• Energy Research
• 1. No poverty close
• NL close
• English close

The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of the public in the United States and in 12 European countries towards foreign policy issues and transatlantic issues. The survey concentrated on issues such as: United States and European Union (EU) leadership and relations, favorability towards certain countries, institutions and people, security, cooperation and the perception of threat including issues of concern with Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia, energy dependence, economic downturn, and global warming, Turkey and Turkish accession to the EU, promotion of democracy in other countries, and the importance of economic versus military power. Several questions asked of respondents pertained to voting and politics including whether they discussed political matters with friends and whether they attempted to persuade others close to them to share their views on politics which they held strong opinions about, vote intention, their assessment of the current United States President and upcoming presidential election, political party attachment, and left-right political self-placement. Demographic and other background information includes age, gender, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation and participation, age when stopped full-time education and stage at which full-time education completed, occupation, number of people aged 18 years and older living in the household, type of locality, region of residence, prior travel to the United States or Europe, and language of interview. computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI); computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI); paper and pencil interview (PAPI)The original data collection was carried out by TNS, Fait et Opinion -- Brussels on request of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.The codebook and setup files for this collection contain characters with diacritical marks used in many European languages.A split ballot was used for one or more questions in this survey. The variable SPLIT defines the separate groups.For data collection, the computer-assisted face-to-face interview was used in Poland, the paper and pencil interview was used in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey, and the computer-assisted telephone interview was used in all other countries.Additional information on the Transatlantic Trends Survey is provided on the Transatlantic Trends Web site. (1) Multistage random sampling was implemented in the countries using face-to-face interviewing. Sampling points were selected according to region, and then random routes were conducted within these sampling points. Four callbacks were used for each address. The birthday rule was used to randomly select respondents within a household. (2) Random Digit Dialing was implemented in the countries using telephone interviewing. Eight callbacks were used for each telephone number. The birthday rule was used to randomly select respondents within a household. The adult population aged 18 years and over in 13 countries: Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Smallest Geographic Unit: country Response Rates: The total response rate for all countries surveyed is 23 percent. Please refer to the "Technical Note" in the ICPSR codebook for additional information about response rate. Please refer to the "Technical Note" in the ICPSR codebook for further information about weighting. Datasets: DS1: Transatlantic Trends Survey, 2008

‘Productive Uses of Energy and gender in the Street Food Sector’, is a title of our four year project which is part of the DFID funded ENERGIA Gender and Energy Research programme. This research focuses on male and female owned micro enterprises preparing and selling food in Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa. This sector provides livelihoods for many women and men in these countries and this project provides the gender and energy nexus analysis. One of the primary goals of this project is to influence energy policy making and implementation in the focus countries.

{"references": ["Dr. W.J.V. Vermeulen, Dr. P.R. Croes, & L.van der Feen MSc. (2022). Oiconomy Pricing: RVO Pilot Project Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6480958", "Croes, P. R. (2021). Comprehensive in-supply chain life cycle assessment of the preventative cost-based externalities of products. An assessment methodology as first step to a sustainable and responsible true price economy: \" Oiconomy\". PhD thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2021) 'The Assessment of Positive Impacts in LCA in general and in Preventative Cost-based LCA in particular. A contribution to the Oiconomy Project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess, 2021, 26(1), pp. 143\u2013156", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2019) \"Quantification of corruption in preventative cost-based S-LCA: a contribution to the Oiconomy project,\" Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 24(1), pp. 142\u2013159.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016a) 'In search of income reference points for S-LCA using a country level sustainability benchmark (part 1): fair inequality. A contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 349\u2013362.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016b) 'In search of Income Reference Points for S-LCA using a Country Level Sustainability Benchmark (part 2): Fair Minimum Wage. A Contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 363\u2013377.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2015) 'Life Cycle Assessment by Transfer of Preventative Costs in the Supply Chain of Products. A first draft of the Oiconomy system', J. Cleaner Prod., 102, pp. 178\u2013187."]} Using the Oiconomy Pricing method, this case study assessed the negative hidden costs and positive costs of a pack heater (a medical device that heats heat packs). Hidden costs show what impact the product has on planet, people and prosperity that are currently not reflected in the prices charged for the goods along the value chain. Negative hidden costs are based on prevention as they calculate the cost necessary to eliminate all negative impact.

