This Handbook provides an in-depth analysis of the multiple ways in which oil has shaped, changed and affected international relations and global politics. Theoretically innovative, it provides new insights into the interaction between the materiality of oil and its social, economic and political manifestations. International contributors address the continuing legacy of oil, colonialism, and neo-imperialism and how this has had lasting effects on regions like the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Chapters also assess the complex ways in which oil has influenced the trajectory of global capitalism with the emergence of multiple and powerful economic actors and institutions, and how this has affected the less powerful, the marginalised and the dispossessed. The Handbook concludes by considering the future of oil in the context of the transition to a low-carbon energy system and the challenges and geopolitical consequences of a world becoming less dependent on oil. Exploring the interaction between oil, hegemony and the international political order, this Handbook will be critical reading for scholars and students of international relations, energy policy and environmental governance and regulation. It will also be beneficial for practitioners and policy makers in the field of the international political economy of energy.

This timely book offers a critical account of key governance challenges of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Illustrating China's efforts to expand its idea of a sustainable eco-civilization, thereby 'greening' the BRI, it explores the disputes that have emerged from this process and subsequent complications resulting from geopolitical competition. R. James Ferguson presents a critical analysis of China's Green BRI, discussing the environmental impact of BRI corridors and its overall importance in harmonising the twin policy agendas of human development and environmental preservation. The author evaluates security and geopolitical challenges for the BRI in the context of China's new globalism and emerging asymmetric co-governance. Demonstrating the need for improved governance of the BRI for a sustainability transition in global affairs, Ferguson suggests a range of strategies to compete with, complement or transform the BRI into a more multilaterized Green BRI. This cutting-edge book is crucial reading for academics and researchers in political science and international relations focusing on contemporary Chinese governance and the significance of sustainable development for the BRI. Its unique practical insights and policy recommendations will also benefit policy advisors and environmental organizations that are engaging with green governance issues.

Sustainability is a top priority for organizations and a key strategy in corporate agendas, but the effective deployment of any strategy demands that the strategy is consistent, functional, and aligned. This Handbook advocates sustainability strategies that encompass environmental, social, and economic dimensions at department-level. Split into sections covering business strategies in marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship, operations management and information systems, finance and accounting, and human resources, this Handbook provides a comprehensive view of the development and deployment of sustainability-driven business strategies across an entire organization. The last section uses case studies to provide a better understanding of the features and tools needed to develop and implement a sustainability-driven business strategy in practice. Distinguishing the important role of each functional area, this Handbook will be a key reference for those researching on sustainability-related topics across business and management. Beyond the academic contributions, this Handbook also provides practical guidelines for managers interested in implementing sustainability-driven business strategies in their workplace.

This authoritative Handbook provides a thorough exploration of development policy from both scholarly and practical perspectives and offers insights into the policy process dynamics and a range of specific policy issues, including corruption and network governance. Chapters deliver critical analyses of complex issues within the economic, social, technological and environmental development sectors, such as climate change and environmental protection. This important Handbook synthesises diverse perspectives on policies and their implications for development, and features regional and country-specific case studies highlighting the field's expansive nature. The editors bring together leading contributors who deliver insightful research into topics such as human rights, policy networks and development policy praxis. With an accessible and comprehensive approach, this Handbook will appeal to practitioners exploring development policy issues and be welcomed by scholars and researchers looking to gain an insight into the world of development.

Exploring the emerging and vibrant field of critical agrarian studies, this comprehensive Handbook offers interdisciplinary insights from both leading scholars and activists to understand agrarian life, livelihoods, formations and processes of change. It highlights the development of the field, which is characterized by theoretical and methodological pluralism and innovation. The Handbook presents critical analyses of, and examines controversies about, historical and contemporary social structures and processes in agrarian and rural settings from a wide range of perspectives. Chapters explore the origins of critical agrarian studies, the concepts underpinning the diverse theoretical approaches to the field, and the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies used within the field. Finally, it illuminates debates around the topic and trajectories for future research and development. This will be a vital resource for graduate students, scholars and activists interested in critical agrarian studies. The analytical and empirical insights will also be helpful to students of environmental and development studies as well as agricultural and development economics, human geography and socio-cultural anthropology.

