Kris Lulofs

Pollution prevention projects in the Netherlands

As part of its waste matter prevention policy, the Dutch government has tried over the past few years to stimulate pollution prevention in firms by means of so-called stimulation and learning projects. To be able to determine the effectiveness of future policies, an extensive evaluation study was performed in 1994 on the pollution prevention projects which had been realized over the past few years. This study* was carried out by the Centre for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy of the University of Twente in Enschada, the Netherlands, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment, Waste Matter Board. The aim of the study was to determine the level of success of pollution prevention projects in relation to different circumstances in the implementation of pollution prevention projects in firms. This would provide information which may contribute to the successful setting up of new projects. By `successful? we mean that they may build on the success formulas of projects completed earlier, consisting of specific project features and other conditions which proved to be of influence. The central research question of the study was: which features make a pollution prevention project efficacious, effective and efficient? This article deals with the structure and results of this study and gives insight into: (1)the results of pollution prevention projects in the Netherlands; and (2)the features of pollution prevention projects which proved to be either more or less successful.

Negotiation-based Policy Instruments and Performance: Dutch Covenants and Environmental Policy Outcomes

Numerous governments have adopted innovative policy instruments to deal with important environmental policy challenges and negotiated instruments offer the potential to improve performance beyond what regulation alone can accomplish. Dutch covenants, which represent negotiated agreements with sectors of industry as targets of behavioral change, provide useful evidence of the determinants of success. For improving environmental performance, certain features of the policy setting explain much of the variance in ambitions and outcomes: attitudes of decision makers in the affected businesses, attention to cost minimization, and possibly the degree of ambition built into the agreement. Modeling to explain the extent of ambition and compliance offer further insights. While some Dutch lessons may be restricted to more corporatist policy settings, others may help improve the effectiveness of negotiated agreements in many national settings.

Environmental negotiated agreements in the Netherlands

Governance for sustainable development requires new approaches to governance that go beyond the government versus market debate. Negotiated agreements and other new policy instruments have become quite popular in environmental governance, although not without debate. Based on the official evaluation of the Dutch system of environmental negotiated agreements, two central questions are answered. What is the degree of success (criteria for effectiveness, efficiency and positive side effects for learning and flexibility) of the use of negotiated environmental agreements in the Netherlands, and to what background factors is the degree of success related? What role is played by follow-up implementation after the agreements are signed and what is the interaction with other instruments? The assessment of the negotiated agreement as an instrument of environmental governance is generally positive.

The role of Natura 2000 and project design in implementing flood defence projects in the Scheldt estuary

This paper presents an account of two developments: the effect of EU Natura 2000 biodiversity policy on local planning and implementation processes, and a shift towards a ‘Building’ or ‘Working’ with Nature approach when designing water infrastructure projects. The account is based on a longitudinal case study of the 35‐year chronology of a flood defence project which has been implemented along the River Scheldt in Flanders. The case study data have been analysed using a chronological time series analysis. The paper concludes that ‘Building’ or ‘Working’ with Nature is resorted to both at the EU and local level, because it works to balance previously conflicting interests and is acceptable to most actors who take part in project implementation. By placing ecological goals at the start of the planning process, the authorities elsewhere in the EU could avoid conflicts of interest and speed up project implementation in Natura 2000 estuaries.

A Shift Toward Building with Nature in the Dredging and Port Development Industries: Managerial Implications for Projects in or Near Natura 2000 Areas

AbstractBuilding with Nature is a new approach to designing water infrastructure, one that seeks to realize socioeconomic project goals in harmony with the environment. The Dutch dredging industry is promoting its application in the Netherlands, but similar concepts are emerging internationally. nThe Working with Nature concept has been developed under the auspices of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, Engineering with Nature by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Flanders Bays 2100 by a group of Belgian dredging companies and international consultants. The research discussed in this article focuses on the feasibility of implementing the Building with Nature approach in the context of EU Natura 2000 governance. The initial expectation of the industry was that Natura 2000 regulations would obstruct innovative Building with Nature attempts. nThe empirical evidence points to a shift toward Building with Nature have taken place on the governance and project levels, and the goals of Natura 2000 and Building with Nature converging in practice. Using specific project-level variables identified by researchers, guidance for project development in Natura 2000 areas was proposed. We conclude by discussing the implications of the research results for the dredging industry dealing with Natura 2000 regulations in Europe and similar overarching nature regulations elsewhere.

