Limits to reef growth: Dynamic behavior of (sub)tropical social-ecological coral reef ecosystems in the Anthropocene

Coral reef ecosystems are slowly reaching their physical ecosystem boundaries. Urgent action is required by reducing carbon emissions, halt degradation, and initiate restoration and conservation efforts of coral reef ecosystems, and bring coral reefs back to a safe ecosystem operating space. This research study uses a multidisciplinary approach...

Flood Resilience in Accra: Accra's Flooding Problem

Natural disasters, related to water, in various forms have become more common in our daily lives and on our television screens. Within the past years, flooding has become a phenomenon which affects global, social, psychological and economic development. In Ghana there are major problems related to water and this has increased substantially over...

Knowledge in Building with Nature pilot projects: A Case Study of the Sand Engine

In this research, the creation, use and spread of knowledge acquired in Building with Nature pilot projects is researched, with the goal of providing recommendations to improve this use and spread in future Building with Nature pilot projects. To achieve this, a case study with the Sand Engine as the subject is performed. In addition to this, a...

Analysis of public flood risk perception in Zeeland and Limburg in the Netherlands

In terms of social and economic impacts, floods are the biggest climate-related disasters. Moreover, the severity of floods will increase as climate change intensifies tropical cyclones, accelerates sea level rise, and increases coastal and river flooding. The Netherlands is the world’s second-lowest country, making it vulnerable to flooding,...

Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam: Beneficial for Local Communities too?: A System Dynamics perspective on the costs and benefits of the construction and operation of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam on local and national levels

Technology, Time, and Intangibles: Freedom of Education and the relationship between the cultural, economic, and political sphere

<br/>The thesis proposes an education system that have the potential to safeguard freedom of education. Freedom of education is found to be essential for human flourishing after discussing Aristotle's Eudaimonia and different definitions of freedom. The thesis proposes that the social spheres (cultural, economic, and political) need to have an...

Greening Q.E.: Evaluating effects of Green Quantitative Easing on Global Warming using a global ecological macroeconomic model

Current implementation of Quantitative Easing (QE) by the European Central Bank (ECB) contributes to global warming and counteracts a transition to a carbon-free economy. The research formulates green alternatives for current QE policy that are consistent with the ECB’s mandate. Evaluation in a stock-flow-fund ecological macroeconomic model...

Port Sustainability: A Terminal Comparison Approach: Benchmarking Sustainable Performance of Terminal Operators

As ports are important infrastructure for a countries economy, ports fulfill a vital role in society. In the contemporary global environment, one is expected to adjust its business routines to meet sustainability targets. Because of their significant importance in a port governance framework, terminal operators prove an interesting unit of...

Integrated analysis of nature-based water management in the Rhine: Conflicts between environment, navigation, and flood protection

Nature-based water management is rising as an alternative approach to engineered water management. Nature-based water management makes use of ecological, hydrological, and morphological processes of natural rivers in designing river management policies. Furthermore, it helps conserving or restoring these natural processes for environmental...

A System Dynamics Exploration of Port-City Development: The Case of Tema, Ghana

Large-scale infrastructure projects such as ports can have a significant impact on the development of nearby cities. While economic benefits of the port spill over to other regions, often internationally operating firms, port-cities experience negative externalities like environmental and land use issues and traffic congestion. Traditional port...

A Sensitivity Analysis Method for System Dynamics Table Functions

Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change: A case study in Durban, South Africa

Research done by the IPCC working groups and other organizations has sparked global concern over the possible impacts of climate change and corresponding sea level rise upon coastal communities. In reaction global studies were done (Nicholls et al., 2008, Hanson et al., 2011) to assess the vulnerability of coastal regions. However, most of these...