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dc.contributor.author
Renner, Anna-Maria
en
dc.date.accessioned
2015-07-02T07:22:23Z
dc.date.available
2015-09-27T05:57:45Z
dc.date.issued
2015-07-02
dc.identifier.uri
https://repository.ihu.edu.gr//xmlui/handle/11544/648
dc.rights
Default License
dc.title
The environmental degradation of the Asopos River Basin
en
heal.type
masterThesis
heal.secondaryTitle
How can the problem be solved in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way?
en
heal.language
en
heal.access
free
el
heal.license
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
heal.recordProvider
School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies, MSc in Environmental Management and Sustainability
heal.publicationDate
2015-02-28
heal.bibliographicCitation
Renner, Anna-Maria (2015). The environmental degradation of the Asopos River Basin: How can the problem be solved in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way?, Master's Dissertation , International Hellenic University.
en
heal.abstract
The Asopos River Basin (ARB) located in Central Greece and Northern Attica is marked by a heavy environmental degradation with hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) as one of the priority pollutants due to industrial activities over more than four decades. The objective of this master dissertation is to discuss the pollution of the ARB in view of the sustainability approach under the research question “How can the problem be solved in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way?”. Thereby, the focus has been laid on the examination of the involved groups, the different points of view and on the current state of affairs. This was possible by using a methodical triangulation of qualitative expert interviews, a survey with employees of the factories on site, a survey with local farmers and a river structure evaluation in order to address the target groups and objectives and besides by conducting a systematic literature review. Based on the results of the study, the conclusion can be drawn that the future development of the ARB can be designed in a sustainable way by prioritizing now the environmental protection of the region. At the same time, this will help to assure residents’ and future generations’ health and needs on food resources of the region and also ensure a sustainable economic development in the long-term. The major drawback of the approach was a limited access to the target audiences of the research in the framework of the dissertation. As result the response rate of the surveys is limited. However, in consideration of the triangulation of methods sufficient data could be gathered in order to conduct a comprehensive discussion with regard to the research question. This dissertation was written as part of the MSc in Sustainable Development at the International Hellenic University in Thessaloniki.
en
heal.tableOfContents
i. Table of abbreviations ........................................................................................................... 1 ii. Table of illustrations ............................................................................................................. 1 ii.i List of figures ....................................................................................................................... 1 ii.ii List of tables ....................................................................................................................... 2 0. Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 The case of the Asopos River Basin ............................................................................. 5 1.2 Current state of research ................................................................................................ 9 1.3 Research question ....................................................................................................... 14 1.4 Structure ...................................................................................................................... 16 2. Fundamentals ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Environmental Degradation ........................................................................................ 17 2.2 Hexavalent Chromium ................................................................................................ 18 2.3 Political framework ..................................................................................................... 20 2.2.1 The European Union Water Framework Directive .................................................... 20 2.2.2 Important Laws .......................................................................................................... 23 2.4 Involved parties ........................................................................................................... 24 2.4.1 Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change ............................................. 24 2.4.3 SOS ASOPOS ............................................................................................................ 26 2.4.4 The Ecologist Greens ................................................................................................. 27 2.4.5 Hellenic League of Human Rights and the Council of Europe .................................. 28 Anna-Maria Renner - Sustainable Development M.Sc. 2013-2015 School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies Studies 2.4.6 CHARM Project ......................................................................................................... 29 2.5 Current state of affairs ................................................................................................. 30 3. Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Research strategy ............................................................................................................... 32 3.2 Data collection ................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.1 Interviews ................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Questionnaires ............................................................................................................ 35 3.2.3 River structure evaluation .......................................................................................... 37 3.3 Data analysis................................................................................................................ 39 3.3.1 Data analysis interviews ............................................................................................. 39 3.3.2 Data analysis questionnaires....................................................................................... 39 3.4 Quality assurance ........................................................................................................ 40 4. Results ................................................................................................................................. 42 4.1 Interviews .......................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.1 Interview with the Special Secretariat for Water ........................................................ 42 4.1.2 Interview with the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company ............................ 45 4.1.3 Interview with the Hellenic League for Human Rights .............................................. 47 4.1.4 Interview with Yiannis Oikonomidis ......................................................................... 48 4.2 Questionnaire on Business Strategy, Environmental Management and Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of Companies in the Asopos River .................................................. 50 4.3 Questionnaire on Farming in the Asopos River Basin ...................................................... 61 4.3.1 Results and frequencies of the questionnaire ............................................................. 61 4.3.2 Additional Statements ................................................................................................ 67 4.4 Environmental Analyses.................................................................................................... 68 4.4.1 River structure evaluation Section 1 ........................................................................... 68 4.4.2 River structure evaluation section 2 ........................................................................... 