Sustainable Development

Artykuł przedstawia urzeczywistnienie idei zrównoważonego rozwoju w budownictwie. Zadania tego podjęli się architekci budując na Pomorzu dom jednorodzinny, w którym zastosowano nowatorskie rozwiązania w znacznej części przynależące do specjalistów z zakresu ogrzewania i wentylacji.

The paper examines the nexus among the concepts of democracy, globalisation and technology, arguably the three most interdependent notions affecting the way and speed in which global dynamics and diplomatic practises were transformed. It analyses the evolution of non-state actors' engagement in multilateral processes between the Stockholm Conference in 1972 and the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. The experience of the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) at the Rio+20 Conference is introduced as a case study to illustrate the practical application of the nexus and its impact on stakeholder engagement. The analysis recognises that the nexus offers a real opportunity to improve diplomacy means and practices and encourage further exploration into the nexus’ full potential.

Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course at Koberwitz (now Kobierzyce), in the summer of 1924, was the gateway event that led to the development of biodynamic agriculture and, subsequently, organic agriculture. The present paper identifies for the first time the 111 attendees of that course. The list reveals that 'Koberwitzers', as they called themselves, were a well credentialed and capable group of individuals, some of whom went on to champion and develop Rudolf Steiner's ideas about agriculture and other fields. The present paper revises a prior analysis of the Koberwitzers. For each Koberwitzer, the list reveals, the name, hometown, occupation, and accommodation during the course. Thirty one percent of Koberwitzers were women. Thirty eight percent were associated directly with agriculture (including farmer, estate manager, and estate owner), 6% of attendees were creatives (including writer, author, artist and editor), and a further 6% were priests. These three occupational categories, viz. Agriculture, Creative and Priest, together account for 50% of Koberwitzer occupations (and 72% of the known occupations). There remains for further scholarship to populate gaps in the listing: the gender of one Koberwitzer remains unidentified; one hometown (and country) remains unidentified; 33 occupations remain unidentified; and 51 accommodations remain unidentified. At the time of the Koberwitz course, Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was mortally ill. The course was never repeated,. It was up to the Koberwitzers to progress Rudolf Steiner's call for the development of a differentiated natural agriculture without synthetic chemicals. The Koberwitzers met the call. There are now 251,842 certified biodynamic hectares in 55 countries, included in the 71,514,583 certified organic hectares in 186 countries.

The limits of the planet and of natural  resources  impede  pursuing  the  modern  project  based  on  permanent
growth  and  represent  a  major  challenge  for  humanity.  Drawing on an  agency-centred  approach,  this paper addresses two two  major  questions:
‘Who are the social actors who challenge the normative orientation at the core of modernization and promote alternative values and practices that may contribute to the rise of a global age, or may embody glimpses of a global age society?’ and ‘Can we grasp some dimensions of life and society in the global age  by studying current social movements?  ’

The September 2021 edition of the IRMO Brief deals with energy security of the Balkans and the upcoming changes in the energy security of the region. Year 2023 could bring a dramatic overhaul on the energy map of the Western Balkans countries, as by then the derogation from EU environmental regulation for a number of thermal power plants expires while reliability of lignite mines and power plants deteriorates. As the region’s energy supply is to a large extent dependent on lignite-fired power plants, the 2023 will be a turning point for the Balkans in terms of energy supply. At the same time, the Western Balkan countries are aware of the importance of the EU Green Agenda and that the replacement of coal by other energy sources, is at the core of EU climate policy. The author also analyses the energy map Europe after the completion of the Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream gas pipeline projects as well as closures of nuclear and coal plants and phase out of Groningen gas field , and positions the role of the Balkans in the overall energy security of Europe. Paper address the risk that developments in Balkans affect credibility of the EU promotion of the rule of law, climate change awareness and human rights.  Findings are confirmed by recent failures in gas and power supply across the region and spike in wholesale prices.

