Our Elgar Concise Introductions are inspiring and considered introductions to the key principles in business, expertly written by some of the world's leading scholars. The aims of the series are two-fold: to pinpoint essential principles of business and management, and to offer insights that stimulate critical thinking. Examining the psychological and social drivers of unsustainable and sustainable consumption, this Concise Introduction provides an insightful overview of the causes of unsustainable consumer behaviour and the instruments and interventions needed to create a sustainable consumption pattern. Key Features: Outlines how policy interventions can contribute to a transformation in the consumption pattern Based on a comprehensive model of the causes and consequences of (un)sustainable consumer choices Provides a precise account of how the structure and distribution of consumption are responsible for environmental problems Maps the roots of unsustainable consumption in human nature as well as in economic, institutional, social, and structural contexts Highlighting a variety of ways to promote sustainable consumption, from sustainability labelling to carbon taxes and infrastructure investments, this Concise Introduction will be essential reading for students and researchers in behavioural sciences, business and management, economic psychology, environmental sociology, and sustainable development.

Vegetation Dynamics and Crop Stress: An Earth-Observation Perspective focuses on vegetation dynamics and crop stress at both the regional and country levels by using earth observation (EO) data sets. The book uniquely provides a better understanding of natural vegetation and crop failure through geo-spatial technologies. This book covers biophysical control of vegetation, deforestation, desertification, drought, and crop-water efficiency, as well as the application of satellite-derived measures from optical, thermal, and microwave domains for monitoring and modeling crop condition, agricultural drought, and crop health in contrasting monsoon/weather episodes.

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.

This cutting-edge Research Agenda demonstrates how social network analysis can be used to address problems of social resilience and advance knowledge and policy intervention in the face of the existential crises that threaten our contemporary societies. Highlighting the role of social networks in supporting social resilience, contributions from experienced and innovative thinkers across the social sciences encourage readers to think in network terms about issues of social change and survival in situations of vulnerability. Chapters apply innovative social network thinking and analyses to a diverse range of existential societal challenges, including marginalized communities, emerging labour markets, governments, food systems, educational establishments, online social media, and the environment. The book further advances critical research frontiers that will inform the building of more resilient societies and ecosystems and ultimately strengthen our capacity to project ourselves into the future. Combining network-based critical analysis with in-depth knowledge of policy design and intervention, this dynamic Research Agenda will be an essential tool for postgraduate students carrying out research in the social sciences. Its provision of state-of-the-art research agendas in eighteen vital domains of social life will benefit analysts and consultants designing, implementing, and evaluating policy in these areas.

This timely Research Handbook offers an insightful review of how legal systems - whether domestic, international or transnational - can and should adjust to fairly and effectively support loss and damage (L&D) claims in climate change law. International contributors guide readers through a detailed assessment of the history and current state of L&D provisions under the UN climate regime and consider the opportunities to fund L&D claims both within and outside the UN climate system. Split into four parts, the Research Handbook investigates the current legal frameworks for L&D across both public international law and domestic law. Chapters explore foundational issues including equity and justice and give a critical assessment of the current state and potential future evolution of international legal systems. The contributing authors also discuss the challenges faced by different legal systems in dealing effectively and fairly with L&D. Providing a comprehensive overview of this important topic, this Research Handbook will be an excellent resource for climate lawyers and policymakers. It will also be an invaluable read for academics and students researching environmental and climate issues.

In todays’ world with its widespread usage of personal-care products, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, flame retardants, plasticizers, various industrial additives, metals and metalloids, pesticides, and pesticide metabolites, environmental contaminants are an increasing source of pollution with a severe effect on the ecological system. Industries that produce these contaminants must find answers to remediate this. Nanomaterials in Environmental Analysis contributes to solving this problem by providing researchers in industry and academia with promising applications of nanoparticles in detection techniques and in removal of chemical species from the environment. Each chapter covers an aspect of using nanoparticles in detecting, measuring and remediating toxic chemical species in the environment.

