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Handbook of Sustainable Development
Abstract
This timely and important Handbook takes stock of progress made in our understanding of what sustainable development actually is and how it can be measured and achieved.
This fully updated and revised second edition captures recent developments in the field, adding 14 new chapters by internationally renowned authors from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. The authors explain that the gap between public commitments to sustainable development and real-world action towards achieving it is still significant, but not insurmountable, and that opportunities do exist to reduce that margin. Contributors synthesize the established knowledge and clearly present cutting edge concepts from the frontier of sustainability research with direct relevance to theory and practice. Topics covered include: the fundamentals of sustainability; equity within and between generations; the capital approach; green growth; measurements and indicators of sustainability; climate change and wellbeing.
This accessible, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to exploring the theory and practice of sustainable development will prove an invaluable reference tool for researchers, students, academics and practitioners with an interest in the field of sustainable development.
... Thus, progressing towards sustainable development implies that the objectives of increasing economic efficiency and material wealth must take human and environmental objectives into account. Despite the evolution of the concept of sustainable development over time and the emergence of many definitions for it, yet all of these definitions still somehow stem from the original definition set in the Brundtland's report "Our Common Future" (WCED, 1987), and all of them admit that the most applicable method for sustaining the development and securing future generations' well-being is to ensure that the aggregate stock of both man-made and natural capital available to next generations is at least equal to the current aggregate stock (Atkinson et al., 2007). 5 Over the years, many international agreements have been established to address sustainable development issues. ...
... (Gibbs et al., 1998;Noël and O'Connor, 1998;Neumayer, 2010;Neumayer, 2012). The only thing that matters within the weak sustainability framework is maintaining the total value of the aggregate stock of capital to be non-declining (Costanza and Daly, 1992;Solow, 1993;Altwegg et al., 2004;Atkinson et al., 2007). 6 The very weak and the very strong sustainability positions have generally been considered in literature to be less presumable. ...
... Also, these approaches do not identify a holistic environmental policy, in which the required level of environmental quality is determined and the environmental risks to health are addressed. Atkinson et al (2007) indicated that the assumption of perfect substitutability between the different forms of capital is not realistic, since manufactured capital and natural capital are considered to be fundamentally complementary, and can only be interchanged marginally (Costanza and Daly, 1992;Rees and Wackernagel, 1996;Harris, 2000;Ekins et al., 2003). Also, weak sustainability perspectives ignore referring to the cost of substitution between production factors or the hardships associated with it, as the society may have to make considerable sacrifices in order to obtain one extra unit of some form of capital. ...
The overlaps and interactions between social, environmental, and economic considerations, being the three pillars of sustainable development, can have important implications and pose peculiar challenges for the policy and management of development strategies, especially for developing countries. However, existing empirical works do not usually investigate the links among these three pillars simultaneously. Among these convoluted links, the link between health and economic performance and the way environmental degradation affects this link, particularly stands out. This work consists of three studies. In the first study, we develop a simultaneous system of equations in order to analyze the association between environmental degradation, represented by ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, poor health in terms of the burden of non-communicable diseases attributable to ambient PM2.5 air pollution, and economic performance. Our findings suggest that air pollution significantly contributes to the slowing down of economic performance in many countries through its impact on health, and that efforts to reduce air pollution through policy intervention can result in great social and economic benefits. In the second study we also use a system of simultaneous equations in order to study the driving forces of environmental degradation in Egypt and the way they affect the country's chances for sustaining development. Our findings highlight the role of population growth as a major driving force of environmental degradation in Egypt, which adversely affects public health, consequently lowering labour productivity. In the third study, we report the results of a contingent valuation (CV) survey we conducted in Egypt in order to estimate the economic value of air quality and the value of reducing the health risks associated with ambient PM2.5 air pollution, which represent key inputs into the estimation of the benefits and costs of air pollution mitigation strategies and policies.
... The concept of ''sustainability'' plays a crucial role in the functioning of the modern world. The basis of this approach is the reconciliation of often conflicting goals in the environmental, economic, and social dimensions (Atkinson et al., 2014). The first dimension, the environment, plays a key role. ...
