HELPING HANDS
Closing the Loop: Lombok Tourism and the Circular Economy “Humankind is currently entering a new Industrial Revolution, which would be our THIRD one” –Jeremy Rifkin, The Third Industrial Revolution
For over a year, Paula has been working actively with the NTB Provincial Government on pilot projects that aim to transform Lombok Island into an example of best practice, not only in Indonesia but around the world.
Many people believe humankind is facing its biggest environmental challenge ever.
The projects focus on economic, environmental and social improvement, and also point to a possible alternative: the circular economy.
The first Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century saw the introduction of coal-fuelled engines, the telegraph and printing presses, and the second, at the start of the twentieth century, brought fuel oil, combustion engines, electricity and the telephone. Now, the third Industrial Revolution highlights renewables, the Internet, digitalisation, drones, and more…. The scientific community believes all this is leading to a potential environmental crisis. And two other factors are making it worse: 1. The linear economy. This industrial model is about production, consumption and disposal “Take, Make, Waste.” It treats resources as unlimited, ignores the consequences of using them (pollution, waste, inequality, and depletion), and puts economic benefits first. 2. The massive growth of human populations. We face the loss of natural resources, declining productivity, slow growth, rising unemployment, inequality, and climate concerns. These challenges are forcing us to rethink current economical models. The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated how rapidly things can change and how vulnerable our production and economic systems are.
22
What is the circular economy? The circular economy looks beyond the 'Take, Make, Waste' model. It rests on 3 major principles: • We need to protect and care for Earth’s resources. • Products, components and materials must be either biodegradable (in the biological cycle) or reusable (in the technical cycle). We must design out waste – that means no garbage. • We must take the ‘negatives’ out of the system and never ignore pollution, contamination, the depletion of resources, and the social impact of our actions. “Only human beings produce garbage,” says Paula. “The natural world works in a cyclical way. We must learn from Nature so we can ensure our survival on the planet.” The circular economy is explained in more detail by the Ellen McArthur Foundation. What does this mean for tourism in Lombok? The tourism sector is one of the most resource intensive sectors in the world. People consume more, and spend more during their holiday time than in their normal daily lives. In many regions, including Southeast Asia, tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange, employment and cash flow.
