Research Institute on Population and Social Policies

Illicit labor and the global photovoltaic industry

Illicit labour and the photovoltaic industry (ERC)

Funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the project Illicit Labourinvolves an international consortium composed of National Research Counciland Queen Mary University of London. It also involves collaborations with Sapienza University of Rome. The project, coordinated by Dr Carlo Inverardi-Ferri, pioneers a study of the linkages between climate change mitigation and illicit economies and the resulting implications for ecological governance. It investigates the production networks of the photovoltaic industry to reveal the dark aspects of the green energy sectorin different geographical sites (China, Ghana and India). In doing so, it advances new theoretical perspectives on risk, vulnerability and mitigation, considering the interaction between the green energy sector and the illicit economy.

The research focuses on several core questions:

  • How do we explain the economic, political, and cultural processes that link illicit labour and ecological governance?
  • Which labour regimes in mining and manufacturing processes sustain solar panel production?
  • How do informal energy markets work?
  • What are the social and environmental challenges raised by end-of-life photovoltaic modules?
  • And, finally, how can this analysis reveal new ways to provide clean and affordable energy for all?

Climate change mitigation and illicit labour are two significant challenges of modern times, whose interconnection poses growing concerns for society, such as energy insecurity, toxic waste production, and labour exploitation. Yet this relationship has surprisingly received limited systemic attention in labour studies. Through an analysis of the global photovoltaic industry, a major climate change mitigation sector, Illicit Labour casts light on those neglected actors, practices, and processes that operate in the shadow of sustainable development.

IRPPS participants

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Carlo Inverardi Ferri

Carlo Inverardi-Ferri

Primo Ricercatore at the Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies (IRPPS).

Roma

carlo.inverardiferri@cnr.it

Information

Carlo Inverardi-Ferri is a geographer whose work lies at the intersection of economic geography and political ecology. His research focuses on understanding the role that production systems play in the world economy and related social and ecological issues. This agenda is advanced through research in diverse theoretical and empirical areas. In recent years, Carlo has participated in research projects on socio-ecological transformations in East Asia, particularly in China. Beyond CNR, Carlo is a Lecturer in Economic Geography at Queen Mary University of London. He is also an Early Career Editor of Territory, Politics, Governance and a Committee Member of Economic Geography Research Group of the RGS-IBG.

Carlo has a Doctorate in Geography and the Environment from the University of Oxford; an MPhil in Social Sciences and a BA in Chinese Studies from Inalco in Paris; and a BA in Digital Humanities from the University of Pisa. Carlo worked as a Lecturer at the University of Fribourg and as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National University of Singapore. He also held visiting fellowships at Peking University, National Taiwan University, and Efeo. The merits of his work have been verified by several institutions, awarding research grants, most recently by the British Academy and the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant). Through personal grants and internal reviewing, Carlo contributed to securing over EUR 2.6 million. He currently leads a major ERC Starting Grant (EUR 1.5 million), Illicit Labour.

A key theme in his research focuses on ‘ecology and global production’ and asks how we understand the role of nature in economic processes. This research theme engages scholarship on global production networks and extends theoretical perspectives that conceptualise these systems of production considering their ecological risks and distributional effects. Building on his ERC starting grant, this work examines the linkages between climate change mitigation and illicit economies and the resulting implications for ecological governance. Through an analysis of the global photovoltaic industry, a significant climate change mitigation sector, this project aims i) to cast light on those neglected actors, practices, and processes that operate in the shadow of 'sustainable development' and ii) advance new theoretical perspectives on ecological risk, vulnerability, and mitigation.

Over the years, his work has appeared in international journals, including Economic Geography, Progress in Human Geography and Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers.

Main publications

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The United Nations Security Council after the end of the Cold War: its role and proposed changes

The United Nations Security Council after the end of the Cold War: its role and proposed changes

The Security Council (Security Council) of the United Nations (UN) is an essential body for maintaining international peace and security. Despite the many proposals for reform of the UN and, first and foremost, of the Security Council, its composition and function have remained unchanged (apart from the enlargement of members elected in 1963) since its establishment. This formal stasis, however, does not mean that there have been changes in practice. To what extent has the body responded adequately to the many social, economic, political and geopolitical changes that have developed over the decades?