... The first dimension, the environment, plays a key role. The increase in pollution and environmental degradation have forced scientists and practitioners to act to meet these challenges (Atkinson et al., 2014). In response, sustainable measures have emerged, including, for example, green energy generation, zero manufacturing (Figueres et al., 2017), zero CO2 emissions, or the use of sustainable supply chains or transportation (Osmond and Klausmeier, 2017). ...
... Like the previous programmes, the NDP is aimed at creating employment and alleviating deep-rooted poverty. This comes at a time when Atkinson (2014) reports an upward trend of rural decline and urban growth in South Africa. This is evidenced by the dual economy, where rural and urban economies are poorly integrated (Mbatha et al., 2018). ...
The post-apartheid South African government prioritises rural development as a tool for reversing the apartheid government legacies of injustice, poverty, and black people's marginalisation, particularly in the former homelands of Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda land. This is evidenced by the implementation of diverse rural development policies and strategies such as the Land Reform Programme the Rural Development Strategy, and the National Development Plan vision 2030. Despite these efforts, evidence shows that most of the policies, such as the Land Reform Programme, have largely failed to promote rural development owing to specific implementation gaps. Bearing in mind these past failures, this paper seeks to assess the socioeconomic conditions in the rural municipalities of the Eastern Cape that fall under the former homelands. This assessment will help to understand the gains and failures made through the rural development currently being implemented, such as the National Development Plan vision 2030. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 413 participants who were selected using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were gathered through closed-ended questionnaires. The results were obtained using SPSS version 27 and analytical tools such as frequencies, cross-tabulation, and the Chi-square test. Results indicated that despite 28 years of implementing rural development policies and strategies, socioeconomic conditions are still unsatisfactory in the study area. This is evidenced by low income levels, high unemployment, and limited livelihood activities. To salvage the situation, policies and rural development strategies that are informed by the voices, aspirations, and needs of local communities are urgently required. More so, livelihood diversification should be at the centre of rural development to increase income levels and standards of living.
... The appeal for immediate action is continued by Barry Commoner's (1971) work, which focuses on collective awareness to develop a sustainable policy. The term was coined in the 1980s to refer to the integration of the social, environmental, and economic components of sustainability (Atkinson et al., 2007;Rogers et al., 2007). From the late 1990s until today, calls for sustainable action have been increasing. ...
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between posthumanism and sustainability and contribute to the interdisciplinary concept of posthuman sustainability. We conducted a scoping review of 45 peer-reviewed journal articles that met our inclusion criteria and employed co-occurrence analysis based on the clustering techniques of the VOSviewer. We identified five themes within the articles: post-humanism, post-anthropocentrism, post-dualism, post-Enlightenment, and post-technologism. Through our analysis, we found that posthumanism can offer insights into ecological issues and help promote alternative sustainable practices. We also identified three immediate concerns for post/humanities scholars: (1) fostering dialogue between critical humanist and posthumanist scholarship based on onto-epistemological plurality, (2) achieving conceptual clarity in the field, and (3) advocating for meaningful engagement with indigenous worldviews in a multidimensional and multitemporal manner. By exploring the relationship between posthumanism and sustainability, we hope to expand our knowledge of the urgent ecological issues we face and contribute to interdisciplinary efforts to address them.
... It may also aid in the development of environmental management and green HRM. According to [40], GHRM refers to activities that promote green initiatives by raising employee understanding and commitment to environmental sustainability challenges [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. By emphasizing on waste management, recycling, and manufacturing green goods, the relevance and value of the link between employee participation in environmental management programmes and enhanced organizational environmental performance may be stressed. ...
This paper examined how green human resource management is a catalyst for environmental sustainability in Nigeria. The paper reviewed related literatures on the GHRM and its role in improving sustainable development while HR managers are driving workplace for sustainability in terms of balancing the planet, people, and profit to produce success and viability in the long-term. The article went on to detail some of the predicted advantages of adopted sustainability programmes, including internal advantages such as organizational, financial, and human advantages, as well as external advantages such as commercial, environmental, and communication advantages. The study also explains how GHRM may use diverse practices such as recruiting and selection, training and workplace learning, and management to achieve its goals. Performance management, assessment, and reward management, as well as employment relations, are all used to reduce carbon emissions in the workplace with the goal of achieving a sustainable environment. Green HRM, it was established, contributes to environmental sustainability while also increasing organizational performance. Finally, the report advised that the government and other businesses recognize the value of GHRM and include green HR practices into their plans, policies, and strategies.
Τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα είναι ιδιαίτερα πολύπλοκα, καθώς προκύπτουν από την αλληλεπίδραση σύνθετων συστημάτων. Η αποτελεσματική προσέγγισή τους, χωρίς την ανάπτυξη της συστημικής σκέψης είναι αδύνατη, αφού πρέπει να κατανοηθούν οι διαδραστικές σχέσεις που τα προκαλούν. Το ιδανικό συστημικό πλαίσιο εντός του οποίου μπορούν να μελετηθούν είναι της αειφορίας, η οποία ως συστημική έννοια, συνιστά έναν νέο τρόπο μακροπρόθεσμης σκέψης κατάλληλο για την ολιστική προσέγγιση των σύνθετων προβλημάτων που καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει η ανθρωπότητα. Για την επίτευξη των στόχων της καθοριστικός θεωρείται ο ρόλος της Εκπαίδευσης για το Περιβάλλον και την Αειφορία (ΕΠΑ). Ωστόσο, η σημερινή πραγματικότητα της ΕΠΑ καταδεικνύει ότι η προσέγγιση των περιβαλλοντικών θεμάτων παραμένει, στις περισσότερες των περιπτώσεων μονοδιάστατη και γραμμική. Τα περισσότερα σχολικά προγράμματα της ΕΠΑ εστιάζουν στις περιβαλλοντικές διαστάσεις των προβλημάτων και συνήθως δεν γίνονται οι απαραίτητες διασυνδέσεις με τα οικονομικά και κοινωνικά, ή και όταν γίνονται, είναι γενικόλογες και ασαφείς. Η ΕΠΑ στο παιδαγωγικό της πλαίσιο περιλαμβάνει συμμετοχικές μεθόδους διδασκαλίας, τις οποίες καλείται να αξιοποιήσει, για να καλλιεργήσει τη συστημική σκέψη και να την εφαρμόσει στην εκπαιδευτική πράξη, προκειμένου να συμβάλει στην αλλαγή του τρόπου που σκέπτονται οι μαθητές/τριες, άρα και πώς ενεργούν, ώστε να βοηθήσουν στην επίτευξη των 17 αλληλένδετων στόχων της αειφόρου ανάπτυξης.
CHARACTERIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF AGAVE
AND MEZCAL IN THE STATE OF PUEBLA
Erika Benítez García, D.C.
Colegio de Postgraduados, 2023
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to characterize the production process of artisanal
agave and mezcal to analyze the level of sustainability of these systems. To achieve the
objectives, data from a survey were analyzed; 42 artisanal mezcal producers from the
municipalities of Tecali de Herrera, Tepeojuma, San Diego la Meza Tochimiltzingo, San
Juan Tzicatlacoyan, Zapotitlán and Caltepec, belonging to the state of Puebla, were
interviewed. The characterization was carried out with the use of multivariate analysis and
the degree of sustainability was achieved through the construction of a Composite
Sustainability Index (ICS) made up of social indicators such as family production,
employment, organization, and training. Economic: Profitability, profit, and subsidies.
Environmental: type of agave, use of energy, water, and recycling. Three mezcalero
agave production agroecosystems were identified: agave cultivation in monoculture (AM),
agave in diversified cultivation (ACD), and agave in transition to monoculture (ATM). The
ACD and ATM production systems showed adaptations in agroecological management
with the use of more than four species of agave and intercropping, characteristics that
indicate a gradual transition from crop diversification to monoculture. The production
process of artisanal mezcal represents the tacit local knowledge of the rural producing
areas that have a Denomination of Origin, in addition to the characteristic and unique
touch of each mezcal master when carrying out the mezcal production process, from the
choice of what is called “pineapples” to their distillation, factors that determine the
valuation and willingness to pay of consumers for certain cultural, quality, flavor and
aroma attributes. Mezcal producers were stratified into three groups; high productive scale, medium production producers, and low productive scale producers. The variables that increase the sustainability of the system are the high level of schooling, the size of the farm, and the degree of capabilities. The greater use of wild agave reduces it.