The Role of Multinational Enterprises in Supporting the United Nations' SDGs is an exploration of the place of the private sector in implementing select Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond the abundant literature published by the United Nations and journal articles, there are few book-length treatments of the unique role that multinationals play as facilitators of goal implementation and agents of change. This volume aims to stimulate debate and research on MNEs' best practices, fleshing out many of the seventeen goals through the lens of corporate strategic choices. Sixteen carefully selected chapters present research advances in both study and best practices format, linking disciplines, knowledge systems, and stakeholders' perspectives to support a more sustainable business model and address the varied challenges on the road to the 2030 Agenda. They comprise a balanced mix of research methodologies: comprehensive literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, integrative reviews, and case studies. The book will be of use to advanced students, researchers, practitioners, planners, and policymakers worldwide who are concerned with sustainable development and corporate social responsibility issues through the lens of multinationals. Furthermore, the book is designed to be used in graduate courses in business, economics, public policy and on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Role of Green Chemistry in Ecosystem Restoration to Achieve Environmental Sustainability deals with current challenges of environmental problems along with the approaches of environmental sustainability in alliance with green chemistry. The book shows how to lessen the impact on the environment by maintaining a balance between society, the environment, and the economy, all of which are regarded as fundamental pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, policymakers and scholars will gain insights into how to develop and explore innovative techniques for achieving sustainable development goals. This book is unique in the field of environmental sustainability, as it is based on green chemistry concepts.

An eye-opening account of the tech arms race shaping out planet, from an award-winning journalist and AI insider to the world of Sam Altman and OpenAI

When longtime AI expert and journalist Karen Hao first began covering OpenAI in 2019, she thought they were the good guys. Founded as a nonprofit with safety enshrined as its core mission, it was meant, its leader Sam Altman told us, to act as a check against more purely market forces.

But the core truth of this massively disruptive sector is that it requires an unprecedented amount of proprietary resources: the ‘compute’ power of scarce high-end chips, the sheer volume of data that needs to be amassed at scale, the humans on the ground ‘cleaning it up’ for sweatshop wages throughout the Global South, and a truly alarming spike in the need for energy and water underlying everything. We have entered a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI setting a breakneck pace, as a small group of the most valuable companies in human history try to chase it down.

In exhilarating prose and with unparalleled access to those closest to Sam Altman, Hao recounts the meteoric rise of OpenAI and shows us the sinister impact that this industry is having on society.

Answering the key question of whether there is an obligation for States to define and enact sound climate policies in order to avoid the impacts of global warming, this timely book provides expert analysis on recent global climate cases, assessing not only the plaintiffs' claims but also the legal reasoning put forward by the courts. As an increasing number of environmental organisations are requiring domestic courts to answer this fundamental question, this book illustrates that more and more court decisions are confirming that the discretion held by States with regards to the issue of climate change is not unlimited. The book explores how States must also demonstrate that sufficient action is being taken to protect their citizens from risks. With in-depth assessments of common legal grounds, such as the international climate change regime, environmental law principles and human rights, it further highlights potential issues for climate litigation including the separation of powers and the standing of the plaintiffs themselves. Addressing current and emerging issues, this timely book will be an excellent resource for scholars of environmental law, climate change and human rights. Environmental activists and organisations looking for examples of initiatives to tackle issues such as environmental protection and justice will find this informative and insightful.

The enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children’s Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award ‘An irresistible ocean-loving yarn’ The Times Winner of the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year 2023 THEIR BOND COULD SET THEM FREE . . . Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help. Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale . . . ? Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold

A stylish, inspirational and practical guidebook to maintaining a more environmentally friendly outdoor space, now shortlisted for the GMG GARDEN BOOK OF THE YEAR award! Sustainable gardener Marian Boswall walks us through the process of creating and maintaining a sustainable outdoor space, offering tips, guidance and step-by-step projects designed to help you lead a more low-impact lifestyle. Whether it's by harnessing natural energy, converting to peat-free compost, reducing your consumption of plastic, saving seeds or creating garden areas from reclaimed materials, there are numerous ways - both big and small - to make a difference. Entries cover every aspect of the garden, from how to create a space and draw up a plan for your sustainable garden from scratch, to advice on boundaries and fences, and guidance on how to ethically source materials to make sure your garden is as environmentally friendly as it is beautiful. This book also contains several projects with easy-to-follow instructions that you can replicate at home, such as creating a frame for succulents to grow in out of recycled materials. Projects include: Plant an edible hedge - This berry-laden boundary brings joy into your garden and offers a great way to connect to and notice the seasons for both children and adults, Make a lawn spiral - This innovative approach to lawns will reduce mowing time by half (thereby saving energy) and will create a beautiful, textured swirl of flowering grass which is good for pollinators, Make your own frame for succulents - Using recycled and found materials, create your own vertical planter for a host of succulents, perfect for balconies or other small spaces, Saving your seeds - Collecting seeds from your garden is the perfect way to start planning ahead for your garden next year, all while reducing waste. Sustainable Garden will guide anyone hoping to take informed and intelligent decisions to make a difference, but who perhaps don't know where to begin.

