ALBERT

Description: Global warming, the overall extraction of minerals and the expansion of cultivated land for biomass harvest are growing globally. These "Big Three" represent key environmental pressures which may lead to a continuous degradation of the living environment, if not controlled at levels with acceptable low risk. The situation is complex, because countries and regions consume products which require resources such as minerals and land in various parts of the world. Nevertheless, it is possible to measure the global resource use which is associated with the domestic consumption. In order to inform policies at the national and supranational level whether it may be necessary to adjust the incentive framework for industry and households, reference data are needed to compare the status quo of their countries with what may be deemed acceptable at a global level. This chapter outlines a rationale for the derivation of possible long-term targets for total material consumption of abiotic materials (TMCabiot) and global land use for crops (GLUcropland). The indicated targets are expressed in tentative per capita values which may serve as a first orientation and basis for further debate and research.

Description: EXIOPOL (A New Environmental Accounting Framework Using Externality Data and Input–Output Tools for Policy Analysis) was a European Union (EU)-funded project creating a detailed, global, multiregional environmentally extended Supply and Use table (MR EE SUT) of 43 countries, 129 sectors, 80 resources, and 40 emissions. We sourced primary SUT and input–output tables from Eurostat and non-EU statistical offices. We harmonized and detailed them using auxiliary national accounts data and co-efficient matrices. Imports were allocated to countries of exports using United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database trade shares. Optimization procedures removed imbalances in these detailing and trade linking steps. Environmental extensions were added from various sources. We calculated the EU footprint of final consumption with resulting MR EE SUT. EU policies focus mainly on energy and carbon footprints. We show that the EU land, water, and material footprint abroad is much more relevant, and should be prioritized in the EU's environmental product and trade policies.

Description: The European Waste Framework Directive has defined waste prevention as top of the waste hierarchy meaning nothing less than a fundamental change of the sociotechnical system of waste infrastructures with all its economic, legal, social and cultural elements. Based on an empirical analysis of more than 300 waste prevention measures this paper assesses which prevention effects can realistically be achieved by applying the measures described in the German waste prevention programme or in those of other EU member states. Taking into account waste streams like packaging, food waste, bulky waste and production waste the results show that waste generation is not an unavoidable evil but can be significantly reduced at current level of technology.

Description: Ressourceneffizienz verspricht geringere Materialkosten, Importunabhängigkeit und geringere Umweltbelastungen. Die Einspareffekte lassen sich auf vielfältige Art erreichen: Sei es durch Einsatz neuer Technologien, Optimierung bestehender Technologien oder Strategien, die Produktion und Konsum aufgreifen. Das Buch zeigt anhand von 18 Beispielen, wie sich Ressourceneffizienz erfolgreich in Deutschland umsetzen lässt und welche Einspareffekte zu erzielen sind.

Description: Große Anteile der Gesamtnachfrage nach kritischen Metallen werden durch die Elektro- und Elektronikindustrie verantwortet, weshalb diese Geräte eine bedeutende Sekundärrohstoffquelle darstellen. Bei auffallend niedrigen Recyclingquoten und gleichzeitigen Versorgungsrisiken kritischer Metalle nimmt die Schließung dieser Stoffkreisläufe eine wichtige Stellung für die deutsche Wirtschaft ein. Die Verluste der Metalle treten von der Sammlung bis zum Materialrecycling entlang der gesamten Entsorgungskette der Elektro- und Elektronikaltgeräte auf. Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist es, Kriterien für die Gestaltung der Sammelgruppenstruktur der Geräte zu entwickeln und damit erhöhte Rückgewinnungsmengen solcher Metalle erreichen zu können. Ziel ist es zu klären, welche produktspezifischen, in Verkehr gebrachten und erfassbaren Ressourcen-Mengenpotenziale existieren, wie sich die Demontagefähigkeit der Produkte gestaltet und wie sich mit diesen ressourcenschutzorientierten Planungskriterien die Sammelgruppen strukturieren lassen. Die Untersuchung erfolgt als Momentaufnahme am Beispiel von Indium und ausgewählter Produkte. Damit wird eine Vorgehensweise aufgezeigt und Erkenntnisse herausgearbeitet, die modellhaft auf sämtliche kritische Metalle und Elektro- und Elektronikaltprodukte übertragbar sind. Insgesamt wird in den Ergebnissen deutlich, dass mit einer Gruppierung der Produkte nach Ressourcen-Mengenpotenzial und Demontagefähigkeit der in Verkehr gebrachten Geräte eine vorausschauende und ressourceneffiziente Planung der Behandlungswege der einzelnen Sammelgruppen ermöglicht wird.

Description: A desirable future critically depends on our ability to ensure the supply of key resources while simultaneously respecting planetary boundaries. This paper looks at the potential implications of living within the "safe operating space" for people, business and the economy. It develops a positive vision of the future based on three pillars: a safe and fair use of global resources, a sustainable society, and a transformed economy. We review and build on recent sustainability visions to develop a holistic reflection on what life in 2050 could look like, and explore the key changes in the economy needed to get there. In particular we show that resource efficiency requires a systemic shift in values, innovation, governance and management regimes. We present a bold vision for Europe underlined by indicators and targets, explore transition challenges to getting there and conclude with a list of key policies needed for overcoming challenges and reaching the vision.

Description: While strategic studies on natural resources usually focus on the criticality of certain single materials, our paper starts from the inter-linkages between and among resources (called "the resource nexus"). It examines the impact any food and water stress may have on extraction activities in fragile states and regions. According to our approach, conflicts are likely to increase and may escalate in a number of countries, many of which are of relevance for the global supply of strategic materials. Future criticality for European and other industries, thus, is more likely to result from particular regions surpassing their adaptive capacities, and not mainly from limited availability or bottlenecks in the supply chain. The paper first develops a heuristic model of drivers for stress in resource-rich regions. Applying this approach, our paper then develops a global three-layered map along the dimensions of (i) future regional food and water stress, (ii) fragility of countries, and (iii) resource-rich countries with relevant reserves of strategic materials. As a result our paper tentatively identifies 15 countries at high risk and some 30 other countries being at relevant risk of causing resource supply disruptions. The conclusions underline the need to analyse those global inter-linkages and institutional mechanisms for strategic futures studies at a regional scale. As this may go beyond the capacities of actors on commodity markets, our paper also draws conclusions towards the establishment of an international data hub on the global resource nexus and for futures research. The paper points to some of the long-term implications of these issues.

