IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i19p10801-d645617.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Phosphorus Governance within Planetary Boundaries: The Potential of Strategic Local Resource Planning in The Hague and Delfland, The Netherlands

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Harseim

    (Faculty for Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Benjamin Sprecher

    (Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Cathrin Zengerling

    (Faculty for Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany)

Abstract

In recent years, a growing body of research has explored the urban dimension of the critical resource phosphorus with a focus on urban metabolism analysis, recovery technologies and governance frameworks. However, there has been no tangible and holistic attempt at choosing between available measures and instruments for their implementation in the urban realm. With the growing and increasingly urban world population, cities have become more and more important as actors in phosphorus governance by fueling global phosphorus flows, e.g., via the consumption of food, agricultural products, and phosphorus recycling. Globally, a future-proof phosphorus metabolism may be contributed to by strategic local phosphorus planning. This article systematically explores the purposive potential of local phosphorus planning using a case study of The Hague, The Netherlands. Looking across multiple administrative and spatial dimensions, the study combines quantitative analysis of phosphorus flows with qualitative investigation of their drivers, the actors involved, current regulations and local scope for action. The research reveals the feasibility of meaningfully impacting phosphorus flows through urban action. The potential for strategic local resource planning is demonstrated in a grid of policy options and in the assessment of their socio-economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, the study draws up a list of key recommendations to transfer to other urban settings. It encourages further research aimed at closing data gaps for local phosphorus inventories, collaborative approaches in strategic resource planning, scope for action in other cities or jurisdictions, as well as improved quantification of the outreach of policy effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Harseim & Benjamin Sprecher & Cathrin Zengerling, 2021. "Phosphorus Governance within Planetary Boundaries: The Potential of Strategic Local Resource Planning in The Hague and Delfland, The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10801-:d:645617
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10801/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10801/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuliya Kalmykova & Robin Harder & Helena Borgestedt & Ingela Svanäng, 2012. "Pathways and Management of Phosphorus in Urban Areas," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(6), pages 928-939, December.
    2. John T. Trimmer & Jeremy S. Guest, 2018. "Recirculation of human-derived nutrients from cities to agriculture across six continents," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 427-435, August.
    3. Daniel W. O’Neill & Andrew L. Fanning & William F. Lamb & Julia K. Steinberger, 2018. "A good life for all within planetary boundaries," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(2), pages 88-95, February.
    4. Cathrin Zengerling, 2019. "Governing the City of Flows: How Urban Metabolism Approaches May Strengthen Accountability in Strategic Planning," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 187-199.
    5. Marissa A. De Boer & Anjelika G. Romeo-Hall & Tomas M. Rooimans & J. Chris Slootweg, 2018. "An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    6. van Dooren, C. & Marinussen, Mari & Blonk, Hans & Aiking, Harry & Vellinga, Pier, 2014. "Exploring dietary guidelines based on ecological and nutritional values: A comparison of six dietary patterns," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 36-46.
    7. Vanesa Castán Broto & Harriet Bulkeley, 2013. "Maintaining Climate Change Experiments: Urban Political Ecology and the Everyday Reconfiguration of Urban Infrastructure," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 1934-1948, November.
    8. Joseph, Sarah & Peters, Irene & Friedrich, Hanno, 2019. "Can Regional Organic Agriculture Feed the Regional Community? A Case Study for Hamburg and North Germany," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Paul J. A. Withers & Donnacha G. Doody & Roger Sylvester-Bradley, 2018. "Achieving Sustainable Phosphorus Use in Food Systems through Circularisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gerald Steiner & Bernhard Geissler, 2018. "Sustainable Mineral Resource Management—Insights into the Case of Phosphorus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-8, August.
    2. Birgit Kopainsky & Anita Frehner & Adrian Müller, 2020. "Sustainable and healthy diets: Synergies and trade‐offs in Switzerland," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 908-927, November.
    3. Danilo Arcentales-Bastidas & Carla Silva & Angel D. Ramirez, 2022. "The Environmental Profile of Ethanol Derived from Sugarcane in Ecuador: A Life Cycle Assessment Including the Effect of Cogeneration of Electricity in a Sugar Industrial Complex," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Castro, Damaris & Bleys, Brent, 2023. "Do people think they have enough? A subjective income sufficiency assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. zu Ermgassen, Sophus & Drewniok, Michal & Bull, Joseph & Walker, Christine Corlet & Mancini, Mattia & Ryan-Collins, Josh & Serrenho, André Cabrera, 2022. "A home for all within planetary boundaries: pathways for meeting England’s housing needs without transgressing national climate and biodiversity goals," OSF Preprints 5kxce, Center for Open Science.
    6. Ragnheiður Bogadóttir, 2020. "The Social Metabolism of Quiet Sustainability in the Faroe Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    7. Hametner, Markus, 2022. "Economics without ecology: How the SDGs fail to align socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Dániel Fróna & János Szenderák & Mónika Harangi-Rákos, 2019. "The Challenge of Feeding the World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Melanie Speck & Katrin Bienge & Lynn Wagner & Tobias Engelmann & Sebastian Schuster & Petra Teitscheid & Nina Langen, 2020. "Creating Sustainable Meals Supported by the NAHGAST Online Tool—Approach and Effects on GHG Emissions and Use of Natural Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, February.
    10. Schaffartzik, Anke & Duro, Juan Antonio, 2025. "Rising inequality: A material perspective on the Great Recession in the European Union," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    11. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Angela Zinnai & Alberto Pardossi, 2018. "A Reflection of the Use of the Life Cycle Assessment Tool for Agri-Food Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Anthony McLean & Harriet Bulkeley & Mike Crang, 2016. "Negotiating the urban smart grid: Socio-technical experimentation in the city of Austin," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(15), pages 3246-3263, November.
    13. Felipe Vásquez & Gibran Vita & Daniel B. Müller, 2018. "Food Security for an Aging and Heavier Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Nguyet Thi Tran & Dirk Weichgrebe, 2020. "Regional material flow behaviors of agro‐food processing craft villages in Red River Delta, Vietnam," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(3), pages 707-725, June.
    15. Minna Santaoja & Mikko Jauho, 2020. "Institutional Ambiguity and Ontological Politics in Integrating Sustainability into Finnish Dietary Guidelines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    16. Infante-Amate, Juan & Travieso, Emiliano & Aguilera, Eduardo, 2024. "Unsustainable prosperity? Decoupling wellbeing, economic growth, and greenhouse gas emissions over the past 150 years," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    17. Andreas Obersteg, 2024. "Successful Project—Limited Transfer: Learnings from the Local Circularity Experiment WiedergeBORN," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, December.
    18. Vita, Gibran & Lundström, Johan R. & Hertwich, Edgar G. & Quist, Jaco & Ivanova, Diana & Stadler, Konstantin & Wood, Richard, 2019. "The Environmental Impact of Green Consumption and Sufficiency Lifestyles Scenarios in Europe: Connecting Local Sustainability Visions to Global Consequences," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Vivian G. M. Quam & Joacim Rocklöv & Mikkel B. M. Quam & Rebekah A. I. Lucas, 2017. "Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Health Co-Benefits: A Structured Review of Lifestyle-Related Climate Change Mitigation Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, April.
    20. Jennifer A. Jay & Raffaella D’Auria & J. Cully Nordby & David Andy Rice & David A. Cleveland & Anthony Friscia & Sophie Kissinger & Marc Levis & Hannah Malan & Deepak Rajagopal & Joel R. Reynolds & We, 2019. "Reduction of the carbon footprint of college freshman diets after a food-based environmental science course," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 547-564, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10801-:d:645617. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.