This report explores policy strategies and initiatives from Africa, China, the EU, Latin America, the US, and the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), by employing a conceptual framework based on the Brundtland and Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi report. This "WISE" framework distinguishes the dimensions of wellbeing (wellbeing of current generations), inclusion (distribution of wellbeing), and sustainability (wellbeing of future generations). It also considers the economy, viewed as a means to achieve these dimensions rather than as a goal itself. The aim of this report is to gain understanding of how WISE aspects are being integrated within the policy debate worldwide and the underlying narratives within political priorities, goals, and policies. We also aim to provide insights for the development of the WISE theoretical framework and models that will be developed in the WISE Horizons project. We find that the WISE lens is useful for investigating policies through a broader, more holistic perspective, avoiding focusing only on economic concepts with their limited scope or those that might be specific to certain locations. This is in line with the need for context-sensitive policies and approaches. Our analysis reveals that while most reviewed policy strategies relate to aspects of wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability, these dimensions are not fully integrated in a comprehensive and balanced manner. Overall, despite global and regional diversity, it is possible to find some common ground. In terms of sustainability, the environmental dimension takes primary emphasis in most policy strategies. The report argues that the concept of sustainability needs to be further expanded to cover a broader range of topics around future generations. Inclusion is frequently emphasised, particularly in terms of poverty, inequality, and protection of vulnerable groups. However, the spatial dimension of inclusion beyond borders, i.e. considering the distribution of global wellbeing, is rare. Wellbeing is relevant in many but not all policy strategies and it mostly lacks holistic integration. Wellbeing often refers to living conditions, health, education, housing, employment, and energy availability. Aside from material considerations, cultural aspects, and heritage (especially in Africa, China, and Latin America), life satisfaction (especially in the WEGo and Latin America), and quality of the environment are mentioned. The interlinkage between WISE dimensions is evident, with the potential to reinforce (win-win) or hamper (trade-oȨs) each other. For example, using mineral revenues to enhance wellbeing today may compromise future wellbeing, while prioritising sustainability could limit wellbeing current. Peace is another example of a factor cutting across both present and future wellbeing, and its distribution. The demographic dimension emerged as an important aspect in all regions as well, encompassing variations in rural-urban settings, age structure (aging or youthful population), population density, migration etc. We will delve deeper into these aspects while advancing the WISE framework. Finally, the governance dimension also emerges as an important aspect from our analysis. In short, while WISE dimensions mostly address the what, there should also be attention given to the how. This includes looking at policymaking processes, policy implementation, and institutional structures. Find out more about the WISE Horizons project here.

In recent years, natural disaster and military conflicts forced vast numbers of people to flee their home countries, contributing to the migration crisis we are facing today. According to the UNHCR, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached the highest level since World War II. Post-disaster housing is by nature diverse and dynamic, having to satisfy unique socio-cultural and economical requirements. Currently, however, housing emergencies are tackled inefficiently. Post-disaster housing strategies are characterized by a high economic impact and waste production, and a low adaptability to location-based needs. As an outcome, low quality temporary shelters are provided, which often exceed by far their serving time. Focusing on temporary shelters suitable for the transitioning period between emergency accommodation and permanent housing, TERRA-ink addresses new construction methods that allow for time and cost efficiency, but also for flexibility to adapt to different contexts. TERRA-ink aims to develop a method for layering local soil, by implementing 3D printing technologies. With the aid of such a construction system, the goal is to create durable structures that can be easily de-constructed once they served their purpose. The use of locally sourced materials in combination with additive manufacturing is investigated aiming at reductions in financial investments, resources and human labor, as well as at simplified logistics, low environmental impact and adaptability to different situations and requirements. Such a building system has the potential of combining low- and high-tech technologies, in order to facilitate a fully open and universal solution for large scale 3D-printing using any type of soil. SPOOL, Vol. 6 No. 2: Energy Innovation #5