Description: Living Labs for Sustainable Development aim to integrate users and actors for the successful generation of low-resource innovations in production-consumption systems. This paper investigates potentials of and measures towards the realization of a German Living Lab infrastructure to support actor-integrated sustainability research and innovations in Germany. Information was primarily derived from extensive dialog with experts from the fields of innovation, sustainable development and the Living Lab community (operators, users, etc.), which was facilitated through interviews and workshops. A status quo analysis revealed that, generally, the sustainability and Living Lab communities are hardly intertwined. Twelve Living Labs that explicitly consider sustainability aspects were identified. The application fields "Living and Working", "Town, Region and Mobility", and “Retail and Gastronomy" were identified as particularly suitable for investigation in Living Labs and highly relevant in terms of resource efficiency. Based on the analyses of drivers and barriers and SWOT, keystones for the development of a research infrastructure for user integrated development of sustainable products and services were formulated. Suggested strategies and measures include targeted funding programs for actor-integrated, socio-technical research based on a Living Lab network, a communication campaign, and programs to foster networking and the inclusion of SMEs.

Description: The paper suggests a sustainable material footprint of eight tons, per person, in a year as a resource cap target for household consumption in Finland. This means an 80% (factor 5) reduction from the present Finnish average. The material footprint is used as a synonym to the Total Material Requirement (TMR) calculated for products and activities. The paper suggests how to allocate the sustainable material footprint to different consumption components on the basis of earlier household studies, as well as other studies, on the material intensity of products, services, and infrastructures. It analyzes requirements, opportunities, and challenges for future developments in technology and lifestyle, also taking into account that future lifestyles are supposed to show a high degree of diversity. The targets and approaches are discussed for the consumption components of nutrition, housing, household goods, mobility, leisure activities, and other purposes. The paper states that a sustainable level of natural resource use by households is achievable and it can be roughly allocated to different consumption components in order to illustrate the need for a change in lifestyles. While the absolute material footprint of all the consumption components will have to decrease, the relative share of nutrition, the most basic human need, in the total material footprint is expected to rise, whereas much smaller shares than at present are proposed for housing and especially mobility. For reducing material resource use to the sustainable level suggested, both social innovations, and technological developments are required.

Description: Ein sorgsamer Umgang mit natürlichen Ressourcen gehört zu den Kernthemen von Industrial Ecology. Mit der jeweiligen Betrachtungsebene, vom Unternehmen bis zur globalen Ebene, wechseln die Herausforderungen, Methoden und Lösungsansätze. Gibt es auch Indikatoren, die skalenübergreifend angewandt werden können?

Description: Despite rising prices for natural resources during the past 30 years, global consumption of natural resources is still growing. This leads to ecological, economical and social problems. So far, however, limited effort has been made to decrease the natural resource use of goods and services. While resource efficiency is already on the political agenda (EU and national resource strategies), there are still substantial knowledge gaps on the effectiveness of resource efficiency improvement strategies in different fields. In this context and within the project "Material Efficiency and Resource Conservation", the natural resource use of 22 technologies, products and strategies was calculated and their resource efficiency potential analysed. In a preliminary literature- and expert-based identification process, over 250 technologies, strategies, and products, which are regarded as resource efficient, were identified. Out of these, 22 subjects with high resource efficiency potential were selected. They cover a wide range of relevant technologies, products and strategies, such as energy supply and storage, Green IT, transportation, foodstuffs, agricultural engineering, design strategies, lightweight construction, as well as the concept "Using Instead of Owning". To assess the life-cycle-wide resource use of the selected subjects, the material footprint has been applied as a reliable indicator. In addition, sustainability criteria on a qualitative basis were considered. The results presented in this paper show significant resource efficiency potential for many technologies, products and strategies.

Description: Eine zukünftige Herausforderung der Energiewende wird darin bestehen, zunehmende Stromnetzeinspeisungen von fluktuierenden erneuerbaren Energien (FEE) in das Energiesystem zu integrieren. Neben den Flexibilitäten im Stromsystem sollten dabei auch die Möglichkeiten des Wärmemarktes zur Stabilisierung des Strommarktes berücksichtigt werden. So können Kraft-Wärme-Kopplungs-Anlagen (KWK), Elektroheizer und Wärmepumpen als Verbindungstechnologien zwischen Strom- und Wärmemarkt abhängig vom FEE-Dargebot und damit auch den Preissignalen des Strommarktes zu- bzw. abgeschaltet werden. Dazu werden Wärmespeicher benötigt, da die Flexibilisierung nur möglich ist, wenn die Produktion von der Wärmenutzung entkoppelt werden kann. Eine besonders aussichtsreiche Kopplung von Strom- und Wärmemarkt ist im Bereich der Fernwärmesysteme möglich, da sich hier große Energiemengen in Fernwärmespeichern im Vergleich zu dezentralen Lösungen kostengünstiger und effizienter speichern lassen.

Description: In the light of the tremendous challenges facing the energy systems of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a number of concepts, roadmaps and scenario studies have emerged, describing potential transformation pathways towards a more sustainable, renewable-based, energy supply future in the region. Our article uses the scientific approach of "transition research" to analyze the most pertinent publications and concepts in this field to identify the key drivers and barriers for the transformation of the regional energy systems. The analysis likewise includes an assessment of possible indicators and indexes that can be used to monitor the sustainability of the transformation process of MENA energy systems.

Description: In diesem Gutachten wurde untersucht, welche Optionen zur Gestaltung eines marktbasierten haushaltsunabhängigen Verpflichtungsansatzes zur CO2-Minderung im deutschen Gebäudebestand bestehen. Die Analyse erfolgte technologieoffen und berücksichtigte neben Sanierungsmaßnahmen zur Steigerung der Energieeffizienz auch einen verstärkten Einsatz CO2-armer/erneuerbarer Energien. Das Verpflichtungssystem soll in der Lage sein, die bestehenden Treibhausgas (THG)-Minderungsziele im Gebäudebestand möglichst kostengünstig auf kurz- und langfristig sinnvolle Weise zu erreichen und sich gut in das bestehende Förderinstrumentarium integrieren lassen.

