A desirable framework for establishing a resource circulation society

Title : A desirable framework for establishing a resource circulation society

Abstract:

Natural resources are not being circulated as their original circulation system in the process that humans are using them. Its main cause is from the unbalance between the use of natural resources and the treatment of wastes discharged. This unbalance threatens not only the self-regulating system of nature, but also the existence of human life depending on the use of natural resources for survival.
In this context, this paper aims at developing a framework of recycling and waste management for establishing a resource circulation society. For achieving the objective, this paper will be composed of four parts as below.
Part 1: <The Concept of Resource> will be reviewed from two academic fields – resource economics and environmental sociology. The two have significantly different conceptual definitions of what resource is.
Part 2: <What Resource Circulation Society Is> will be introduced in terms of three aspects. They are the concept and aim, key strategies and implications, and empirical cases being promoted to achieve a resource circulation society.
Part 3: <Current Status of Recourse Circulation at a Global Level> will be critically reviewed from three aspects. One is a review using individual indicator, another one is a review using a synthetic indicator, and the other one is to examine the limitations inherent in the existing strategies being launched for establishing resource circulation.
Part 4: <A Desirable Direction of Recycling and Waste Management as a Resource Circulation Society> will be established as a framework being composed of four phases. The 1st phase is <identifying the mechanism of resource use and waste discharge>. The 2nd phase is <establishing policies on resource use and waste discharge identified in the 1st phase>. The 3rd phase is <introduction of governance to policy-making process>. The 4th phase is <developing a framework of recycling and waste management for establishing resource circulation society> on the basis of the findings from the above three phases.
As a concluding remark, <What Capacity Should Be Built in Relation to Establishing Resource Circulation Society> will be examined. This is because, for example, finance and advanced technologies, and cooperative network, etc. are required for establishing and/or implementing the policies of recycling and waste management for establishing resource circulation society.

Biography:

Dr. Dai-Yeun Jeong is presently the Director of Asia Climate Change Education Center and an Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sociology at Jeju National University (South Korea). He received BA and MA Degree in Sociology from Korea University, and PhD in Environmental Sociology from University of Queensland (Australia). He was a Professor of environmental sociology at Jeju National University (South Korea) from 1981 to 2012. His past major professional activities include a Teaching Professor at University of Sheffield in UK, the President of Asia-Pacific Sociological Association, a Delegate of South Korean Government to UNFCCC and OECD Environmental Meeting, etc. He has published 13 books including Environmental Sociology.