To consider small islands as places for sustainable tourism or sustainable anything, for that matter, must surely be cause for critical deliberation. Small islands as sanctuaries, or rare citadels for ecological safekeeping and tight-knit communities, runs counter to islands as sites for extraction and development, yet increasingly the latter prevails. However, the former are the precise reasons that small islands are aligned with the global travel supply chain. Consuming small islands abides with the tropical idyll narrative and, within such invocations, the exposure of small islands to externalities renders its utility to purposes that run counter to benign and constructive outcomes. Herein is the dilemma for small islands and their entanglements with tourism expansion.
See full report here: http://projects.upei.ca/unescochair/files/2020/07/Annual-Report-on-Global-Islands-2019.pdf

This presents a management strategy for the urban waterlogged deposits and archaeological remains at Nantwich, Cheshire, endorsed as a Supplmentary Planning Document by East Cheshire Council for its local plan. It advocates a holistic solution for preventing dessication of the deposits by raising awareness with all urban planners (spatial planners, water engineers, highways engineers, utility providers, as well as developers and other parties) to change their approach to have more permeable surfaces (inclusing SUDS) and allow rainwater to percolate through the deposits, helping preservation of organic archaeological remains and preventing subsidence of the timber-frame historic buildings that form the historic centre and conservation area of the town.

This descriptive-analytical study attempted to investigate the quality of life in urban areas of Iran. Sonqor City of Kermanshah Province was selected as a case. Field and documentary data collection methods were used. To collect the field data, researcher-designed questionnaires were used, of which the validity was confirmed by expert judgment and the reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha (0.893). The population comprised all the residents of Sonqor City (n=46181). Using Cochran formula, 382 individuals were selected as sample and questionnaires were randomly distributed among them. Results demonstrated that among the 9 aspects of quality of life investigated in Sonqor City, satisfaction with the three aspects of housing, transportation and education, which have coefficients of variation of 0.319, 0.331, and 0.412 respectively, are the most important aspects. Moreover, general results of quality of life of Sonqor residents revealed that 75 percent of the respondents had ...

Understanding and proper use of statistics is an integral part of everyday business environment. Statistics as a scientific discipline deals with collection, analysis and interpretation of data referring to the observed phenomena, and it is linked to a numeric indicator. Increasing demand for high-quality statistical data and speed of availability of those caused the development of new modern technologies, particularly in the data collection process. One of the solutions to increase the speed, accuracy and availability of data is precisely the use of modern information technology tools in the process of data production. Bearing the foregoing in mind, one of the development goals of the Statistical Office is to improve the organization and control of statistical processes by introducing modern technologies in the process of not only collecting data, but also of their processing and dissemination. In addition, the goal is to improve the organization of work in the direction of centralization of data collection phase and improvement in standardization of statistical processes through the development of existing and adoption of new procedures and guidelines that standardize the production process of official statistics. Application of new technologies increases data quality as well, but also reduces the research costs. This work aims to present the methods of data collection in agriculture statistics that are currently used in the Statistical Office of Montenegro, the manner of control of field work (through the introduction of a controllers system), as well as plans for modernization of data collection in the context of surveys research in agriculture statistics.

Podczas tego wydarzenia w ramach sesji Rady Klimatycznej UJ przedstawiona zostanie książka "Za pięć dwunasta koniec świata. Kryzys klimatyczno-ekologiczny głosem wielu nauk" pod redakcją Kasi Jasikowskiej (Instytut Socjologii UJ) i Michała Pałasza (Instytut Kultury UJ), która ukaże się  na wiosnę w wolnym dostępie. Zaprezentowane zostaną główne myśli 22 artykułów dotyczących różnych aspektów kryzysu klimatyczno-ekologicznego autorstwa ekspertów rozmaitych dziedzin nauk przyrodniczych, społecznych i humanistycznych, wśród których wielu związanych z jest z Uniwersytetem Jagiellońskim i Radą Klimatyczną UJ.

The focus of this thesis is on whether or not it is possible to decouple economic growth from the physical growth of the economy and its associated negative environmental pressures and pollution. The thesis demonstrates that it is possible to achieve significant levels of decoupling of economic growth from a range of environmental pressures such as greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and natural resource degradation, freshwater extraction, air pollution, waste and hazardous waste.