Description: In many developing countries large parts of the population are negatively affected by the lack of access to clean and affordable energy. Providing sustainable energy services to these people has been acknowledged as a key component to reduce poverty. One form of development assistance to address the needs of the energy-poor at the local level are small-scale renewable energy projects. Like all development interventions, these energy projects are not intended to produce short-term outputs, but to create long-term impacts. Thus, it has become increasingly important to evaluate and accurately assess their sustainability. But despite the widely recognized need to identify successes factors and explain failure only few studies exist that address the sustainability of small-scale of energy development efforts post implementation. Against this background the paper presents the results of a post-evaluation of 23 projects supported via the Sustainable Energy Project Support (SEPS) scheme of the WISIONS initiative run by the Wuppertal Institute. The analysis provides insights on the influence that socio-economic, environmental, geographic and gender factors can have on the sustainability of small-scale renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Description: A key challenge of the 21st century is to transform society into one that features sustainable patterns of production and consumption. To achieve this, transition processes need to be designed in key areas such as housing, mobility and nutrition. The design and large-scale implementation of sustainable product service systems (PSS) is regarded a promising approach for sustainability transitions. Real-life socio-technical experiments are an important infrastructure for designing PSS in collaboration with stakeholders and users. In this paper, we argue that transdisciplinary and action research methods are required for institutionalising an experimental set-up and developing PSS within such infrastructures. We present the Sustainable LivingLabs (SLL) research infrastructure and its methodology as an example of such experimental settings. It was collaboratively developed with key stakeholders in three consecutive research projects and applied to e.g. heating and space heating. We show new qualities of SLL in relation to existing LivingLabs and approaches for PSS design and present its methodological three-phase model (insight research, prototyping, field testing) of research. Our article contributes to knowledge on a methodological framework and tool-kit for PSS development in SLL with a clear focus on socio-ecological sustainability. Intermediate findings confirm the high influence of user practices on heating energy consumption and show starting points for PSS development: e.g. transformational products, home-automation combined with consulting along value chains. We hypothesise that developing PSS in user- and stakeholder-integrated settings supports acceptance and diffusion and, by taking into account users' social practices of utilising novelties, reduces rebound effects caused by incorrect application.

Description: Zielsetzung des Forschungsprojektes war es, Klimaschutzszenarien für Deutschland zu entwickeln, die hinsichtlich ihres klimapolitischen Ziels, d.h. ihres langfristigen Emissionsminderungsbeitrags, im Wesentlichen gleich sind, die aber zum Teil auf unterschiedliche Optionen zur Reduktion der energiebedingten CO2-Emissionen setzen. Diese Klimaschutzszenarien wurden hinsichtlich sozioökonomischer und ökologischer Kriterien evaluiert und miteinander verglichen.

Description: In this manual, the consortium wants to share the key lessons we have learnt throughout this three-year project and, by doing so, to contribute to the scaling-up of low carbon city development in emerging economies, especially in China. This manual targets organisations from the scientific and civil society sectors that are involved in international low carbon city projects, especially those with a focus on Chinese cities, as well as local govern-ments that are eager to develop a comprehensive low carbon strategy.

Description: The current flow of carbon for the production, use, and waste management of polymer-based products is still mostly linear from the lithosphere to the atmosphere with rather low rates of material recycling. In view of a limited future supply of biomass, this article outlines the options to further develop carbon recycling (C-REC). The focus is on carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and use for synthesis of platform chemicals to produce polymers. CO2 may be captured from exhaust gases after combustion or fermentation of waste in order to establish a C-REC system within the technosphere. As a long-term option, an external C-REC system can be developed by capturing atmospheric CO2. A central role may be expected from renewable methane (or synthetic natural gas), which is increasingly being used for storage and transport of energy, but may also be used for renewable carbon supply for chemistry. The energy input for the C-REC processes can come from wind and solar systems, in particular, power for the production of hydrogen, which is combined with CO2 to produce various hydrocarbons. Most of the technological components for the system already exist, and, first modules for renewable fuel and polymer production systems are underway in Germany. This article outlines how the system may further develop over the medium to long term, from a piggy-back add-on flow system toward a self-carrying recycling system, which has the potential to provide the material and energy backbone of future societies. A critical bottleneck seems to be the capacity and costs of renewable energy supply, rather than the costs of carbon capture.

Description: Für die Umsetzung der Energiewende und speziell den Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien sind nicht nur energiewirtschaftliche oder Klimaschutz-Kriterien maßgeblich. Zu einer umfassenden Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung gehört unter anderem auch die Ressourcenbewertung. Hier ist unstrittig, dass die Gesamt-Ressourceninanspruchnahme eines Energiesystems generell erheblich niedriger ist, wenn dieses nicht auf fossilen, sondern auf erneuerbaren Energien basiert (und dabei nicht hauptsächlich auf Biomasse ausgerichtet ist). Bisher wurde jedoch insbesondere der Verbrauch und die langfristige Verfügbarkeit der mineralischen Rohstoffe, die in der Regel zur Herstellung von Energiewandlern und Infrastruktur benötigt werden, wenig untersucht. Im Rahmen des Projekts KRESSE wurde daher erstmals analysiert, welche "kritischen" mineralischen Rohstoffe für die Herstellung von Technologien, die Strom, Wärme und Kraftstoffe aus erneuerbaren Energien erzeugen, bei einer zeitlichen Perspektive bis zum Jahr 2050 in Deutschland relevant sind. Die Einschätzung als "kritisch" umfasst dabei die langfristige Verfügbarkeit der identifizierten Rohstoffe, die Versorgungssituation, die Recyclingfähigkeit und die Umweltbedingungen der Förderung. Die Studie macht deutlich, dass die geologische Verfügbarkeit mineralischer Rohstoffe für den geplanten Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien in Deutschland grundsätzlich keine limitierende Größe darstellt. Dabei kann jedoch möglicherweise nicht jede Technologievariante unbeschränkt zum Einsatz kommen.

Description: Die Wahrung der Systemsicherheit muss perspektivisch von konventionellen Kraftwerken auf regenerative Energien und Kraft-Wärme-Kopplungsanlagen (KWK) verlagert werden. Diese sollen zukünftig Systemdienstleistungen übernehmen, um in zunehmendem Maße fluktuierende erneuerbare Energien (FEE) zu integrieren. Deutschland strebt an, im Jahr 2020 ein Viertel der elektrischen Energie aus KWK-Anlagen zu erzeugen. Damit werden diese Anlagen einen wesentlichen Teil der regelbaren Stromerzeugung ausmachen. Insbesondere die Erzeugung in dezentralen Blockheizkraftwerken (BHKW) wird zunehmen. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage, ob dezentrale Anlagen überhaupt nennenswert zur Systemstabilität beitragen können.

