Researchers from FGV EARTH present research results to UNEP-IETC in Osaka
Evento aconteceu nos dias 14 a 16 de setembro, em Osaka, no Japão.
The FGV EARTH researchers Michel Xocaira Paes and José Antonio Puppim de Oliveira participated, from September 14 to 16, in Osaka, Japan, in the international workshop of the project Behavioral Insights for Better Waste Management, promoted by the International Environmental Technology Center of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP-IETC) and the Global Environment Center Foundation (GEC).
During the event, Michel Xocaira Paes and José Antonio Puppim de Oliveira presented the results of studies developed in Brazil from a project funded by FAPESP, which analyzed the experiences of innovation in urban solid waste management (USWM) in Brazil, mainly in the municipalities of Harmonia (RS), Ibertioga (MG), and, recently, in Birigui (SP). The study proposed a framework in which aspects related to human behavior are influenced and interact with factors such as infrastructure and service design, governance, environmental education, and community participation, as well as economic and financial instruments. The Brazilian experience was included in the session dedicated to case studies and real interventions in different countries.
Based on these results, the study shows that behavior changes in waste management do not depend solely on people's awareness or motivation. It is necessary to create conditions that make practices such as waste separation, recycling, and composting possible, accessible, and sustainable. Based on the analyzed experiences, the researchers propose a framework that demonstrates how the interaction between these different dimensions can promote more sustainable behaviors and contribute to improvements in the performance of municipal waste management systems and the circular economy.
"It was a very positive experience for us to present these results to such a qualified group in Osaka." We had approximately 60 participants from 20 nationalities, sharing experiences from different parts of the world on human behavior and waste management. "It was very gratifying to present the results and experiences of Brazil and, at the same time, to learn and exchange knowledge with people from different realities and countries", highlights Michel Xocaira Paes, researcher at FGV EARTH.
"The behavior of citizens directly influences the results of public policies." It's no use having good ideas and equipment for waste management if people's behavior doesn't change. "This is a new line of research that is opening up to seek the circularity of the economy", stated José A. Puppim de Oliveira, coordinator of FGV EARTH.
Over the three days, the workshop promoted discussions on behavioral science, financial instruments, social inclusion, municipal experiences, and policy design for waste management, as well as activities and field visits dedicated to the practical experiences of the city of Osaka.
