Urban industries, particularly in those countries with a strong manufacturing focus, play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of cities. This doctoral thesis will investigate the interplay between resource nexus dynamics, decarbonisation strategies, and their spatial implications from the perspective of industries such as the textile and apparel (T&A) industry. The study will be framed through a series of interconnected research components that include the policies, technologies, spatial dimensions, industry practices, and resource optimisations related to these industries, along with the potential trade-offs and co-benefits between specific sustainability strategies.
The research will be structured along three overarching objectives.
Firstly, the research will systematically identify and analyse the critical elements of the Resource Nexus within the T&A industry, and the relationship between these elements and decarbonisation, along with trade-offs and co-benefits applicable to decarbonization and other environmental resources. A particular focus will encompass the ways in which these resource interdependencies are impacted by spatial dimension, while the effectiveness of technologies across relevant nexus elements shall also be evaluated. The results of this identification process and subsequent assessment shall be utilized to inform sustainable manufacturing practices.
Secondly, the thesis will analyse the decarbonisation strategies intended to stimulate sustainability transformation in the T&A industry of Bangladesh, as well as identify the key drivers, challenges, and pathways to achieve a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular T&A sector. The analysis will provide insights into the influences of policy, technology, and market dynamics on the integration of Resource Nexus goals into decarbonisation strategies. It will highlight areas of alignment and conflict within resource management and offer actionable solutions for the industry.
Thirdly, the project will explore the impact of various decarbonisation scenarios on resources and evaluate the effectiveness of policy to promote carbon reduction while ensuring efficient resource management and sustainability efforts. This will provide a framework for policymakers to balance resource efficiency with changes to policy, thereby driving transformative change in the T&A sector.
By synthesising the findings of this study, the thesis shall contribute to a better understanding of sustainable transformation within the T&A industry by examining decarbonisation and its resource interdependencies, transformation drivers, and policy mechanisms; the results of this research stand to contribute to a foundation for a greener and more sustainable future.
This doctoral research is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD - via the EPOS scholarship as part of the Resource Nexus for Sustainability Transformations (NEXtra) project.