Description: The availability of life cycle inventories is one of the biggest challenges for life cycle wide environmental assessment. There are several life cycle assessment (LCA) databases providing inventory data as well as resource and emission profiles of processes for impact assessment methods like ReCiPe or IMPACT 2002+. But the use of these LCA databases for input oriented environmental assessment is very limited as they cover only a part of all relevant input flows. The paper describes current challenges when calculating the input oriented Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) indicators based on LCA inventory data from the Ecoinvent database. Propositions are made how to address these challenges. As a conclusion, further need of research to reach a full compatibility of LCA databases and the MIPS concept is pointed out.

Description: Within the scope of citizen science projects, crowdsourcing has already expanded into scientific application areas. In this, its scientific potential is only partly exhausted, however. It will be shown that transdisciplinary research is made up in content and structural aspects in such a way that crowdsourcing can fully unfold as a research method through varied participation possibilities, reflective processes and use of contemporary technical possibilities. Furthermore, mutual learning, understanding and the dissemination of knowledge strongly profits from effects that even result automatically in this context. The scientific application of crowdsourcing represented here makes high demands on project management, but it is expected to turn out as an effective research method precisely in the area of transdisciplinary research.

Description: In recent decades, better data and methods have become available for understanding the complex functioning of cities and their impacts on sustainability. This review synthesizes the recent developments in concepts and methods being used to measure the impacts of cities on environmental sustainability. It differentiates between a dominant trend in research literature that concentrates on the accounting and allocation of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use to cities and a reemergence of studies that focus on the direct and indirect material and resource flows in cities. The methodological approaches reviewed may consider cities as either producers or consumers, and all recognize that urban environmental impacts can be local, regional, or global. As well as giving an overview of the methodological debates, we examine the implications of the different approaches for policy and the challenges these approaches face in their application on the field.

Description: In der vorliegenden Studie steht die Forschungsfrage im Mittelpunkt, ob ein vollständig auf erneuerbaren Energien beruhendes Stromsystem mit hohen Importanteilen von rund 10 bis 20 % nach heutigem Stand des Wissens als technisch-ökologisch realisierbar angesehen werden kann. Als Grundlage für die Untersuchung wird in erster Linie auf eine Reihe von Szenariostudien zurückgegriffen, die ein weitgehend treibhausgasemissionsfreies, zu 90 bis 100 % auf regenerativer Erzeugung basierendes und von hohen Stromimportanteilen gekennzeichnetes Stromsystem mit dem Zeithorizont 2050 modellieren und beschreiben. Dabei werden analog zu Szenarien für Deutschland auch vorliegende Szenarien für Europa in den Blick genommen, die für den europäischen Kontinent wesentliche Nettostromimporte aus Nordafrika vorsehen.

Description: At current primary steel production levels, the iron and steel industry will fail to meet the 80% emission reduction target without introduction of breakthrough technologies (Wörtler et al., 2013: 19). The current research analyses the technical and economical long-term potential of innovative primary steel production technologies in Germany throughout 2100. Techno-economic models are used to simulate three innovative ore-based steelmaking routes verses the reference blast furnace route (BF-BOF). The innovative routes in focus are blast furnace with CCS (BF-CCS), hydrogen direct reduction (H-DR), and iron ore electrolysis (EW). Energy and mass flows for the production of one tonne of crude steel (CS) are combined with hypothetical price, cost, and revenue data to evaluate the production routes economically, technically, and environmentally. This is a purely theoretical analysis and hence further external factors that may influence practical implementation or profitability are not considered. Different future developments are considered by using three scenarios, representing an ambitious, a moderate, and a conservative transformation of the German energy sector. In general, looking into the future bares various uncertainties which should be reflected in a suitable manner. According to the present scenario analysis, chances are that with rising prices for coal and CO2 allowances BF-BOF and even BF-CCS become unprofitable by mid-century. With a high share of renewable energy sources and high prices for CO2 allowances, H-DR and EW become economically attractive in the second half of the current century, when BF-based routes are long unprofitable. Energy and raw material efficiency is significantly higher for H-DR and EW and furthermore, the 80% reduction target by 2050 can be achieved in the ambitious scenario. However, high investment costs and high dependency on electricity prices prohibit a profitable implementation before 2030–2040 without further subsidies. EW is the most energy and resource efficient production route. Since continuous electricity is needed for the continuous operation, the electricity costs are 20–40% higher than for H-DR (with high-capacity hydrogen storage units). Even though hydrogen production implies efficiency losses compared to the EW route, the decoupling of hydrogen production from continuous operation of the steel plant through hydrogen storage offers the opportunity to use cheap excess renewable electricity. This makes the H-DR economically and environmentally the most attractive route and provides a crucial contribution to stabilize the grid and to store excess energy in a 100% renewable energy system.

Description: This report details current and potential recycling of critical metals in Waste from Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The term "critical metals" is used instead of "rare metals" because the concept incorporates not only supply but also demand. The EU needs access to these metals and recycling can be an important part of the supply-strategy. The study shows that the current recycling of critical metals in WEEE is very low, but that the potential amount could be increased threefold within 2015. Improving of the recycling of critical metals requires a variety of initiatives tackling different week point in the overall process: better collection, better pre-processing and end-processing, limiting the export of WEEE or used products out of the EU and better design of the EEE-products. This study shows that data on sales volumes, WEEE composition and the composition of critical metals in EEE is currently insufficient for detailed analysis and monitoring, and addressing this should be a priority. Further, more detailed information on components used in EEE product groups would enable recyclers to identify and access the most materially important components. Dialog between recyclers, smelters and manufacturers could also facilitate product design that supports the recycling process.

