This exhaustive survey assesses the performance of the United Nations and its member states in all key areas, at the same time as laying down a road map for sustainable development in the future. Deploying the Human Green Development Index as a new metric for an era in which human survival is intimately dependent on the viability of the Earth as a clean and sustainable habitat, the report showcases a vast array of data, including HGDI indicators for more than 120 nations. It provides a detailed and comparative rationale for the selection of data for the 12 goals and 54 HGDI targets, which cover human and global needs into the future. The index measures 12 Sustainable Development Goals, based on but also extending the eight Millennium Development Goals defined in 2000. The SDGs, proposed by a high-level UN panel, will supersede MDGs in 2015. They focus on ending poverty, achieving gender equality, providing quality education for all, helping people live healthy lives, securing sustainable energy use, and creating jobs offering sustainable livelihoods. They also work towards equitable growth, stable and peaceful societies, greater efficiency in governance, and closer international cooperation. With indicators covering everything from air particulates to percentage of threatened animal species in a nation's total, and informed by the latest research (with inequality-adjusted metrics for amenities such as education and healthcare), this comprehensive study offers readers not only a wealth of valuable core data, but also a well-argued rationale for using the HGDI. In today's world, we cannot view our development as being distinct from, and unaffected by, that of the Earth we inhabit, or that of our planetary cohabitees.

This book provides an innovative approach to sustainable development, one based on insights gleaned from the Industrial Revolution to the present, and which highlights the importance of aligning economic interests with sustainable development considerations. It investigates how a broad-based systematic approach can be used to develop societies sustainably by integrating environmental issues into the capitalist system without value-laden approaches, which produce little more than politics and inaction as we are witnessing today. The proposed approach focuses on realigning the financial markets to providing capital at reasonable cost to fuel innovation towards sustainable development across the entire economy. This requires government policies that level the playing field and also intervene strategically in cases where the playing field is weak or missing . Intended for researchers, policy-makers and graduate students, the book will also benefit non-governmental organizations, economists and the general public.

This book provides a business-oriented analysis of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In order to assess their impact on businesses and corporations, the book addresses all 17 goals and a broad range of industries. Gathering contributions from Africa, Europe and Asia, it presents both critical reviews and case studies. In turn, the book seeks to predict likely developments during the next decade. To do so, it examines evidence from today's business world and how companies and corporations have been adopting the SDGs since their release. In this regard, it discusses the changes that will be required and how the agenda will affect the continent's development path. An underlying theme throughout the book is the role of monetary value and investment for sustainable development: whether through financing, enhanced turnaround resulting from a more educated population, or more socially innovative entrepreneurs.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become the recognized instrument to assess the ecological burdens and human health impacts connected with the complete life cycle (creation, use, end-of-life) of products, processes and activities, enabling the assessor to model the entire system from which products are derived or in which processes and activities operate. This volume introduces the major new book series "LCA Compendium - The Complete World of Life Cycle Assessment." In this volume, the main drivers in the development of LCA are explored. The volume also discusses strengths and limitations in LCA as well as challenges and gaps, thus offering an unbiased picture of the state-of-the-art and future of LCA.

The book focuses on four broad topics related to trapping of agriculturally important tephritid fruit flies, namely i) lures and traps, ii) invasion biology and detection of infestations, iii) attract and kill systems, and iv) trade regulations and risk assessment. This comprehensive structure progresses from the biological interaction between insect and lures/traps to the area-wide use of trapping systems to the utilization and impact of trapping data on international trade. The chapters include accounts of earlier research but are not simply compendia and instead evaluate past and current work as a tool for critical analysis and proposal of productive avenues for future work. At present there is no book available that deals with fruit fly trapping in such a broad context. Our book fills this gap and serves as a global reference for both those interested in fruit flies specifically as well as anyone dealing with the threat of invasive agricultural insects in general.

Many hydrological, geochemical, and biological processes associated with water reclamation and reuse are poorly understood. In particular, the occurrence and effects of trace organic and inorganic contaminants commonly found in reclaimed water necessitates careful analysis and treatment prior to safe reuse. "Water Reclamation and Sustainability "is a practical guide to the latest water reclamation, recycling, and reuse theory and practice. From water quality criteria and regulations to advanced techniques and implementation issues, this book offers scientists a toolkit for developing safe and successful reuse strategies. With a focus on specific contaminant removal techniques, this book comprehensively covers the full range of potential inorganic/organic contaminating compounds and highlights proven remediation methods. Socioeconomic implications related to current and future water shortages are also addressed, underscoring the many positive benefits of sustainable water resource management.
Offers pragmatic solutions to global water shortagesProvides an overview of the latest analytical techniques for water monitoringReviews current remediation effortsCovers innovative technologies for green, gray, brown and black water reclamation and reuse

This Handbook approaches sustainable development in higher education from an integrated perspective, addressing the dearth of publications on the subject. It offers a unique overview of what universities around the world are doing to implement sustainable development (i.e. via curriculum innovation, research, activities, or practical projects) and how their efforts relate to education for sustainable development at the university level. The Handbook gathers a wealth of information, ideas, best practices and lessons learned in the context of executing concrete projects, and assesses methodological approaches to integrating the topic of sustainable development in university curricula. Lastly, it documents and disseminates the veritable treasure trove of practical experience currently available on sustainability in higher education.

