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Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

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Project • RUSD2010-01NMY(R)-Surjan, RUSD2012-01CMY(R)-Surjan

Advancing Locally Based Green Practices to realize establishment of Sound Material Cycle Society in Asian Cities

Sound Material Cycle Society’ and ‘Material Flow’ largely remains alien concept for most cities of Asia’s developing countries which are routinely struggling to manage increasing daily waste within their municipal limits. However, huge populace fuelling the growth of these cities has its own frugal ways and modest means which have catapulted them to the top spot in the world’s Green Index (study conducted by the National Geographic), making them the most environmental-friendly denizens of Planet Earth. To arrest this diverse reality, multi-country research will review urban expansion and economic growth vis-a-vis time-series analysis of life-styles to ascertain changing material flows in domestic and industrial sectors as well as prevailing reuse and recycle practices which may be considered as precursor to the ideas of establishing Sound Material Cycle Society. Further, field realities from the selected cities of India, Indonesia, Vietnam as well as Japan will be captured to arrest minuscule and oft-ignored dimensions of cyclicity of the materials at the household, community and city level. Multidisciplinary research team will also investigate associated looming urban environmental stresses and their interlinkages with urban material flows to focus attention on notions of integrated and synergistic application of scientific research in the society.