Description: Urbanization and climate change are amongst the greatest challenges of the 21st century. In the "Low Carbon Future Cities" project (LCFC), three important problem dimensions are analysed: current and future GHG emissions and their mitigation (up to 2050); resource use and material flows; and vulnerability to climate change. The industrial city of Wuxi has been the Chinese pilot city of the project. To establish the pathway for a low carbon future, it is crucial to understand the current situation and possible future developments. The paper presents the key results of the status quo analysis and the future scenario analysis carried out for Wuxi. Two scenarios are outlined. The Current Policy Scenario (CPS) shows the current most likely development in the area of energy demand and GHG emissions until 2050. Whereas the extra low carbon scenario (ELCS) assumes a significantly more ambitious implementation, it combines a market introduction of best available technologies with substantial behavioural change. All scenarios are composed of sub-scenarios for the selected key sectors. Looking at the per capita emissions in Wuxi, the current levels are already high at around 12 tonnes CO2 per capita compared to Western European cities. Although Wuxi has developed a low carbon plan, the projected results under current policies (CPS) show that the total emissions would increase to 23.6 tonnes CO2 per capita by 2050. If the ELCS pathway was to be adopted, these CO2 emission levels could be reduced to 6.4 tonnes per capita by 2050.

Description: Der Klimawandel ist nicht nur ein globales Problem, sondern wird auch konkrete Folgen für die Menschen in Deutschland haben. Nur wenn es gelingt, die zukünftigen Klimaveränderungen und ihre voraussichtlichen Folgen zu kommunizieren, ist eine rechtzeitige Anpassung möglich. Nur dann können Gefahren minimiert und Chancen genutzt werden. Wie aber kann vermittelt werden, dass die Anpassung an Klimafolgen notwendig ist - obwohl unbekannt ist, welches Ausmaß die Klimaveränderungen und die Folgen in der Region haben werden? Bei wem führen eher moralische und bei wem eher nutzenorientierte Argumente zu erhöhter Handlungsbereitschaft? Welche Kommunikationsmethoden eignen sich für welche Zielgruppen? Wie können Jugendliche für das Zusammenspiel von Klimaschutz und Anpassung sensibilisiert werden? Fundierte Theorieansätze und zahlreiche Praxisberichte erschließen den vergleichsweise neuen Aufgabenbereich "Klimaanpassungskommunikation". Eine steckbriefhafte Zusammenstellung von erprobten Instrumenten und Formaten illustriert, welche Maßnahmen Erfolg versprechen.

Description: The Wuppertal Institute developed, in the early 1990s, an input-oriented lifecycle-wide resource accounting method, the "Material Input per Service-Unit" concept (MIPS), today also referred to as "Material Footprint". The official handbook applicable to products, services, and processes describes a MS Excel-based sequential approach for calculating MIPS. Today's computing power, available to every researcher, and access to software and databases dedicated to lifecycle analysis make calculating MIPS using matrix inversion possible. This also opens up possibilities for enhancing MIPS-models programmatically: parameterizing the foreground and background systems, batch modeling for producing time series, and computational algorithms enhancing interpretation. The article provides (1) an overview of the methods and tools used for calculating MIPS from its origins to today, and (2) demonstrates some of the programmatically enhanced capabilities offered to MIPS-practitioners.

Description: Strategien zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel erfordern ein koordiniertes Vorgehen aller gesellschaftlichen Akteure. Deshalb arbeiten die KLIMZUG-Forschungsverbünde stark transdisziplinär.

Description: This article presents the accounts of China's Total Material Requirement (TMR) during 1995–2008, which were compiled under the guidelines of Eurostat (2009) and with the Hidden Flow (HF) coefficients developed by the Wuppertal Institute. Subsequently, comparisons with previous studies are conducted. Using decomposition, we finally examine the influential factors that have changed the TMR of China. The main findings are the following: (1) During 1995–2008 China's TMR increased from 32.7 Gt to 57.0 Gt. Domestic extraction dominated China’s TMR, but a continuous decrease of its shares can be observed. In terms of material types, excavation constituted the biggest component of China's TMR, and a shift from biomass to metallic minerals is apparent; (2) Compared with two previous studies on China's TMR, the amounts of TMR in this study are similar to the others, whereas the amounts of the used part of TMR (Direct Material Input, DMI) are quite different as a result of following different guidelines; (3) Compared with developed countries, China's TMR per capita was much lower, but a continuous increase of this indicator can be observed; (4) Factors of Affluence (A) and Material Intensity (T), respectively, contributed the most to the increase and decrease of TMR, but the overall decrease effect is limited.

