less
On the 30th of October 2016, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico, and Canadian Prime...Show moreOn the 30th of October 2016, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA). In line with the EU’s external policy on the inclusion of social provisions in its bilateral and regional trade agreements, CETA contains a chapter entirely dedicated to the protection of labour standards in the context of trade relations, as a means of contributing to the overarching objective of ‘sustainable development’. The so-called ‘Trade and Labour’ Chapter includes detailed provisions on the protection and promotion of labour rights, as well as a special mechanism stipulated for the resolution of labour-related disputes. As regards the protection of labour standards, the European Commission has dubbed CETA as a ‘truly progressive’ agreement. Since both partners have experience in including labour provisions in their trade agreements, it could be assumed that the Agreement favours a revolutionary approach towards the trade and labour linkage, that could set a precedent for future trade agreements. This is the exact rationale of the Commission concerning the formulation and contents of the ‘Trade and Labour’ Chapter in CETA: according to the Commission not only have both Parties committed themselves never to undermine EU high labour standards ‘for the sake of commercial interests’, but instead to cooperate in encouraging ‘others around the world - particularly developing countries- to raise their own’. However, a closer examination of the labour provisions in CETA suggests that the Commission’s assertive stance on the preservation of high labour standards may well be unsubstantiated, which would in turn require the EU to revise its normative aspirations. The present thesis will therefore challenge the institutional expectations, arguing that the labour clause in CETA is defined by such crucial weaknesses that labour rights are rendered unenforceable.Show less
