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Dr. Cecilia Matasci
EMPA: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Switzerland

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Climate Change
0 Sustainability
0 Sustainable Development
0 System Analysis
0 Life cycle analysis (LCA)

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Short Biography

Cecilia Matasci studied Biology at the University of Lausanne and Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva from 2000 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2006. After various job experiences in Switzerland and abroad, she wrote her PhD thesis at the Economics and Environmental Management Laboratory at EPFL. In her thesis, she analyzed the regional climate change vulnerability of tourism in Switzerland and the barriers to the possible adaptation measures that could be taken at the local and the national level. Cecilia was also president (2010-2011), vice-president (2009-2010) and project coordinator (2008-2011) of Unipoly, the student association for sustainable development of EPFL and the University of Lausanne. For the past five years, she has been working for both Empa focusing on resource efficiency, material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, and public authority work. Her interests include the interaction of society and the environment as well as approaches and solutions for sustainability.

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Journal article
Published: 09 March 2021 in Sustainability
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Reducing material flows and their associated environmental impacts substantially contributes to moving toward a more sustainable society. Both individual consumption behavior and governmental regulations play a crucial role in reaching sustainability goals. In this article, we present a Material Flow Analysis combined with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment of the Swiss economy. Results were linked to an analysis of consumption patterns. This allowed us to evaluate the direct influence of consumer behavior on national greenhouse gas emissions using a consumption-based approach and the quantification of the range of these emissions from different lifestyles. We conclude that the consumer has a direct influence on slightly more than 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the Domestic Material Consumption. If everybody were to behave like the 20% of the population with the most climate-friendly behavior, emissions would decrease by merely 16%. Cooperation between stakeholders at all levels of society is therefore needed. This study provides a contribution to decreasing material and energy consumption and defining possible future pathways with the final aim to bring anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions down to zero in Switzerland.

ACS Style

Cecilia Matasci; Marcel Gauch; Heinz Böni; Patrick Wäger. The Influence of Consumer Behavior on Climate Change: The Case of Switzerland. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2966 .

AMA Style

Cecilia Matasci, Marcel Gauch, Heinz Böni, Patrick Wäger. The Influence of Consumer Behavior on Climate Change: The Case of Switzerland. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2966.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cecilia Matasci; Marcel Gauch; Heinz Böni; Patrick Wäger. 2021. "The Influence of Consumer Behavior on Climate Change: The Case of Switzerland." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2966.

Journal article
Published: 26 February 2021 in Detritus
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Environmental threats are triggered by the overconsumption of raw materials. It is therefore necessary to move towards a society that both reduces extraction and keeps the majority of the extracted raw materials in the socio-economic system. Circular economy is a key strategy to reach these goals. To implement it effectively, it is necessary to understand and monitor material flows and to define hotspots, i.e. materials that need to be tackled with the highest priority. This paper is aimed at determining how to increase circularity in the Swiss economy by means of a Material Flow Analysis coupled with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment. After having characterized material flows, we analyzed two types of hotspots: i) Raw materials consumed and/or disposed at high level, and ii) Raw materials whose extraction and production generates high environmental impacts. The Material Flow Analysis shows that each year 119 Mt of raw materials enter the Swiss economy. Therefrom, 15 Mt are derived from recycled waste inside the country; 67 Mt leave the system yearly; 27 Mt towards disposal. Out of the disposed materials, 56% are recycled and re-enter the socio-economic system as secondary materials. Looking at hotspots; concrete, asphalt, gravel and sand are among materials that are consumed and disposed at high level. Yet, looking at greenhouse gas emissions generated during extraction and production, metals - including the ones in electrical and electronic equipment - as well as textiles are among the categories that carry the biggest burden on the environment per unit of material.

ACS Style

Cecilia Matasci; Marcel Gauch; Heinz Boeni. HOW TO INCREASE CIRCULARITY IN THE SWISS ECONOMY? Detritus 2021, 25 -31.

AMA Style

Cecilia Matasci, Marcel Gauch, Heinz Boeni. HOW TO INCREASE CIRCULARITY IN THE SWISS ECONOMY? Detritus. 2021; (14):25-31.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cecilia Matasci; Marcel Gauch; Heinz Boeni. 2021. "HOW TO INCREASE CIRCULARITY IN THE SWISS ECONOMY?" Detritus , no. 14: 25-31.

Original article
Published: 12 June 2013 in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change
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Increasingly, various sectors are affected by climate change and need to find ways to adapt with much public guidance and support. This paper examines the adaptation process of a sector that started it some time ago – Swiss Alpine tourism. It identifies barriers that may be relevant for all sectors, all along the successive phases of the adaptation process. It additionally identifies the barriers which are most important and how these can be overcome. In order to do this we use an online survey directed to Swiss tourism stakeholders. Our results indicate that both economic and social feasibility barriers are important impediments to the adjustment process, whereas the acceptability among inhabitants and the willingness to act of stakeholders appear less critical. These barriers can be overcome and adaptation facilitated with more and especially better information about the regional consequences of climate change and feasible adaptation measures, by some top-down leadership and coordination, and by providing financial support.

ACS Style

Cecilia Matasci; Sylvia Kruse; Nico Barawid; Philippe Thalmann. Exploring barriers to climate change adaptation in the Swiss tourism sector. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 2013, 19, 1239 -1254.

AMA Style

Cecilia Matasci, Sylvia Kruse, Nico Barawid, Philippe Thalmann. Exploring barriers to climate change adaptation in the Swiss tourism sector. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 2013; 19 (8):1239-1254.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cecilia Matasci; Sylvia Kruse; Nico Barawid; Philippe Thalmann. 2013. "Exploring barriers to climate change adaptation in the Swiss tourism sector." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 19, no. 8: 1239-1254.