In this timely book, Sven Rudolph and Elena Aydos take an interdisciplinary approach that combines sustainability economics, political economy and legal concepts to answer two fundamental questions: How can carbon markets be designed to be effective, efficient and just at the same time? And how can the political barriers to sustainable carbon markets be overcome? The first part of the book develops an innovative and robust Sustainable Model Rule for evaluating carbon market design, which is demonstrated in practice through chapters assessing the vast majority of real-life emissions trading schemes (ETS) from around the world. In the second part, the focus shifts to political feasibility, providing a political economy framework for evaluating ETS. The authors examine empirical data from case studies in several countries, and identify strategies and policy windows for implementing truly sustainable ETS. The cutting-edge tools outlined in this book for conducting assessments of carbon market design and feasibility will be invaluable for climate policy practitioners and environmental lawyers at national and international levels. The book will also be an important resource for policy makers, think tanks and stakeholders, as well as for scholars and students in environmental economics and climate change law and policy.

Discussing how intellectual property (IP) rights play a role in tackling the challenge of securing sustainable development, renowned scholars consider how the core objective of IP rights to promote innovation and development of new knowledge aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This authoritative book provides an in-depth analysis of the multi-faceted interface between this core objective and the SDGs. Chapters analyse selected interrelations between IP law and other areas of law, including energy and financial law. Contributors explore the dimension of social development through timely examples such as the global solar photovoltaic market, the trend towards reusing and recycling, and the digital distribution of news services. This thought-provoking book argues for sustainable markets as an overreaching and contextual approach to the role of IP rights in tackling the challenges of the UN SDGs. Taking a market-based approach to IP rights and the SDGs, this engaging book will be of value to students and scholars of intellectual property and environmental law, as well as policymakers, practitioners and NGOs concerned with corporate social and environmental responsibility.

Personal Sustainability Practices is a collection of 19 academic and practitioner perspectives on the topic of faculty personal sustainability. The book addresses the issues of whether, how, where, and when faculty who teach, research, consult, and perform academic and community service are, or need to be, practicing and communicating their own sustainability behaviors to students and other stakeholders. The contributors represent multiple countries, disciplines, academic levels and affiliations, and orientations on those issues and on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to their personal sustainability practices. The chapter contributions highlight the several main concepts of systems, internal and external integration, curriculum development, and social movements. The key takeaway is that many sustainability scholars are practicing and communicating a wide variety of sustainability actions but that greater consistency and frequency among faculty sustainability values, expression, and actions are generally possible and necessary, and that further exploration of this overall topic is encouraged. Current faculty and doctoral students in the field of environmental or socio-economic sustainability, as well as business, government and nonprofit organization executives who interact with said faculty, will be inspired by the examination of values and personal practices.

Sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems research is ever evolving and this timely book stimulates further exploration, offering a research agenda and alternative approaches. Presenting new scientific evidence together with policy and other practical implications, chapters demonstrate the vibrancy and diversity of approaches in the field. Chapters on sustainable entrepreneurship analyse the circular economy, entrepreneurial decision-making logics, the drivers of eco-process innovations and strategic sustainability decision-making. Entrepreneurial ecosystems are investigated through discussion of different ecosystem orientations as factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour. This thought-provoking book concludes with consideration of the conditions predicting entrepreneurial activity or behaviour, including family background and the growth of social and commercial SMEs. This book's up-to-date analysis and practical insight will prove invaluable to scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship as well as other business and management academics, policy-makers and practitioners.

Exploring water scarcity issues in light of the growing crisis in global water management, this book examines the applicability of water markets. It provides an overview and understanding of the presence of water markets across the globe, analysing the ways in which different countries and regions are grappling with water scarcity. This timely book offers an insight into the benefits of water markets, and their identified market failures. A water market framework is applied to key case studies, highlighting that the majority of regions have not had sufficient water reforms to allow for the introduction of water markets without negative social consequences. The book addresses existing hydrological and institutional capacity across countries and areas where water reform is needed, and lessons are provided for future water markets, taking into account these limitations. The case studies of different countries tackling water scarcity issues and reform will make this an essential read for scholars of environmental studies, water economics, sustainability management and environmental policies. It will also be an invigorating book for water policy-makers interested in lessons for change, and in how to better implement reforms for water markets to help address both water scarcity and improve productivity.