By clearly differentiating between economic and physical growth and focusing on how to achieve significant decoupling this thesis advances the traditional debates and discourses about “growth”. This thesis shows that in theory and practice it is possible to achieve significant levels of decoupling, and thus environmental sustainability, whilst maintaining economic growth.

This thesis examines the relative costs of inaction versus action on decoupling, concluding that the costs of inaction significantly outweigh the costs of action. It also examines whether a transition to environmental sustainabilty will lead to net job losses or gains, showing that, with effective policy, it can result in net employment gains. As such, this thesis provides a new integration to show that it is possible to reconcile the need to simultaneously achieve environmental sustainability, economic growth and job creation. This result has important implications for other important sustainability debates such as the climate change debates. These are explored in detail in this thesis.

This thesis also demonstrates that many social sustainability goals – reducing poverty, inequality and corruption whilst improving access to education and health –correlate strongly with improved economic growth. Thus this thesis demonstrates that it is possible to create a new form of economic growth that is also environmentally and socially sustainable as called for in the seminal text on sustainable development "Our Common Future" in 1987.

Finally, this thesis is a formal defense of and contribution to the academic field of ecological modernization which has hypothesized that it is possible to simultaneously pursue environmental sustainability, social justice and economic growth in ways that mutually re-enforce each other. This thesis provides significant evidence to support this central tenet of ecological modernisation. The research of this thesis has helped inform and contribute to several international book publications all of which show nations how to achieve significant decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressures such as Cents and Sustainability:Securing Our Common Future by Decoupling Economic Growth from Environmental Pressures (Earthscan, 2010). Note: This thesis was submitted in May 2008 and was awarded in 2009.  You can download all the chapters individually from the ANU digital thesis library here https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/49387

"Since its very inception, social work has been considered an organizationally based profession, with the majority of its workforce employed within formal organizations. Whether in nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental agencies, the practical realities of human service organizations are a central element of professional social work. This book explores the climate and culture of these agencies and provides essential information for surviving and thriving in this setting. It prepares students for their future careers so that they will feel empowered in their work and be able to fulfill their responsibilities toward organizational, community, and social change. Using real-life examples, the authors examine the internal structures of management, financing, and supervision and discuss common conflicts between agencies and professionals. The book’s straightforward tone and practical advice make it an asset to anyone entering human service organizations.

This new edition contains updated examples, case studies, and references. It also contains valuable information on the effects of the recent financial crisis on human service organizations. Agencies now face increased caseloads and more complex social problems with fewer resources and less money. Understanding how these events have changed the nature of human service organizations will allow students to be better prepared for the work ahead of them.

Features

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Expanded content on the practical aspects of organizational theory and suggestions for developing leadership skills
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Updated examples, case studies, and references throughout the book
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Key points and discussion questions following each chapter
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Updated instructor’s manual available online as a PDF or Word document"

Mining plays a key role in Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing 5% and 23% to the country’s gross domestic (GDP) and total exports, respectively. It also generates foreign currency and supplies raw materials to some industries. As a ‘robber’ industry, it extracts minerals from the earth without replacing them. It also creates deep shafts and ugly pits which damage the landscape. In addition it causes environmental pollution and is a threat to the tranquillity of the natural environment. Based on information that was collected in August 2017, this paper discusses various aspects of the mining industry. These include Zimbabwe’s mining legislation, environmental impacts of the mining industry at global level, in the SADC region and in Zimbabwe. Problems which confront the industry as well as their possible solutions in Zimbabwe are also examined. From a sustainable development (SD) point of view, mining poses a serious danger which should be addressed at both local and national levels. Since the early years of independence (1980-1984), several Zimbabwean mines have closed down either due to mineral depletion or dis-investment. Some of them have turned into ghost towns which have led to the decay of infrastructure. Little or nothing has been done to avert this crisis. Those mines which are still operational cause immense pollution to the natural environment thereby threatening SD at the national level. However, solutions to avert this crisis are hard to come by. Currently, there is a need to promote environmental education (EE) and education for sustainable development (ESD) at the national level. In this context, efforts should be directed at the establishment of EE centres throughout Zimbabwe as is the case in South Africa.