71 4.4.3 River structure evaluation section 3 ........................................................................... 73 4.4.4 River structure evaluation section 4 ........................................................................... 74 4.5 Observations ...................................................................................................................... 75 4.5.1 Collected waste ........................................................................................................... 75 4.5.2 Missing buffer strips ................................................................................................... 75 4.5.3 Indoor air pollution ..................................................................................................... 76 5. Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 77 Anna-Maria Renner - Sustainable Development M.Sc. 2013-2015 School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies Studies 5.1 Methodical strengths and weaknesses analysis ........................................................... 77 5.2 Discussion Aspect: NGOs ........................................................................................... 80 5.3 Discussion Aspect: Environmental restoration ........................................................... 81 5.4 Discussion Aspect: Business ....................................................................................... 81 5.4.1 Economy .................................................................................................................... 81 5.4.2 Polluter pays principle and Extended producer responsibility ................................... 83 5.4.3 ISO EMS Certification and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme ............................ 85 5.4.4 Low-cost country sourcing ......................................................................................... 86 5.5 Discussion Aspect: Legislation and Control ............................................................... 87 5.5.1 Waste management .................................................................................................... 87 5.5.2 Level of fines for the company .................................................................................. 90 5.5.3 Control by the European Commission ....................................................................... 91 5.6 Discussion Aspect: Water consumption ...................................................................... 92 5.7 Contradictions ................................................................................................................... 92 6. Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 94 6.1 First Part ............................................................................................................................ 94 6.2 Second Part ....................................................................................................................... 97 7. Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 101 8. References ......................................................................................................................... 102 8.1 Figures ...................................................................................................................... 102 8.2 Tables ........................................................................................................................ 103 8.3 Glossaries .................................................................................................................. 104 8.4 Legislative texts ......................................................................................................... 104 8.5 Literature .................................................................................................................. 105 8.6 Newspapers and Press Realises ................................................................................. 106 8.7 Papers ....................................................................................................................... 107 8.6 Reports ............................................................................................................................ 109 8.7 Scholarly Journals .................................................................................................... 110 8.8 Verbal and Written Messages ................................................................................... 111 8.9 Websites .................................................................................................................... 112 9 Appendix ........................................................................................................................... 117 9.1 Map of the Asopos River and its tributaries in relation to its administrative boundaries 117 9.2 Expert Interviews ............................................................................................................ 118 Anna-Maria Renner - Sustainable Development M.Sc. 2013-2015 School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies Studies 9.2.1 Interview guideline Special Secretariat for Water .................................................... 118 9.2.2 Interview guideline EYDAP S.A. ............................................................................ 120 9.2.3 Interview guideline Hellenic League for Human Rights .......................................... 121 9.2.4 Overview of the expert interviews ........................................................................... 122 9.2.5 Results Special Secretariat for Water ....................................................................... 123 9.2.6 Results Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company ........................................... 127 9.2.7 Results Hellenic League for Human Rights ............................................................. 130 9.2.8 Results Yiannis Oikonomidis ................................................................................... 133 9.3 Survey on Business Strategy, Environmental Management and Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of Companies in the Asopos River ................................................. 138 9.3.1 Questionnaire companies in Greek ........................................................................... 138 9.3.2 Questionnaire companies in English ........................................................................ 146 9.3.3 Results: Questionnaire on Business Strategy, Environmental Management and Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of Companies in the Asopos River................. 153 9.4 Survey on Farming in the Asopos River Basin ................................................................ 169 9.4.1 Questionnaire on Farming in the Asopos River Basin in Greek .............................. 169 9.4.2 Questionnaire on Farming in the Asopos River Basin in English ............................ 176 9.4.3 Results of the survey on farming in the Asopos River Basin ................................... 183 9.5 River mapping ................................................................................................................. 192 9.5.1 Blank river structure mapping sheet ......................................................................... 192 9.5.2 River structure evaluation section 1 ......................................................................... 195 9.5.3 River structure evaluation section 2 ......................................................................... 199 9.6.1 Imposed Fines 2007 .................................................................................................. 210 9.6.2 Imposed Fines 2009 .................................................................................................. 210 9.6.4 Imposed Fines 2014 .................................................................................................. 211 9.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 212
en
heal.advisorName
Evaggelinos, Konstantinos
en
heal.committeeMemberName
Ass.Prof Evangelinos, Kostis
en
heal.committeeMemberName
Ass. Prof. Botetzagias, Iosif
en
heal.committeeMemberName
Banias, Dr. Georgios
en
heal.academicPublisher
School of Economics, Business Administration & Legal Studies - Environmental Management and Sustainability
en
heal.academicPublisherID
ihu
heal.numberOfPages
220
heal.fullTextAvailability
true


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