To conduct rational hunting management, a certain number of wild animals must be harvested yearly. However, some countries have a problem with managing the harvested meat. An example is Poland, where game consumption is estimated at 0.08 kg/person/year. This situation leads to environmental pollution as a result of meat exports. The level of environmental pollution depends on the type of transport and distance. However, the use of meat in the country of harvesting would generate less pollution than its export. Three constructs were used in the study, which aimed to determine whether the respondents show food neophobia, whether they are willing to seek diversity in food, and what their attitudes towards game meat are. All the scales used were previously validated. Four-hundred and fifty-three questionnaires were collected using the PAPI method. It was found that the respondents showed ambivalent attitudes towards game meat to the greatest extent (76.6%), 16.34% had positive attitudes, and 7.06% had negative attitudes. It seems essential that most of the respondents were highly inclined to look for variety in food (55.85%). Regarding food neophobia, there were 51.43% of people with medium neophobia, while also many people with a low level of neophobia—43.05%. Such results allow speculation that the respondents are open to the new food, they are looking for it, and the low level of game meat consumption is primarily due to the lack of knowledge and awareness about the value of this meat.
Many higher education institutions have a policy stating that they should “promote sustainable development” or something to the effect. In order to make this operational, a definition of the term and concept “sustainable development” could be useful. It may also be necessary to have a condition for when an enterprise, activity, or technology may be regarded as promoting sustainable development. At KTH, a process was started including discussions within top management, faculty, Ph.D. students and other staff resulting in a document formally approved by the President, which can be seen as a guidance document for interpreting “sustainable development”. The document also suggests the following criteria “An activity or technology can be considered to promote sustainable development if it clearly facilitates, in a life cycle perspective, the opportunities to achieve the global sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030.” This paper will describe the process as well as the final document.KeywordsEnvironmental sustainable developmentSocial sustainable developmentEconomic sustainable development2030 AgendaSustainability governance
O mundo hodierno tem trazido desafios socioambientais que fragilizam o equilíbrio, o bem-estar e a manutenção da vida. Apesar de vários avanços e conquistas sobre os conflitos de interesses sociais e à melhor gestão dos recursos naturais, é veemente a necessidade do fortalecimento da aplicabilidade e exequibilidade dos diversos instrumentos jurídicos que normatizam condutas e ações que envolvem o meio ambiente como território para uso e/ou exploração. Dessa maneira, essa obra reúne estudos que discutem o planejamento, gestão e/ou ações que precisam serem subsidiados pelo Direito Ambiental para que se atinja as metas e objetivos almejados para o desenvolvimento sustentável das sociedades.
Material in Chapters 2 and 22 by Kirk Hamilton and Esther Naikal, and Chapter 21 by Glenn-Marie Lange appears by kind permission of The World Bank. Figure 30.6 appears with kind permission from Springer Science and Business Media. It was adapted from Figure S-7 (in supplementary material
- A Cherp
- J Jewell
- V Vinichenko
- N Bauer
- E Cian
Finally, we would also like to express our appreciation to all at Edward Elgar
Publishing, and particularly Edward Elgar for the continued faith shown in this endeavour as well as this book's publishing editors, Alexandra O'Connell and Tori Nicols, and
copy editor Yvonne Smith.
We thank the following for permission to reprint or use material:
University of Chicago Press for the use of Figure 7.1 in Chapter 7. This originally
appeared in Norton, B. (2005) Sustainability: A Philosophy of Adaptive Ecosystem
Management, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Material in Chapters 2 and 22 by Kirk Hamilton and Esther Naikal, and Chapter 21
by Glenn-Marie Lange appears by kind permission of The World Bank.
Figure 30.6 appears with kind permission from Springer Science and Business Media.
It was adapted from Figure S-7 (in supplementary material) from Cherp, A., Jewell, J.,
Vinichenko, V., Bauer, N. and Cian, E. (2013), 'Global energy security under different
climate policies, GDP growth rates and fossil resource availabilities', Climatic Change,
pp. 1-12.