This research project, conducted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Unit for Statistical Analysis and Planning along with the Historical Documentation department, seeks to explore key questions concerning the reform of the United Nations (UN) framework, with a special focus on the Security Council (UNSC). The research questions we aim to address are as follows:

  1. In which historical situations have the UNSC successfully carried out its main role, and apart from the overarching geopolitical landscape, which elements have contributed to varying degrees of success?
  2. What changes have occurred in the UNSC's operating practices, and how were these changes implemented and rationalised?
  3. What factors have influenced the election of the 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC?
  4. What was the rationale behind the institutional reform proposals of the UNSC put forward by the states?
  5. What are the reform proposals put forward by independent actors, including non-governmental organizations and the academic community, in recent decades?
  6. Why, despite the numerous proposals put forward, has a large-scale agreement not been reached on the reform of the UNSC?
  7. Is it possible to develop a UNSC reform proposal that is both realistic and feasible, overcoming political, institutional, and legal obstacles?

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MICS – Circular and Sustainable Made in Italy

MICS - Circular and Sustainable Made in Italy

Irpps-Cnr is participating in the MICS Partnership – Made in Italy Circular and Sustainableof the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), Spoke 7 " New and consumer-driver business models for resilient and circular supply chains".

Professor Ilaria Giannoccaro coordinates the Spoke. The Institute, through Daniele Archibugi and Azzurra Malgieri with the collaboration of Viviana D'Angelo, participates in Project 7.02, led by Professor Filippo Visintin, 7.02 RESTART – REsilient, Sustainable and circulAr leatheR and Textile supply chains.

The Institute's tasks involve identifying relevant technologies for the Made in Italy sectors targeted by the project, via patent literature analysis. This entails pinpointing emerging sectors and the geographical location of technological expertise required to transition these sectors towards a sustainable and circular economy.

Project Organization:

PROJECT LEADER
Filippo Visintin

TO PROPOSE
University of Florence

INVOLVED PARTNERS:
University of Brescia, University of Bergamo, National Research Council

START DATE January 2023
END DATE December 2025

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IV Report on Research and Innovation in Italy

18 January 2024 – h. 11.30

CNR Piazzale Aldo Moro 7 – Rome

   

 

Download the program in pdf

Institutional greetings:
Maria Chiara Carrozza
, President of the National Research Council
Salvatore Capasso, Director of the Department of Human and Social Sciences, Cultural Heritage

Presentation of the contents of the Report:

  • Competitive financing of research and development in Italy for social and technological challenges
  • The international experience of research doctors
  • Italy's position in patent activity
  • Technology transfer at the frontier of scientific research
  • Visions of science and trust in vaccines

Panel discussion:

Nicoletta Amodio, Head of Industry and Innovation, Confindustria and Member of the Board of Directors of the CNR
Roberto Antonelli, President of the Accademia dei Lincei
Maria Savona, Professor of Innovation Economics, LUISS University of Rome and University of Sussex

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3 perspectives on World Population Day

On the occasion of World Population Day, we have gathered three different points of view on the study of population in our Institute.

With Angela Paparusso, demographer within the Population and Migration group, we talked about demographic ageing, family patterns and migrations.
With Patrizia Grifoni, engineer of the Social Informatics and Techology Assessment group, we focused on the different social implications in diffusion of communication and information technologies (ICT).
We asked Daniele Archibugi, economist in the Globalisation, research and innovation group, about the current link between demographic dynamics and economy.

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Citi-rahts

CITI-RIGHTS

The EU is also a unique political experiment because it has introduced numerous individual rights while not having the coercive power to enforce them. Yet, thanks to complex and often too slow legal arrangements, the European Union has managed to modify the legislation of the member countries and to ensure that the rights enshrined were applied in the member states. This is probably the most marked case in which the juridical and judicial arrangements have succeeded in influencing the behavior of the executive power. However, European citizens are not always aware of the devices offered to them by the European institutions. The project aims to help spread awareness among European citizens and civil society institutions that European institutions can protect their rights. The IRPPS carries out the coordination and is developing several case studies showing how individuals, non-governmental organizations and associations can use European institutions. From a regulatory point of view, the project also identifies the obstacles present, showing when and why the Community institutions prove to be ineffective.

The ambition of the Project is to arrive at a typology of actions and subjects that can take advantage of the rights sanctioned and promoted by the European Union and other institutions (such as, for example, the European Court of Human Rights).
The European case is unique in the sense that it allows rights to be defended through judicial and para-judicial instruments without having a coercive power of last resort. This is possible thanks to a network of actions carried out by different and decentralized authorities and political subjects.

