Studies of the global biomass metabolism investigate the physical flows between and within nature and human systems, thus providing a useful basis for understanding the interrelatedness of changes in one place with impacts elsewhere. Various methodological approaches exist for studying the human–nature metabolism, particularly a) input-output models, and b) biophysical accounting approaches. The results of recent studies vary widely, lacking robustness and thus hampering their application in policy making. This presentation provides a comparative evaluation of recently applied methods, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. I propose options for further development, particularly highlighting the advantages of a hybrid accounting system, combining the advantages of both approaches.

Speaker:

Martin Bruckner is an expert in environmental accounting and input-output analysis with the Institute for Ecological Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. His research focuses on material footprint assessments in the context of land use and global change.

Wednesday, 28. January, 1 pm
Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung / Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 53113 Bonn