This innovative Research Handbook answers crucial questions about how individuals and organisations can make a difference towards sustainability. Offering an integrative perspective on sustainability agency, it reviews individual, active, organisational and relational forms of sustainability agency, demonstrating the capacity of individuals and organisations to act toward sustainable futures. The Research Handbook investigates the relationships between agency and sustainability, demonstrating the importance of agency for different types of sustainability challenges, including mitigating environmental change and resource depletion. International contributors offer a multidisciplinary overview of the field, constructing detailed literature reviews on its many angles and variations. Concluding with a consolidative meta-review of sustainability agency, the Research Handbook offers directions for future research in the discipline. Crucial reading for scholars and researchers of sustainability, this cutting-edge Research Handbook is particularly useful for those exploring new avenues for research in relation to agency. It will also benefit graduate students looking for an interdisciplinary perspective in the field, as well as practitioners, advocates and NGOs hoping to understand ways in which sustainability can be enacted in various contexts.

Exploring the important role of education in both pursuing and implementing sustainable development, this timely Handbook highlights how teaching methods at schools and universities can impact the future. It looks at ways not only to inform students about matters related to sustainable development, but also to empower them to adopt behaviours and actions that lead to more sustainable lifestyles. Chapters from an international team of contributors present and analyse experiences of different learning processes and methods, showcasing the impact of curriculum-related issues and teacher training. Using different pedagogical approaches, case studies and interdisciplinary initiatives, the Handbook explores a broad range of technological approaches and tools to foster better teaching and learning for sustainable development. It provides key insights into the implementation of teaching initiatives in helping to promote sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This Handbook will be crucial reading for those investigating curriculum policies and issues, and looking to enhance students' understanding of sustainability in schools and universities.

Wetlands provide a key service in an ecosystem such as providing resilience against drought and diverse habitats that support biodiversity. Because of their ephemeral character and their small size, however, these vulnerable ecosystems are declining rapidly as climate change continues to surge and human activities expand. Rational management of wet ecosystems need accompanying actions covering research, systematic observation, and more. Wetland Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and the Impact of Climate Change produces innovative concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications for ecosystem service valuation, wetland biodiversity conservation, fresh water supply, agricultural production, food security, wetland management, and its impact on biodiversity. It assesses the cumulative risk posed to wetland habitats and species by human activities and explores the consequences for the delivery of ecosystem services and biodiversity at local, regional, and global scales, as well as the impacts of climate change on wetland ecosystems and water resources. Covering topics such as geochemistry, invasive species, and sedimentary change, this premier reference source is an indispensable resource for government officials, engineers, environmental managers, environmentalists, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

This insightful book explores the importance and influence of contextual heterogeneity in the field of entrepreneurship research, illuminating the circumstances, conditions or environments that may enable or constrain entrepreneurship. Expert contributors present the results of empirical studies in a wide variety of contexts, describing their depth and meaning both for entrepreneurship research and practice. Chapters illustrate a range of topics and research methods, including business model innovation in start-up companies, the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in STEM, and the use of technology signalling in explaining the performance of immigrant entrepreneurship in market economies. Presenting new scientific evidence in the field, together with research-informed policy and practical implications, the book demonstrates that a multitude of research approaches must be used to reflect the multi-dimensional nature of context in entrepreneurship. Warning against simplistic interpretations and superficial conclusions of research, this book will prove to be an invaluable resource for scholars and students of entrepreneurship. Its use of empirical studies will also be beneficial for practitioners in this field.

This unique and insightful work examines the importance of 'quality of life' for the city which has become a key component of urban competitiveness over the past 30 years. It argues that having a high or low 'quality of life' will have important consequences for the vitality and status of any city. Throughout the book, emphasis is placed upon the skilled, highly mobile and generally younger labour force who choose the city in which they want to work and live based on the 'quality of life' elements offered to them. Consequently, there is mounting pressure on today's cities and the firms in their economies to create environments that are attractive to the new-age of the workforce and the key resource in the economy. The book's eight substantive chapters explore this issue by each examining a distinct element that comprises 'quality of life', including the approach of economists to quality of life, links to urban competitiveness, the economy, urban amenities and attributes. Providing an original perspective on contemporary cities and their economies, The City and Quality of Life will be essential reading for city and company leaders who implement policy and wish to further understand the attributes of 'quality of life' for their citizens. It will also be useful for researchers, university professors and students in disciplines such as economics and finance, geography and urban studies.