Description: Dass wir von der Substanz leben, ist lange bekannt. Wachstum, Wohlstand und moderne Lebensstile beruhen auf dem Aufzehren, Zernutzen und Verschmutzen von Ressourcen. Einschlägige Leitbilder fordern deshalb eine Große Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit, mit der allein die tief in das moderne Leben eingewobene Missachtung ökologischer Schranken überwunden werden kann. Diese benennen auch die Probleme der Transition, d.h. den Voraussetzungsreichtum und die Zielkonflikte des Übergangs zu nachhaltigem Wirtschaften. Eine erfolgreiche Transformation, so die einhellige Forderung, muss nicht nur die Risiken des fossilen Metabolismus, sondern auch die Risiken der Überwindungsstrategie minimieren. Erforderlich ist demnach ein präventives politisches Transformationsmanagement. Es ist aber völlig unklar, ob einer mit derlei Gestaltungsauftrag konfrontierten Politik die Ermöglichung des guten Lebens auch nur ansatzweise zugetraut werden kann. Es ist daher an der Zeit, den normativen Gehalt von Nachhaltigkeitsleitbildern mit ihrer faktischen Geltungskraft zu konfrontieren. Die Studie ist in drei Teile gegliedert. Zu Beginn (Teil I) wird die Skizze eines normativen Leitmotivs mit ihren gesellschaftstheo-retischen Geltungschancen konfrontiert. Geprüft wird nicht die Validität einschlägiger Nachhaltigkeitsleitbilder, sondern inwiefern diesen zugetraut werden kann, sich in konkreten Strukturen zu materialisieren. Es zeigt sich, dass eine erfolgreiche Transformationsstrategie nicht innerhalb "fossiler" Paradigmen (bzw. Entscheidungsprämissen) verfolgt werden kann. Auf der anderen Seite ist es sehr unwahrscheinlich, dass einer funktional differenzierten Gesellschaft eine Revision dieser Prämissen gelingen kann. Um die gesellschaftstheoretische Skepsis empirisch prüfbar zu machen, wird das Fundament der Theorie selbstreferentieller Systeme um eine konstellationsstrukturelle Ebene erweitert. Hierdurch entstehen nicht nur Anknüpfungspunkte für eine sozio-technische Systemperspektive, sondern auch sog. middle range Konzepte der Policy-Forschung. Die so entwickelten Suchbilder werden in den folgenden beiden Teilen auf einen Anwendungsbereich bezogen, der mit Energie- und Landwirtschaft zwei der drei zentralen Transformationsfelder umfasst: Die Bioenergie. Diese ist deshalb eine besonders attraktive Empirie, um die Geltungskraft von Nachhaltigkeitsleitbildern zu erheben, weil ihre Marktchancen vollumfänglich von politischer Förderung abhängig sind. Im zweiten Teil der Studie wird erhoben, inwieweit der Bioenergiepolitik eine Revision fossiler Prämissen gelingt (ex post Perspektive). Welchen Transformationsprozessen sich das Nachhaltigkeitswissen selbst in der politischen Arena ausgesetzt sieht, wird im dritten Teil ausführlich nachgegangen (ex ante Perspektive). Im zweiten Teil kann nachgewiesen werden, dass sich in einer vergleichsweise jungen "Nachhaltigkeitsnische" des Energiesektors wesentliche Zielkonflikte dem politischen Management nicht nur entziehen, sondern gerade in dessen Folge zutage treten. Darüber hinaus muss mit Blick auf den sog. Biomethansektor, der nur teilweise unter dem Schutz der Nische steht und damit als Präzedenzfall eines dem Energiesektor insgesamt bevorstehenden Paradigmenkonflikts gelten kann, von einer umfänglichen "fossilen" Kolonialisierung der Nachhaltigkeitsnische gesprochen werden. Die Nachhaltigkeitspolitik scheitert, weil die Paradigmen und zugrundeliegenden Prämissen fossiler Energieversorgung aus den politischen Transformationsbestrebungen ausgeklammert werden. Der dritte Teil entheimlicht, was politikintern mit dem Wissen um ein erfolgreiches Management ökologischer Selbstgefährdung geschieht. Unter Anwendung der belief system Heuristik des advocacy coalition framework kann nachgewiesen werden, dass sich im Bio(gas)energiesektor - anders als von einschlägiger Literatur unterstellt - keine koalitionäre Spaltung entlang der Unterscheidung nachhaltig / fossil nachweisen lässt und damit die Geltungschance von Nachhaltigkeitsleitbildern nicht als Funktion koalitionärer Repräsentation modelliert werden kann. Auf welcher Ebene tatsächlich koalitionsheuristische Differenzierungen vorgenommen werden können, lässt sich mittels des discourse coalition approach konkretisieren. Denn es zeigt sich, dass die Bioenergiepolitik lagerübergreifend einem zu den Tonarten der Nachhaltigkeit höchst dissonanten Generalbass zu folgen hat. Politische Geltung kann allenfalls unter Aussparung jener Prämissenrevision erlangt werden, die jeder erfolgreichen Nachhaltigkeitstransformation zwingend vorauszugehen hat. Es entspricht dem politischen Tod des Leitbilds, wenn sich vor diesem Hintergrund ein sozusagen mechanischer Austausch der Ressourcenbasis vollzieht. Das ist die Unwahrscheinlichkeit der Großen Transformation: Dass ihre größten Feinde ihre Freunde sind.

Description: Sustainability policy in the early 2000s is based on and therefore influenced by scientific literature on "transition". The importance of this link has inspired the authors to explore the structure of cooperating authors and citation networks in the field. In order to understand "transition" literature, we compare it with an alternative term for change, "transformation", which is also used in the context of socio-technical shifts towards sustainability. We expose the different structures of these fields with an overview of keywords, key references, key authors, and the coherence between references and authors. By analysing co-author and citation networks, we find large differences in these groups of documents. The transition literature is characterised by a large network of directly and indirectly cooperating authors with clear clusters; transformation literature contains smaller author networks. Key transition authors are predominantly Dutch. They repeatedly write together and cite each other's work. The transition literature is tightly knit with high degrees of internal references and a clearly distinguishable core. Transformation literature has fewer connections between authors and articles. The connecting articles, each with many global citations, form its basis. This analysis can be used as a step to continue the debate on the role of transition and transformation literature in sustainability and renewable energy policy. The transformation literature teaches us that older streams of thought are still relevant and may be used as "glue" for linking change with respect to sustainable energy to wider developments. Rediscovering existing literature in new combinations may lead to promising new views on sustainable energy.

Description: The German government aims to obtain at least 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. One of the central steps to reach this target is the construction of deep sea offshore wind farms. The paper presents a material intensity analysis of the offshore wind farms "Alpha Ventus" and "Bard Offshore I" under consideration of the grid connection. An additional onshore scenario is considered for comparison. The results show that offshore wind farms have higher resource consumption than onshore farms. In general, and in respect to the resource use of other energy systems, both can be tagged as resource efficient.

Description: Die Bedeutung von Urban Mining nimmt zu, da das Wachstum der Technosphäre, insbesondere des Baubestandes abnimmt. In den kommenden Jahrzehnten wird in Deutschland regional differenziert ein Gleichgewicht zwischen Zu- und Rückbau erreicht werden. Dann wird ein erheblicher Teil des Materialbedarfs aus Recycling gedeckt werden können. Erste Kommunen wie die Stadt Zürich praktizieren ein integriertes Bestands- und Ressourcenmanagement. Auf nationaler Ebene laufen Untersuchungen zur Dynamik des Materiallagers. Die Entwicklung eines Informationssystems Urban Mining bedarf der Kooperation aller Beteiligten.

Description: Um Strom aus regenerativen Energien, der zeitweise nicht in das Stromnetz aufgenommen werden kann, nicht abregeln zu müssen, können neben dem Netzausbau auch verschiedene Speichertechnologien eingesetzt werden. Hier wird ein Vergleich dieser Optionen hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mit Stromüberschüssen angestellt. Dazu werden mit einer multikriteriellen Analyse (engl. Multi-Criteria Analysis, MCA) sowohl ökonomische als auch ökologische, soziale und technologischeKriterien herangezogen. Die MCA bildet ein wertvolles Werkzeug zur Entscheidungsfindung und dokumentiert einen transparenten und nachvollziehbaren Entscheidungsprozess. Dieser Artikel beschreibt die Struktur der MCA, die zur Bewertung genutzten Kriterien und insbesondere den Gewichtungsprozess, der einen wichtigen Aspekt der MCA darstellt.

