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Exploring potential policy motivation and approaches to improve resource efficiency in emerging Asia

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Abstract

As resource consumption rates soar, especially in rapidly industrialising Asia, improving resource efficiency will be an important agenda. This study analyses socio-economic conditions and policy statements on natural resources in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, to explore their motivation for resource efficiency policies and material flow analysis/accounting (MFA). Among them, Malaysia and Thailand could be significantly motivated to develop resource efficiency policies and MFA, particularly in terms of trade balance and manufacturing sector development. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines do not have such conditions now. Indonesia and Vietnam, however, would be motivated in the longer term, considering their transition to an industrialised economy and the possibility of increasing domestic demand in an emerging economy context. Metals and industrial minerals are more imported than exported, would generally be prioritised resources in the study countries. This means that the 3Rs will be a vital approach for resource efficiency. In addition, some countries are resource exporting countries, which might consider the resource extraction impact. Whereas resource efficiency aspects are conceptually well reflected in their national strategies, concrete resource efficiency policies have not been developed. These various socio-economic conditions would be significant to emerging Asia to develop concrete resource efficiency policies and MFA indicators.

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Notes

  1. Domestic material consumption (DMC) = (direct material input) DMI − export (DMI comprises all materials which have economic values and are directly used in an economy).

  2. Raw material input: raw material equivalent DMI.

  3. Raw material consumption: raw material equivalent DMC.

  4. As of 1 July 2014, middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita of more than $1045 but less than $12,746; lower middle-income and upper middle-income economies are separated at a GNI per capita of $4125.

  5. Global average of 13.2 % (2008), 12.9 % (2010) based on world development indicators.

  6. Although Fig. 6 shows the value of “Ores, metals, precious stones and non-monetary gold (SITC 27 + 28 + 68 + 667 + 971)” as shown in UNCTAD stats, author describes the value as “metal ores and industrial minerals” to improve consistency of this study with a look at the details of the category.

  7. In terms of PTB, Indonesia was an importing country in terms of metal ores and industrial minerals in 2005 and an exporting country in terms of net monetary exports. Metal ores and industrial minerals in Fig. 6 exclude construction minerals which are categorized as SITC 661 and 662. This is most likely due to the price of ores and metals. This would give an indication of whether this issue should be considered in monetary or physically terms, which could lead to prioritizing the economy or environment at the national level.

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Acknowledgments

Although this study is primarily based on the survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) in 2012 (Heisei 22 nendo UNEP jizoku kanouna sigenkanri ni kansuru kokusai paneru sien kento chosa gyomu), the author has largely modified and updated the survey results after finishing the commissioned work. Note that any views or opinions expressed in this study are solely those of the author and not of the MOEJ. The author is grateful to the editor and three reviewers for their valuable comments, as well as to Dr. Yasuhiko Hotta for his encouragement.

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  1. Sustainable Consumption and Production Area, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Kanagawa, 240-0115, Japan

    Chika Aoki-Suzuki

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Aoki-Suzuki, C. Exploring potential policy motivation and approaches to improve resource efficiency in emerging Asia. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 18, 57–71 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0432-5

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