This insightful Handbook brings together the practical guidance of over 50 international practitioners in sustainable tourism. Applying strong research design principles it provides a workable and rational toolkit for investigating practical challenges while accounting for modest timeframes and resources. Expert contributors illustrate how to undertake environmental, socio-cultural and economic assessments that establish the feasibility of new tourism ventures and ascertain their impact over time. Chapters cover fundamentals including how to conduct feasibility studies and business plans, and address key topics such as visitor management and overcrowding. Offering how-to tools and step-by-step guidance, this Handbook combines academic insight with extensive professional experience to outline the best practices for an array of tasks to inform sustainable tourism planning, development and operation. Incorporating concrete solutions employed in numerous contexts, this Handbook is crucial reading for practitioners of sustainable tourism and agencies commissioning sustainable tourism assignments who are in need of innovative methods and up-to-date guidance in the field. It will also benefit tourism scholars, particularly those investigating practical methodologies for creating sustainable tourism experiences.

Improving the resilience of social systems is a goal increasingly adopted in our modern world. This unique and comprehensive Handbook focuses on the interdependencies of these social systems and the technologies that support them. It explores the ways in which the resilience of elements and social systems interact with each other to promote or undermine resilience for one or both, how these interactions manifest themselves through space and time, and how they can be shaped through active intervention. Original and multi-disciplinary contributions illustrate the nuances in the way resilience is interpreted through corresponding case studies and applications. The use of diverse tools, such as cost-effectiveness analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, transition theory and network science provides readers with a balanced treatment of both theoretical issues surrounding resilience and applications to specific socio-technical systems. Case studies from across the globe are used to discuss the ways in which natural disasters, terror attacks, cyber attacks and infrastructure impact the resilience of these systems. Timely and innovative, this Handbook is an ideal resource for university think-tanks, researchers and advanced students exploring the resilience of both social and technical systems. Planners and policy-makers will also greatly benefit from the lessons drawn from contemporary case studies. Contributors include: D.L. Alderson, U. Bhatia, R. Biggs, C.R. Binder, R. Bowman, A. Cryan, N. Dormady, D. Fannon, K. Fischer, L. Fischer, A.R. Ganguly, B. Giese, S. Goessling-Reisemann, E. Gordon, H.-D. Hellige, B. Helmuth, S. Hiermaier, S. Lehnhoff, I. Linkov, K. Maciejewski, T. Malloy, S. Mirzaee, S. Muhlemeier, K. Poinsatte-Jones, A. Roa-Henriquez, J.C. Rocha, A. Rose, H. Rosoff, M. Ruth, A.J. Schaffer, B. Scharte, M. Schneider, S. Scyphers, J.C Stephens, P. Thier, B.D. Trump, A. von Gleich, M.E. Warner, D.D. Woods, R. Wyss

Lean thinking involves more than just eliminating waste; through its five guiding principles-value, value chain, continuous flow, pull production, and perfection-its successful applications are commonly found in the manufacturing sector. Although its application and benefits to companies is no longer contested, it is rare to find works that consolidate applications of lean thinking in sectors that are unconventional, such as healthcare and government. Cases on Lean Thinking Applications in Unconventional Systems allows readers to broaden their view on lean thinking applications and visualize insights for research. It presents case studies and applications of lean thinking within several different industries. Covering topics such as emergency care units, standardized work, and national humanization policy, this case book is an essential resource for engineers, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, IT managers, government officials, students and faculty of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

This book describes the sustainable development journey of 15 business families committed to using their enterprises as a force of societal good. In turn, each family reaps benefits of high economic returns, while contributing to society and environment. The youngest family firm is in its 20s, while there are others over 100 years of age. Size, industry, locations vary. But all these business families share a deep shared commitment towards sustainable development, control over strategic decision-making in their firms and trans-generational continuity intentions. Family values embed their enterprises with a strong sense of purpose to achieve their chosen sustainable development goals. Professionalized systems and processes foster the development of capabilities, and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders ensure the simultaneous achievement of social, environmental and profitability goals. Educators, students, policy makers and business families interested in sustainable development will find new understanding of family business through Pioneering Family Firms' Sustainable Development Strategies.