Indigenous peoples have passed down vital knowledge for generations from which local plants help cure common ailments, to which parts of the land are unsuitable for buildings because of earthquakes. Here, Hendry examines science through these indigenous roots, problematizing the idea that Western science is the only type that deserves that name.

Guy Robinson and Doris Carson have assembled a wonderfully comprehensive and timely book that both reveals and joins together the many and varied elements of diverse contemporary agriculture and food production systems. The book stands as a valuable scan of the diverse forces and processes of change in agriculture and also makes visible, through its various and well-chosen case analyses, the abiding and sometimes colliding roles of structure , agency, power and place in shaping farm and food futures.' - John Smithers, University of Guelph, Canada'An excellent, timely and innovative contribution to the wide-ranging debates on the globalisation of agriculture. The book brings together a wide array of authors who approach agricultural globalisation issues from various angles spanning both the social and natural sciences, including key contributions on agriculture/environment issues, food security challenges, policy regimes, transnational corporations, and challenges of an increasingly globalised agriculture.' - Geoff A. Wilson, Plymouth University, UK Agriculture is becoming increasingly influenced by globalisation. The result is a more interconnected world where new forms of trade and cultural exchange can thrive on an international level. This novel Handbook provides insights to the ways in which globalization is affecting the whole agri-food system, from farms to the consumer. The expert contributors cover themes including the physical basis of agriculture, the influence of trade policies, the nature of globalised agriculture, and resistance to globalisation in the form of attempts to foster sustainability and multifunctional agricultural systems. They present a state-of-the-art summary of current debates and provide a starting point for subsequent research into solutions aimed at addressing food insecurity, global hunger and uneven development. Drawing upon studies from around the world, the Handbook will appeal to a broad and varied readership, across academics, students, and policy-makers interested in economics, trade, geography, sociology and political science. Contributors: K. Anderson, D.K. Bardsley, P. Basu, A. Blay-Palmer, S. Bringezu, L. Bryant, D. Burch, D.A. Carson, A. Dorward, J. Entwistle, S.J. Fielke, D. Fuchs, T. Gomiero, W. Grant, P. Hoppe, B. Ilbery, A. Kalfagianni, J. Klepek, I. Knezevic, G. Lawrence, T. Li, Y. Liu, H. Long, D. Maye, J. Morrison, S. Nicholson, M. O'Brien, A. Omer, C.R. Parfitt, K.E. Rickson, R.E. Rickson, D.F. Robinson, G.M. Robinson, N. Russell, B.A. Scholten, H. Schutz, S.R. Sippel, R. Taylor, B. Winders

The goal of this book is to explore disaster risk reduction (DRR), migration, climate change adaptation (CCA) and sustainable development linkages from a number of different geographical, social and natural science angles. Well-known scientists and practitioners present different perspectives regarding these inter-linkages from around the world, with theoretical discussions as well as field observations. This publication contributes in particular to the discussion on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 and the debate about how to improve DRR, including CCA, policies and practices, taking into account migration processes from a large perspective where both natural and social factors are crucial and mutually "alloyed". Some authors see the SFDRR as a positive step forward in terms of embracing a multitude of issues, others doubting that the agreement will lead to much concrete action toward real action on the ground. This book is a timely contribution for researchers, students and policy makers in the fields of environment, human geography, migration, disaster and climate change studies who seek a more comprehensive grasp of contemporary development issues.

This book provides a timely and insightful analysis of the expansion of biofuels production and use in recent years. Drawing on interviews with key policy insiders, Ackrill and Kay show how biofuels policies have been motivated by concerns over climate change, energy security and rural development.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 presents how far we have come towards reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This seventh edition of the annual report also looks at the trends since 2015 and impact of COVID-19 on the progress. It uses the latest available data and inputs from custodian agencies of the United Nations system other international agencies and is prepared by the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs

This volume of the Lecture Notes in Mobility series contains papers written by speakers and poster presenters at the 21st International Forum on Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications (AMAA 2017) "Smart Systems Transforming the Automobile" that was held in Berlin, Germany in September 2017. The authors report about recent breakthroughs in electric and electronic components and systems, driver assistance and vehicle automation as well as safety and testing. Furthermore, legal aspects and impacts of connected and automated driving are covered. The target audience primarily comprises research experts and practitioners in industry and academia, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students alike.