{"references": ["Dr. W.J.V. Vermeulen, Dr. P.R. Croes, & L.van der Feen MSc. (2022). Oiconomy Pricing: RVO Pilot Project Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6480958", "Croes, P. R. (2021). Comprehensive in-supply chain life cycle assessment of the preventative cost-based externalities of products. An assessment methodology as first step to a sustainable and responsible true price economy: \" Oiconomy\". PhD thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2021) 'The Assessment of Positive Impacts in LCA in general and in Preventative Cost-based LCA in particular. A contribution to the Oiconomy Project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess, 2021, 26(1), pp. 143\u2013156", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2019) \"Quantification of corruption in preventative cost-based S-LCA: a contribution to the Oiconomy project,\" Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 24(1), pp. 142\u2013159.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016a) 'In search of income reference points for S-LCA using a country level sustainability benchmark (part 1): fair inequality. A contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 349\u2013362.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016b) 'In search of Income Reference Points for S-LCA using a Country Level Sustainability Benchmark (part 2): Fair Minimum Wage. A Contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 363\u2013377.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2015) 'Life Cycle Assessment by Transfer of Preventative Costs in the Supply Chain of Products. A first draft of the Oiconomy system', J. Cleaner Prod., 102, pp. 178\u2013187."]} Using the Oiconomy Pricing method, this case study assessed the negative hidden costs and positive costs of a jar of white pepper produced by Verstegen. Hidden costs show what impact the product has on planet, people and prosperity that are currently not reflected in the prices charged for the goods along the value chain. Negative hidden costs are based on prevention as they calculate the cost necessary to eliminate all the negative impact. This assessment identified negative hidden costs of € 1,03 along the value-chain of one jar of white pepper.

Environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, persisting poverty, a mounting obesity epidemic, food insecurity and the use of biotechnology are all examples of wicked problems faced by agricultural and food organizations. Yet, managers and policy-makers often do not recognize that these problems are “wicked”. Wicked problems have cause-effect relationships that are difficult or impossible to define, cannot be framed and solved without creating controversies among stakeholders and require collective action among societal groups with strongly held, conflicting beliefs and values. In contrast to past research, this Special Issue takes an organizational perspective by tackling three key managerial questions: what is the value of managing wicked problems and engaging with multiple stakeholders? What are the human and organizational resources and the strategic conditions needed to engage with multiple stakeholders effectively? How can multi-stakeholder engagements be undertaken? A world collection of empirical case studies conducted by business, NGO and university leaders tackle these questions. For managers, the Issue offers recent and thought-provoking insights on how to recognize and deal with wicked problems. For academics, it proposes an agenda for addressing the topic and promises to fuel a research and education debate for years to come. The IFAMR is published quarterly by IFAMA. www.ifama.org

{"references": ["Dr. W.J.V. Vermeulen, Dr. P.R. Croes, & L.van der Feen MSc. (2022). Oiconomy Pricing: RVO Pilot Project Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6480958", "Croes, P. R. (2021). Comprehensive in-supply chain life cycle assessment of the preventative cost-based externalities of products. An assessment methodology as first step to a sustainable and responsible true price economy: \" Oiconomy\". PhD thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2021) 'The Assessment of Positive Impacts in LCA in general and in Preventative Cost-based LCA in particular. A contribution to the Oiconomy Project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess, 2021, 26(1), pp. 143\u2013156", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2019) \"Quantification of corruption in preventative cost-based S-LCA: a contribution to the Oiconomy project,\" Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 24(1), pp. 142\u2013159.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016a) 'In search of income reference points for S-LCA using a country level sustainability benchmark (part 1): fair inequality. A contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 349\u2013362.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2016b) 'In search of Income Reference Points for S-LCA using a Country Level Sustainability Benchmark (part 2): Fair Minimum Wage. A Contribution to the Oiconomy project', Int. J. Life Cycle Assess., 21(3), pp. 363\u2013377.", "Croes, P. R. and Vermeulen, W. J. V. (2015) 'Life Cycle Assessment by Transfer of Preventative Costs in the Supply Chain of Products. A first draft of the Oiconomy system', J. Cleaner Prod., 102, pp. 178\u2013187."]} Using the Oiconomy Pricing method, this case study assessed the negative hidden costs and positive costs of 1m2 of stone kitchen countertop. Hidden costs show what impact the product has on planet, people and prosperity that are currently not reflected in the prices charged for the goods along the value chain. Negative hidden costs are based on prevention as they calculate the cost necessary to eliminate all the negative impact.