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Innovation for global challenges in a connected world - (PRIN)

INNOVATION FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN A CONNECTED WORLD - (PRIN)

PRIN - Projects of Relevant National Interest, Ministry of University and Research
Innovation for global challenges in a connected world: the role of local resources and socio-economic conditions

June 2020 - December 2023

This project aims to study the role of innovation and technological change in addressing the main economic and social challenges of a global nature. In particular, it addresses the conditions for a new economic reconstruction in a world context characterized by growing competition and environmental fragility.

The project will try to answer research questions regarding some challenges that require innovative answers:

i) How innovation in new areas and sectors could provide a viable strategy to overcome recent economic crises and ensure economic development. Is there a new potential techno-economic paradigm and how can companies, industries and nations prepare themselves?

ii) What is the impact of the international spread of emerging technologies, including green and digital ones, on global value chains? How can these links be promoted to get better responses on climate change and other important socio-economic goals?

(iii) The interaction between green and digital technologies in the transition to sustainable and more inclusive modes of production. Can these new technologies lead to greater social inclusion?

(iv) The impact of technological change and the international diffusion of technologies in addressing the challenge of climate change and related extreme events. How can adverse events be addressed and mitigated?

Daniele Archibugi, Rinaldo Evangelista, Vitantonio Mariella and Dante Sabatino, Irpps-Cnr and Andrea Filippetti Issirfa- Cnr
Cristiano Antonelli and Francesco Quatraro, University of Turin
Valeria Costantini, Francesco Crespi and Antonio Vezzani, RomaTre University
Giovanni Marin and Elena Viganò, University of Urbino

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Globalization, Research and Innovation

GLOBALIZATION, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

The word globalization has become one of the most commonly used in the social sciences. To what extent is this simply a fad or a new economic, political and social phenomenon? Taking up the research carried out by IRPPS scholars in recent years, the Research Line addresses three different aspects of globalization: in economics, technology and politics. Economic globalization has overwhelmingly invaded daily life. The new information technologies are probably the factor that allowed and facilitated globalization in the other economic, social and cultural dimensions. What are the innovations that will enable economic development to be triggered? To what extent is globalization also changing political life? Are international organizations today able to govern the processes of change? Particular attention will be paid to the possibility of achieving a democratization of globalization through the reform of international organizations.

• The Contractor has actively participated in the Report on research and innovation in Italy. Science and technology policy analysis and data, National Research Council, Rome, June 2018.

• The International Criminal Justice Project concluded with the publication of the volume Daniele Archibugi & Alice Pease, Crime and Punishment in the Global Society. International crimes and trials(Castelvecchi, Rome, 2017), also available in English with the title Crime and Global Justice. The Dynamics of International Punishment (Polity Press, Cambridge, 2018). The volume was presented and discussed, among other things, at the Senate Library, Rome (01.02.2018), University College London (27.02.2018), the London School of Economics and Political Science (28.02.2018) , the City University of New York (09.04.2018), Birkbeck College, University of London (02.05.2018), the Luiss University of Rome (17.05.2018).

• The Citi-rights Project ended with the publication of the volume Daniele Archibugi & Ali Emre Benli (edited by), Claiming Citizenship Rights in Europe. Emerging Challenges and Political Agents (Routledge, London, 2018).

• The research line on investing in innovation in Europe has generated a Working Paper Investment in innovation for European recovery: a public policy priority by Daniele Archibugi, Andrea Filippetti and Marion Frenz 2018, (IRPPS Working papers 110/2018).

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Report on research and innovation in Italy

REPORT ON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN ITALY

Regenerating a prestigious tradition of economics and policy studies of science and technology, through this periodic Report, the CNR provides quantitative analyzes and case studies to inform the debate and policy choices on research and innovation, with a valid documentary basis . It is a contribution for those who work in universities, public research bodies, businesses and in general in the production and dissemination of new knowledge. At the same time, the Report is a useful tool for public opinion to understand the Italian research and innovation system.

To the creation of the Report, coordinated by Daniele Archibugi, Emanuela Reale  e Fabrizio Tuzi, and promoted by Department of Social and Human Sciences - Cultural Heritage (DSU-CNR) various CNR institutes participate – IRPPS, ISSIRFA, IRCRES, together with scholars from universities, public research bodies such as ENEA, and industry.

The reports are available online

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