1. Background
The project 'Behavioural Insights for Better Waste Management'—implemented by the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP‑IETC) and funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation—aims to deepen understanding of behavioural, social, and contextual drivers that shape waste‑related practices. Building comparative analyses of the Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO) and the World Risk Poll (WRP) 'A World of Waste,' the project examines how citizens’ perceptions, risk awareness, incentives, and service quality interact to influence waste disposal and recycling behaviour. The ultimate objective is to inform policymakers about actionable insights to enhance public engagement and promote better waste management strategies, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment and improved community health. At this mid-point of the project timeline, a dedicated in-person workshop in Osaka will provide an essential opportunity to reflect on progress, review initial findings, strengthen collaboration with partners engaged in case studies and in-depth analyses, and align on next steps. In addition, to gain firsthand insight into the practical implementation of local policy and waste management technology, the workshop will collaborate with Osaka City, incorporating a dedicated lecture as well as field visits organized in partnership with the city.
2. Rationale and Purpose
The mid-term workshop serves as a strategic checkpoint to reflect on progress, review early findings, strengthen collaboration with partners engaged in case studies, and align on next steps.
3. Objectives
● Related project outputs for better policy recommendations and actionable insights
○ Present and discuss project progress to date.
○ Refine analytical direction and methodology.
● Learning across peers
○ Enhance collaboration and coordination among project partners and experts.
○ Present and explore behavior-science-related policies and initiatives currently underway worldwide.
○ Conduct a field visit in Osaka to learn from good practices in waste management.
4. Organizers
GEC, UNEP-IETC, Osaka City, Osaka Metropolitan University, and The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
5. Participants
• Project partners: Fundação Getulio Vargas, Global Resilient Cities Network, Lloyd’s Register Foundation
• Academia: Arabian Gulf University (Bahrain), Griffith University (Australia), Kobe City University of Foreign Studies and Sophia University (Japan)
• Policymakers: Municipalities of Birigui, Harmonia, Ibertioga, Salvador (Brazil), Chennai (India), Penang (Malaysia)
• International partners: World Bank, International Water Management Institute, Data4Change, Lending Hands Foundation, GIZ
• Partners in Japan: National Institute for Environmental Studies, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
6. Venue
Morinomiya Campus, Osaka Metropolitan University