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.

This original book examines the experiences cities and urban areas have had with two principal concerns that confront them today: sustainability and competitiveness. Focusing on major cities in East Asia, North America, and Western Europe, Towards a Competitive, Sustainable Modern City illuminates the ways in which cities differ not only in their course and stages of development, but in the nature of their economies and their administrative structures. Featuring a wide-ranging set of contributions from top researchers, this book discusses and analyzes the issues that different cities face, such as social cohesion, tolerance and cultural diversity, and how this will determine their developmental trajectories through the coming decade. These issues are explored in relation to contemporary topics including the growing economy of robotics, the rising importance and use of artificial intelligence and the information and communications economy. Towards a Competitive, Sustainable Modern City will be an invaluable read for scholars and professors in urban economics and urban studies more broadly, particularly those who are focusing on the importance of sustainability in both areas. Its stimulating, yet accessible, approach to the topic and key case studies will also greatly benefit urban planners and economic policy makers looking to improve contemporary cities.

Providing an in-depth exploration of the formation, building, development, and evolutionary phases of sustainable alliances, this book presents a new perspective on organizational change that goes beyond modern institutions and offers practical insights on how to cope with paradoxes in the life cycle of alliances. Combining theoretical ideas, practical concepts, and critical reflections on the topic, this insightful and timely book supports the conception and progression of purpose-driven alliances which contribute to a more positive and sustainable world. The authors present a historical overview of alliances, as well as discussing the factors pertaining to the successes and failures of collaborating organizations. The book further outlines the life cycle of sustainable alliances, using the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS) and the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) as contemporary case studies. Analysing the strength and scope of alliances, it explores opportunities for these partnerships to contribute to a sustainable future. Offering inspiration and guidance for those looking to contribute to profound economic and social change, this book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of business management, international business, and sustainable development, as well as the new generation of business people. It will also be beneficial for consultants, leaders, and managers who are dedicated to the creation and development of global alliances.

Economic issues arise in almost every water policy context. Water is of most concern when scarce, but physical scarcity is often overcome as human beings move water from place to place, sometimes creating monumental structures. The roles that cost and economic value play in water resource allocation are implicit, but often poorly understood. This second edition clarifies the role of economics and offers material that can be applied to water resource allocation problems around the world. Topics covered include: groundwater, floods and droughts, in situ uses of water, and institutions and law. New to the book is an exploration of water issues outside the United States as well as a new application of behavioral and experimental economics to the topic. A concise introduction to issues of water quality and quantity in both urban and agricultural settings, Water Resource Economics and Policy will be a valuable resource or text for students and researchers in the fields of agricultural economics, geography, law, and hydrology. Those involved in water resource agencies and private utilities will also find the book a useful reference. Acclaim for the first edition: 'This textbook is written for first-year graduate students and senior level undergraduates in economics. ... Graduate students in geography, water resources, and environmental management should also be interested. The well-done helpful diagrams and charts are those expected for a textbook in economics at this level. In every chapter many interesting real-world examples illustrate the concept being discussed. Some chapters have easy-to-read case studies set off from the text. ... I plan on keeping this excellent book as a shelf reference and would willingly adopt it for a class in water resource economics.' - Donald E. Agthe, Journal of the American Water Resources Association 'This is a much-needed book, which introduces the interested reader to the economics of water resource allocation, and analyzes relevant policy issues derived from all over the world. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first book which is focused on communicating the basic economic concepts that govern water resources allocation. ... The lively writing style of W. Douglass Shaw, which is enriched with excellent examples and case studies from various countries, makes this book an obvious choice for a textbook in relevant courses ... this excellent book should be a compulsory reading for all of us who work in the field of water resources management.' - Phoebe Koundouri, Ecological Economics

Outlining an integrative theory of knowledge, Francisco Javier Carrillo explores how to understand the underlying behavioural basis of the knowledge economy and society. Chapters highlight the notion that unless a knowledge-based value creation and distribution paradigm is globally adopted, the possibilities for integration between a sustainable biosphere and a viable economy are small. This Modern Guide provides an overview of where we are regarding the knowledge economy and society, how its current form took shape and how our understanding has evolved, from the grounds of the philosophy of knowledge, to include the current branches of the sciences of knowledge. Carrillo further examines the challenges of the Anthropocene and how modern knowledge systems might need to change radically to meet them. The Modern Guide then moves to focus on the integration of epistemic, theoretical, technical and political developments in several fields of knowledge-related aspects of economy and society to offer a more integrated view. > Multidisciplinary and thorough, this will be an interesting read for scholars of knowledge, society and the environment, as well as students looking at ways to re-evaluate knowledge more broadly. Policymakers and governmental analysts will also benefit from the discussing of the unviability of our current economic culture and the potential options for the future.