This book addresses the multidisciplinary aspects of urban planning; a result of the increasing size of cities, the amount of resources and services required and the complexity of modern society.Most of the earth's population live in cities and the process of urbanisation continues generating problems originating from the drift of the population towards them. These problems can be resolved by cities becoming efficient habitats, saving resources in a way that improves the standard of living. The process faces a number of challenges related to reducing pollution, improving main transportation and infrastructure systems and these challenges can contribute to the development of social and economic imbalances and require the development of new solutions.Large cities are probably the most complex mechanisms to manage, nevertheless they represent a productive ground for architects, engineers, city planners, social and political scientists able to conceive new ideas and time them according to technological advances and human requirements.The papers in this book cover such topics as: Appropriate technologies for smart cities; Architectural issues; Case studies - sustainable practices; Cultural quarters and interventions; Disaster and emergency response; Eco-town planning; Environmental management; Landscape planning and design; Planning for resilience; Quality of life; Socio-economic and political considerations; Pedestrians behaviour in different situation of traffic, modelling and safety; Sustainable urban regeneration and public space; City and beach; Sustainability and the built environment; Sustainable energy and the city; The community and the city; Transportation; Urban conservation and regeneration; Urban development and management; Urban infrastructure; Urban metabolism; Urban planning and design; Urban safety and security; Urban strategies; Waterfront development.

This book documents and compares the experiences of a wide range of universities across the five continents with regard to sustainable development, making it of special interest to sustainability researchers and practitioners. By showcasing how integrative approaches to sustainable development at the university level can be successfully employed to bridge the gaps between disciplines, the book provides a timely contribution to the literature on sustainability and offers a valuable resource for all those interested in sustainability in a higher education context.

This book reviews and analyzes emerging challenges in water policy, governance and institutions in India. Recent times have seen the contours of water policy shaped by new discourses and narratives; there has been a pluralization of the state and a changing balance of power among the actors who influence the formulation of water policy. Discourses on gender mainstreaming and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) are influential, though they have often remained rhetorical and difficult to put into practice. Debate over property rights reform and inter-linking of rivers has been polarized. At the same time, there has been a rising disenchantment with policy initiatives in participatory irrigation management, cleaning up of water bodies and pollution control. Fast depletion of groundwater resources and the importance of adopting new irrigation methods are getting increased focus in the recent policy dialogue. The contributors review current debate on these and other subjects shaping the governance of water resources, and take stock of new policy developments. The book examines the experience of policy implementation, and shows where important weaknesses still lie. The authors present a roadmap for the future, and discuss the potential of alternative approaches for tackling emerging challenges. A case is made for greater emphasis on a discursive analysis of water policy, to examine underlying policy processes. The contributors observe that the ongoing democratization of water governance, coupled with the multiplication of stresses on water, will create a more visible demand for platforms for negotiation, conflict resolution and dialogue across different categories of users and uses. Finally, the authors propose that future research should challenge implicit biases in water resources planning and address imbalances in the allocation of water from the perspectives of both equity and sustainability.

This book discusses the connection between fast fashion brands and customer-centric sustainability. It highlights what consumers can do with fast fashion and the important aspects that need to be addressed to make fast fashion sustainable. Fast fashion is an inevitable element in today's fashion business cycle and its adverse impacts on sustainable fashion are a major issue.

This monograph adresses the challenge of the environmental assessment of leightweight electric vehicles. It poses the question whether the use of lightweight materials in electric vehicles can reduce the vehicles' environmental impact and compares the environmental performance of a lightweight electric vehicle (LEV) to other types of vehicles. The topical approach focuses on methods from life cycle assessment (LCA), and the book concludes with a comprehensive concept on the environmental assessment of LEVs. The target audience primarily comprises LCA practitioners from research institutes and industry, but it may also be beneficial for graduate students specializing in the field of environmental assessment.

The book contributes to a better understanding of the role of knowledge societies in achieving sustainability. It is based on the conference with the same title held in Riga, which brought together experts from Europe and the rest of the world. The book highlights sustainable development in relation to the knowledge society and smart future manufacturing technologies, and it helps provide a better understanding of the interplay between sustainable development and knowledge society issues, and how these could lead to a better future.