The Practice of Innovative Energy Systems Diffusion in Neighborhood Renovation Projects: A Comparison of 11 Cases in the Netherlands

The diffusion of clean energy technologies is important to foster Green Growth. In the Netherlands the housing sector has considerable potential to increase energy efficiency by applying innovative energy technologies (IES). In this chapter we aim to answer the question of which factors explain the successful application of IES in neighbourhood renovation projects. Our research involves a comparative design, looking at 11 case studies. Comprehensive data collection was carried out, including 70 semi-structured interviews. We found that in only 3 out of 11 cases were IES successfully applied. Ambitions were reduced as the projects progressed. The main results of the analysis identify three factors that are positively related to IES application: policy instruments, housing associations’ organizational characteristics, and inter-organizational collaboration. The results of our analysis suggest that more policy efforts are needed to deploy IES in residential areas over a wider scale. This is important to facilitate Green Growth.

Towards a water balanced utilization through circular economy

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of this study is to describe and explain the relative water scarcity condition as one of the main problems encountered in Indonesia. It is caused by fierce competition between water users, water over consumption and high water price. The water conflict and increasing phenomena of relative water scarcity result in unequal access to water between the rich and the poor. This research is intended to contribute to a balanced water governance system that secures equal and fair access to water resources for all users. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nA mixed method approach was used involving interviews with the owners of the established bottled water companies, the community leaders, guard for sluice gate, local NGOs and several government agencies. n n n n nFindings n n n n nResearch results indicate that water policies and implementation are lacking coherency. It is also shown that the complex government structure with responsibilities divided over multiple agencies is responsible for this. The circular economy for water governance system used to find alternative solutions for reducing social conflicts so that the water will be made available to those who have no water access. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nThis research used only one location with a representative number of interviewees; hence, the findings are not possibly generalizable. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThe combination of water legal framework and circular economy concept was used to reduce water scarcity

Governance assessment of a protected area : the case of the Alde Feanen National Park

This paper addresses the challenge of appropriate governance of complexity and diversity in the Dutch national park of Alde Feanen. The issue is how to enhance ecosystem resilience. Our focus relates to a navigable waterway within the park that affects the natural values of the area. The governance assessment tool is used to assess the governance context of the waterway and ecosystem resilience in the area. The study shows that a lack of a long-term integrated vision makes the governance context less supportive. Such a vision could maximize the focus on the resilience of the parks nature and motivate actors to work towards a common future for a concerned area. However, institutional complexity, combined with institutional inertia, is revealed as a hindrance to the quality of governance and shapes a weak ability to adapt the current situation to move towards resilience.

Natura 2000 en Bouwen met de Natuur: een blik op de praktijkervaring in een zoektocht naar synergie tussen economie en ecologie

De toepassing van Europese natuurbeschermingsregels wordt bij veel infrastructurele projecten als juridische belemmering ervaren. In deze bijdrage geven de auteurs een positieve blik op de ervaringen in of nabij Natura 2000-gebieden in Noordwest-Europese estuaria en kustgebieden en stellen dat Natura 2000 niet per se een struikelblok hoeft te vormen, en dat het toepassen van innovatieve ontwerpmethoden als Bouwen met de Natuur het verschil kan maken voor de implementatie van Natura 2000 op projectniveau. Empirisch bewijs hiervoor is in veertien cases gezocht, waarbij drie verschillende onderzoeksontwerpen zijn gebruikt. Afgesloten wordt met een vooruitblik naar wat dit betekent voor de private partijen en overheden, voor de evaluatie van Natura 2000 in 2015 en voor Bouwen met de Natuur als innovatieve ontwerpmethode

Water Scarcity on the Abundance: Political Ecology Perspective

The situation of relative water scarcity becomes a classic problem in developing countries. This issue is not about the absence of water, but rather about the inequality with regard to access to water. Scarcity of water is a part of daily life for some though the area of abundant water resources. The factors that lead to this exclusion of water are described by applying political ecology of hydro-social cycle. The concurrent transformative method is used in this research to obtain deeper understanding and to generalize the situation. This research formulated four factors that influence to inequality access to water beside hydrological factor. The factors are lack of planning, collusion, lack of information transparency, and inconsistency of water regulation. All factors can be eliminated by improving water regulation, monitoring, and implementation. In doing so, the benefit of water can be equal to all users.