This expanded and updated Research Handbook delivers an authoritative and in-depth guide to the conceptual foundations of environmental law. It offers a nuanced reflection on the underlying principles by exploring issues such as human rights, constitutional rights, sustainable development and environmental impact assessment within the context of environmental law. Perceptive contributions examine the emerging roles played by a range of concepts, values and objectives in environmental governance. The nature of these emerging concepts and their relationship with traditional rights and duties, which are typically reactive in nature, is of particular significance. New and revised chapters thoroughly examine the concepts at the heart of environmental law including sustainability, protection and climate change law. This second edition further illuminates key aspects of environmental governance through the lens of their underlying dimensions: the form, structure and language of international, regional and national instruments; the function of norms, objectives and standards; and the relevance of economic analysis and of integrated policy formulation. This discerning new edition will be an ideal read for all students and researchers in environmental law and governance. Furthermore, it will be essential reading and a valuable resource for policymakers, legal drafters and those wanting to understand the foundations of the modern environmental legal system.

Functional Microbiomes II, Volume 68 in the Advances in Ecological Research series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Chapters include Investigating the core microbiome concept: Daphnia as a case study and Soil Microbiome

Algae Based Bioelectrochemical Systems for Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Storage, Bioremediation and Bioproduct Generation explores the integration of carbon capture, storage and sequestration technologies with bioelectrochemical fuels cells (BEFC), showing how conventional technologies can be renovated to aid in the reduction in GHG emissions and simultaneously optimize BEFC performance. The book focuses on the integration of algal biogas upgradation with electrochemical systems, providing a guide to the renovation of conventional technologies to combine energy production and carbon sequestration. Chapters discuss the latest advancements in carbon sequestration biocatalyst and microbial platforms and integrations for rapid carbon biotransformations. In addition, the book highlights the potential of algae and chemolithotrophs as candidates for carbon delivery, biocatalyst orientation and architecture for optimal BEFC performance.

This thought-provoking book explores how the global ecological crisis profoundly challenges conventional meanings of environmental security and raises important questions about how states and other institutions now face the future. Simon Dalby provides unique insights into the traditional search for security in terms of using firepower to dominate states and environments, and how this is now endangering people across the globe. Whereas earlier concerns about nuclear firepower focused on the security dilemmas it posed, Dalby offers a new perspective into the existential threats to civilization presented by the combustion of fossil fuels. Propounding that the constraint of firepower in both senses is now key to a flourishing human future, the book calls for international relations scholars to rethink many of the central premises in the field and formulate new policies that focus on the necessity of ecological flourishing to provide meaningful security in a climate disrupted world. Visionary and inspiring, Rethinking Environmental Security will be a critical read for scholars and students of international relations, climate change, environmental governance and regulation, and political geography and geopolitics. Its novel ideas will also be beneficial for policy makers and practitioners in these fields.

Economies around the world have arrived at a critical juncture: to continue to grow fuelled by fossil fuels and exacerbate climate change, or to move towards more sustainable, greener, growth. Choosing the latter is shown to help address climate change, as well as present new economic opportunities. This Handbook provides a deeper understanding of the concept of green growth, and highlights key lessons from the experience of green transformations across the world following a decade of ambitious stimulus packages and green reforms. With comprehensive chapters from key researchers in the field drawn from across the globe, the Handbook on Green Growth offers up to date and original analysis of the many facets of the phenomenon of green growth. Is economic growth desirable? When can economic growth and environmental policies work together? What are the key factors that will achieve green growth? What will be the multiple impacts of green growth? And, what have been the experiences of economies that have undertaken a green transformation? This Handbook will be a key resource for students and academics interested in economics, environmental and ecological studies, as well as for those specialising in environmental policy. It will also be a valuable tool for policy makers concerned about the dual objectives of stimulating economic growth and addressing environmental damage.