Sustainability holds the promise of an exciting new approach to business - one in which business goals are aligned with social and environmental goals. Multinational corporations are recognizing that we live in an increasingly resource-constrained world, and that more accountability for corporate social and environmental impacts will accrue to them. More importantly, forward-thinking executives understand that sustainability can present new opportunities for competitive advantage - whether that is by reducing costs, minimizing risk, appealing to increasingly conscientious customers, or reaching new markets entirely. With the growth of this field comes a host of interesting new career opportunities for MBAs. As companies are grappling with challenges like how to develop social return on investment (SROI) metrics or understand the potential impact of corporate carbon footprints on stock prices, there are new opportunities for the next generation of managers - managers who are not only trained in traditional MBA fundamentals but also grounded in an understanding of the multifaceted social and environmental challenges facing 21st-century global business leaders. Entirely new career paths are opening to MBAs interested in sustainability: sustainable venture capital, green marketing, corporate social responsibility management, carbon credit trading, and sustainability consulting, to name a few. Perhaps even more than corporate executives, MBA students understand this trend. The next generation of managers can see that the future of business will require a new set of skills and responsibilities. Between 2003 and 2008, membership in Net Impact, the global organization for MBAs and business professionals interested in sustainability, increased more than fourfold. By March 2009, over 130 business schools had a Net Impact chapter. Around the world, MBA students realize that a different model will be required for businesses in the coming decades. The career paths that fall under the broad umbrella of "sustainability" are as diverse as the MBA students themselves. One student may be interested in social entrepreneurship in West Africa, and the next will be seeking advice about clean-tech venture capital careers in Silicon Valley; a third will be interested in greening global supply chains. Corporate social responsibility, sustainable product marketing, microfinance, green real estate development, renewable energy, and other interests all likewise fall under the sustainability umbrella at times. Because of this diversity, it is often hard for business schools' career management centers to address sustainability-related career options in a comprehensive way. Many sustainability-related companies and nonprofits are not accustomed to on-campus recruiting. Others have not historically hired MBAs at all. MBA students and alumni interested in sustainability careers are often left to navigate their own internship and job search paths. And, often, they struggle. Profession and Purpose has been written to address this urgent need. Whether you are focused on an off-campus search or participating in the on-campus recruiting process, there are a host of sustainability-specific career resources you should know about. You'll need to be well versed in sustainability news and trends, and network at the right events, conferences, and company presentations. You also need to know about industry- and discipline-specific websites that post sustainability jobs for positions with titles like Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Socially Responsible Investing Analyst, and Renewable Energy Market Analyst. Through hundreds of conversations with MBA students, professionals, and recruiters, as well as her own personal experience, the author has compiled the key job search resources and tips for MBAs interested in sustainability careers. The book provides ideas for researching companies, making the most of your networking, identifying job and internship openings, and preparing for interviews. No matter what stage of your MBA career search process you're in, this book will help you better understand your career options in the many fields of sustainability, direct you to the best resources and help you to fine-tune your sustainability job search strategy. It's the sustainability career coach MBAs have been waiting for.

This book provides a framework for integrating information management in supply chains. Current trends in business practice have made it necessary to explore the potential held by information integration with regard to environmental aspects. Information flow integration provides an opportunity to focus on the creation of a more "green" supply chain. However, it is currently difficult to identify the impact of information integration on greening a supply chain in a wide range of practical applications. Accordingly, this book focuses on the potential value of information integration solutions in terms of greening supply chain management. It covers the following major topics: Application of information flow standards in the supply chain Information systems and technological solutions for integrating information flows in supply chains The Internet of Things and the industry 4.0 concept, with regard to the integration of supply chains Modeling and simulation of logistics processes Decision-making tools enabling the greening of supply chains

This book highlights the electronic governance in a smart city through case studies of cities located in many countries. "E-Government" refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits are less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions. The book is divided into three parts. * E-Governance State of the Art Studies of many cities * E-Governance Domains Studies * E-Governance Tools and Issues

This book focuses on the future of China and its sustainable development, and summarizes the implications, forms, causes, countermeasures and related rules of the main costs generated during a country's period of development, so as to provide a theoretical reference and decision-making consulting tools for institutions and scientific governance and management professionals. Combining China's national situation and development characteristics with the country as a unit, it uses case studies to propose the concept of cost theory and the theoretical system of national development cost. Focusing on the goals of innovation in nation building, common development and prosperity, as well as enhancement of people's net welfare, the book summarizes and draws conclusions about various aspects of national development, including economic development cost; political, social and cultural development cost; foreign opening-up development cost and nature development cost. It primarily establishes an indicator system of national development cost for promoting full-factor productivity and reducing development cost, and provides a theoretical basis for implementing the scientific political-achievement view.

This book is committed to provide a holistic view of corruption in the public construction sector, a sector that has been perceived as the most corrupt in the world. Relying on the new findings achieved from a series of qualitative and quantitative studies, this book unveils the specific forms of corruption, the principal causes of corruption, and the prevailing anti-corruption strategies that are used by the current practice. Furthermore, this book provides two metrics that can assess the potential of corruption and the risk of collusion in given public construction projects, respectively. This book will enhance industry and research communities' understandings of corruption in the public construction sector. It is also informative to policy-makers and can help them come up with some more effective strategies to eliminate corruption in the public construction sector.