Description: Considering global warming, increasing commodity prices, and the dramatic consequences of the over-exploitation and overuse of resources, a transition to a renewable energy supply is necessary. This requires an (resource) efficient and renewable supply of operating reserve. In this article, a possible solution to this problem is analysed: the Desertec concept. It is meant to convert solar energy in areas with high solar irradiation into electrical energy by means of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) transferring this energy by High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) lines into the whole European Union Middle East and North Africa (EU-MENA) area. In order to assess the resource efficiency potential of Desertec, three different kinds of CSP plants (parabolic trough, Fresnel collector and central receiver of the building classes Inditep, Novatec and Solar Tres) including heat storage systems (Molten Salt and Phase-Changing-Material) and the necessary HVDC are analysed using the Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) methodology. The assessment is accomplished for three different locations (Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt) and two points of time (2025 and 2050). With these results, a scenario of electricity supply in Germany in 2050 with a 20% share of solar power import is calculated. Central receivers are the most resource efficient ones: their consumption of abiotic materials is only half of parabolic trough plants and two thirds of Fresnel trough plants. Water and air consumption is the lowest of all analyzed CSP plants as well. The scenario for Germany's fuel mix in 2050 shows that a predominantly renewable fuel mix reduces the consumption of abiotic materials by 75%, of water by 60% and of air by 45%. Only the consumption of biotic materials rises due to the higher share of biomass conversion.

Description: This brochure summarises key findings on technical options for meeting diverse everyday lighting needs by the rational use of energy. More data, examples and information are available on the internet platform: www.wisions.net

Description: The role of cities in mitigating GHG emissions and thus tackling global warming has gained importance over the last years.Many cities have developed climate action plans, primarily to achieve long-term "low-carbon" mitigation goals set by national governments or (inter)national agreements. A mere adoption of high level targets, however, raises the question whether these targets are applicable for cities with very different framework conditions. We argue that it is crucial to understand the socio-economic, geophysical, spatial, infrastructural and political framework of a city - a broad approach, which is generally missing in climate action plans. Thus, determining drivers and barriers for future development paths is neglected by local policies, which leads to a gap between ambition (target) and reality (implementation). We exemplarily examine this hypothesis for the shrinking city of Oberhausen (Germany). Oberhausen, located in the Ruhr area,is a typical old industrial region, which has seen a decline of its industrial basis over the last decades. We analysed historical data and developed scenarios until 2030. Both show a significant decrease in CO2 emissions. A closer look, however, reveals that the reduction is primarily due to the economic transformation (less manufacturing, more service industry, accompanied by a decrease in population) and general energy efficiency developments following the implementation of national and EU policies. Although the city has implemented–and will further implement - many instruments and policies to reduce CO2 emissions, local barriers such as unemployment, low rents, low income, high per capita debts, etc. dramatically reduce the city's capacity for action. The results show that Oberhausen's emission reductions do not reflect active energy policies but are mainly driven by an economic decline. To reach ambitious reduction targets, however, the city needs to be enabled to take action in achieving appropriate and reasonable targets.

Description: Conventional new buildings in OECD countries with a history of building codes save about 50 % of energy compared to average buildings in the building stock. This improvement, however, is not enough to create a building standard with low lifetime costs nor to reach long-term climate protection targets. Much higher energy savings can already be achieved through proven high-efficiency building concepts bringing net economic benefits among other advantages. A strategic approach to integrated building design is the key to achieving these high-energy savings at low or no extra cost in residential buildings. In our paper we describe the "Easy Efficiency Approach", which can reduce primary energy consumption by 40 to 60 % compared to conventional new building standards, or by 70% to 80% when compared to the primary energy consumption of the existing building stock, and should be regarded as the minimum. This strategy focuses on low-cost options, mainly passive options. Although it can already significantly reduce energy consumption, this first step will not be sufficient to reach long-term climate protection goals. It is thus necessary to implement and support what we call an "Advanced Efficiency Approach", with savings up to 90% , as compared to new building standards, as soon as possible to avoid lock-in effects. Further improvements, especially through the active use of renewable energies, reduce the net primary energy demand to 0 % and beyond. According to the chosen strategy clearly defined energy performance ranges, with reference to possible savings, for different climate zones worldwide are given. In verifying this approach simulations with BAT (Best Available Technologies) buildings of different types (single family, multi family, high rise) were carried out in close cooperation with project partners. This data has also been verified through an empirical database of built examples both for energy consumption as well their economic soundness.

Description: Carbon recycling, in which organic waste is recycled into chemical feedstock for material production, may provide benefits in resource efficiency and a more cyclical economy - but may also create "trade-offs" in increased impacts elsewhere. We investigate the system-wide environmental burdens and cost associated with carbon recycling routes capable of converting municipal solid waste (MSW) by gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis into ethylene. Results are compared to business-as-usual (BAU) cases in which ethylene is derived from fossil resources and waste is either landfilled with methane and energy recovery (BAU#1) or incinerated (BAU#2) with energy recovery. Monte Carlo and sensitivity analysis is used to assess uncertainties of the results. Results indicate that carbon recycling may lead to a reduction in cumulative energy demand (CED), total material requirement (TMR), and acidification, when compared to BAU#1. Global warming potential is found to be similar or slightly lower than BAU#1 and BAU#2. In comparison to BAU#2, carbon recycling results in higher CED, TMR, acidification, and smog potential, mainly as a result of larger (fossil-based) energy offsets from energy recovery. However, if a renewable power mix (envisioned for the future) is assumed to be offset, BAU#2 impacts may be similar or higher than carbon recycling routes. Production cost per kilogram (kg) MSW-derived ethylene range between US$1.85 and US$2.06 (Jan 2011 US$). This compares to US$1.17 per kg for fossil-based ethylene. Waste-derived ethylene breaks even with its fossil-based counterpart at a tipping fee of roughly US$42 per metric ton of waste feedstock.

Description: The main objective of this article is to evaluate CO2 mitigation potential and to calculate costs avoided by the use of different CO2 mitigation technologies in China's cement sector, namely energy efficiency improvements, use of alternative fuels, clinker substitution and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Three scenarios are designed based on the projection of cement output and technology development over the next 40 years (2010–2050). 2.5, 4.7 and 4.3 Gt tonnes of CO2 will be saved totally in basic scenario and two low carbon scenarios up to 2050. By comparing these technologies along the scenarios, it can be concluded that CO2 emissions can mainly be reduced by energy efficiency improvements and use of alternative fuels. Clinker substitution, which reduces the clinker-to-cement ratio as well as energy intensity, results in significant cost advantages. CCS, including post-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion capture, could play an important role in the capture of CO2 in the cement industry, and is expected to be in commercial use by 2030.

Description: Multinational mining companies operating in Latin America increasingly publish sustainability reports which outline their contributions to sustainable development. Companies argue that reports help communities better understand the importance of the benefits created by mining. However, we argue that sustainabilityreporting can only play a role in improving a company's performance and reputation if the quality of the reported data is good enough to answer community-raised contentious issues and if such are tackled through a stakeholder engagement process which includes "anti-mining" groups. The paper examines a miningconflict in Argentina's Bajo de la Alumbrera open pit mine. The assessment is based on a content analysis of Alumbrera's Sustainability Report (SR), primarily from 2009, complemented with insights from the 2010 and 2011 reports. The study reveals that environmental and economic indicators are the most contentious and least reported. The reports examined only briefly acknowledge these issues, and fail to detail the procedures followed to identify and engage stakeholders.

Description: Als Grundlage für die Praxishilfe "Klimaschutz in der räumlichen Planung" wurde im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes eine Reihe von Konzepten, Plänen und Programmen auf teil- bzw. gesamtstädtischer, regionaler und Landesebene untersucht, die für die Integration des Klimaschutz in die räumliche Planung beispielhaft sind. Es handelt sich im Schwerpunkt um formelle Instrumente (Bebauungs- und Flächennutzungspläne, Regionalpläne, Landesentwicklungspläne). Komplementär wurden auch informelle Instrumente untersucht, die die fachliche Grundlage für eine integrierte und effektive Bearbeitung des Klimaschutzes in der förmlichen Raumplanung darstellen (v.a. Energieversorgungs- und Klimaschutzkonzepte).

Description: Several low-carbon energy roadmaps and scenarios have recently been published by the European Commission and the International Energy Agency (IEA) as well as by various stakeholders such as Eurelectric, ECF and Greenpeace. Discussions of these studies mainly focus on technology options available on the electricity supply side and mostly omit the significant challenges that all of the scenarios impose on the energy demand side. A comparison of 5 decarbonisation scenarios from 4 of the most relevant recent scenario studies for the EU shows that all of them imply significant efficiency improvements in traditional appliances, usually well above levels historically observed over longer periods of time. At the same time they assume substantial electrification of transportation and heating. The scenarios suggest that both of these challenges need to be tackled successfully for decarbonising the energy system. With shares of renewable electricity reaching at least 60 % of supply in 2050 in almost all of the decarbonisation scenarios, the adaptation of demand to variable supply becomes increasingly important. This aspect of demand side management should therefore be part of any policy mix aiming for a low-carbon power system. Based on a quantitative analysis of 5 decarbonisation scenarios and a comparison with historical evidence we derive the (implicit) new challenges posed by the current low-carbon roadmaps and develop recommendations for energy policy on the electricity demand side.

Description: The limited data availability, transparency and harmonisation in environmental assessments of products are bottlenecks for improved environmental and sustainability governance. Despite the progressive developments of information and communication systems, reliable, accurate, up-to-date data for assessing the resource use of products and services is still lacking. Resource accounting systems often have limited scope on single companies, processes or products. This paper presents an approach for an automated bottom-up accounting system for measuring resource efficiency at product and service level. It is based on a global collaborative network of resource accounting nodes connected for the accounting of natural resources use for products and services. Using an Internet-based service-oriented architecture, relevant and timely data is passed from supplier to customer recursively through the whole value chain to produce an "ecoCost" for each product or service. This conceptual paper reflects first experiences from partners of the myEcoCost project funded by European Commission (www.myecocost.com).

Description: Indikatoren für ein quantitatives und qualitatives Monitoring werden sowohl für einzelne Maßnahmen als auch für ein Abfallvermeidungsprogramm hergeleitet. Die knapp 300 Maßnahmen zur Abfallvermeidung durch die öffentliche Hand aus der Beispielsammlung des Vorläuferprojektes werden zunächst bewertet und konsolidiert. Entlang der Lebenswegstufen Rohstoffgewinnung, Produktgestaltung, Produktion, Logistik, Handel, Einkauf, Nutzung und Abfallentsorgung werden diese systematisch gruppiert. Das Abfallvermeidungspotenzial und die ökologischen Auswirkungen ausgewählter Einzelmaßnahmen werden orientierend bewertet. Die wesentlichen Effekte werden durch die Vermeidung von Umweltbelastungen bei den "vermiedenen" Produktionsaufwendungen, z.B. durch die intensivere Nutzung und die Verlängerung der Lebensdauer von Produkten, erzielt. Dazu gehört auch die Förderung eines Gebrauchtwarenmarkts zur Wiederverwendung von Waren. Ökonomische und soziale Auswirkungen werden punktuell beschrieben. Basierend auf der Bewertung werden geeignete Abfallvermeidungsmaßnahmen für das nationale Abfallvermeidungsprogramm vorgeschlagen.

Description: The Low Carbon Future Cities (LCFC) project aims at facing a three dimensional challenge by developing an integrated city roadmap balancing: low carbon development, gains in resource efficiency and adaptation to climate change. The paper gives an overview of the first outcomes of the analysis of the status quo and assessment of the most likely developments regarding GHG emissions, climate impacts and resource use in Wuxi - the Chinese pilot city for the LCFC project. As a first step, a detailed emission inventory following the IPCC guidelines for Wuxi has been carried out. In a second step, the future development of energy demand and related CO2 emissions in 2050 were simulated in a current policy scenario (CPS). In parallel, selected aspects of material and water flows for the energy and the building sector were analyzed and modeled. In addition, recent and future climate impacts and vulnerability were investigated. Based on these findings, nine key sectors with high relevance to the three dimensions could be identified. Although Wuxi's government has started a path to implement a low carbon plan, the first results show that, for the shift towards a sustainable low carbon development, more ambitious steps need to be taken in order to overcome the challenges faced.