This report presents the findings of a research study funded by Amplify Change and implemented through a partnership between Progressio and a coalition of twelve Somaliland civil society organizations. The aim of the research is to deepen the understanding of gender-based violence (GBV) in Somaliland and the social norms that underpin this practice.

Religious texts are important for believers and this is true of the Christian faith where the Bible is taken as an inspired and holy word of God. The challenge for biblical scholars, theologians, environmentalists, ecologists and biblical readers would be the use of morally challenging biblical examples in the proclamation of the kingdom. Texts that sound environmentally unfriendly, for example, Genesis 1:28 (where God instructed His created beings to subdue and have dominion on the earth), Mark 5:1-20 (where the healing makes the herd of pigs be driven into the sea) and Jesus cursing a fig tree. These are typical examples of morally difficult texts on the relation between the kingdom of God and the environment. The following questions have been raised: What is the morality of Jesus’ actions in cursing the tree? Do biophobic biblical texts have an impact on Christians’ interactions with their environment? Is sustainable development possible in a context of biophobic tendencies? How best can such texts be interpreted in a context where there is an environmental crisis characterized by deforestation, contaminated waters, polluted air and rampant poaching? Are the texts sensitive and friendly to the environment? How would African Christians morally regard and interpret such actions on the environment? Traditional culture sanctions peoples’ behaviour and interaction with their environment. As a result, fruit trees are highly regarded amongst Africans. Any behaviour that destroys nature is not encouraged. It is, therefore, the task of this paper to discuss the miracle of the cursing of the fig tree in Matt 21:18-22 in the light of sustainable development and environmental theology. Further, how would a Zimbabwean Christian sustainably read Matt 21:18-22 for development?

This paper identifies some of the key intersections between trade policy and water management, in areas such as agriculture, hydropower generation, water services and wastewater management.
From a trade policy perspective, the main immediate concern is to ensure that international trade rules and disciplines do not unduly affect countries’ ability to manage their water resources sustainably and according to their respective social preferences. While the local nature of water systems and the diversity of water management objectives is not conducive to the application of trade instruments to enforce a prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to water management, there
is also a range of areas in which trade policy could support the sustainable management of water
and related SDG objectives.

Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share in Education: The Children in Permaculture Manual is a ground-breaking book, which shines a permaculture lens to inspire child-friendly, sustainable education.

Full of innovative information, a new curriculum, hundreds of inspirations for activities, session plans, holistic pedagogy and reflection questions, this book will inspire educators to get outdoors and learn from nature.

It is for primary, nursery and kindergarten teachers, policy makers, permaculture designers, Forest School leaders, Scout leaders, parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and anyone else who is interested in holistic education for sustainability and resilience.

The book may be bought from here: https://www.permaculture.org.uk/books/children-in-permaculture-manual

A history of Solid Waste Management in Mexico both formal and informal and how this relationship can be developed for the future to empower waste pickers and put Mexico at the forefront of sustainable development, creating a model that can be replicated elsewhere.

Sustainable development establishes a framework in which environmental policies and development strategies interact each other, and in the process of economic development, the long-term environmental value and human society is taken into account. In addition, ICT is rapidly transforming all aspects of human life and there is less of a sense of our lives that have not been directly or indirectly affected by the ICT. Our studies of the previous frameworks on the effects of ICT on the goals of sustainable development show that most of them fall into two categories. There are a number of frameworks that have introduced general and high-level ICT impacts on sustainability development in the first category, and the second category refers to some specific technologies or specific SDGs. In this paper, we have proposed a framework that addresses all technologies and concerns related to ICT and all SDGs. The main objective of this framework is to show the impact and mapping between SDGs, ICT concepts and technologies, ICT concerns, and ICT development success factors that can be used directly to evaluate the growth and degradation of each of them. The ICT concerns classified into four categories and mapped by ICT technologies and concepts to sustainable development and its goals and ICT development and its concerns.

This article offers a conceptual contribution to the development of sustainability accounting. Sustainability accounting is the contribution of accounting to sustainable development. Sustainability accounting has grown in importance in many countries. The paper uses discourse analysis to analyse sustainability at the conceptual level. This paper highlights the motivation for sustainability accounting, the definition of sustainability accounting, the objectives of sustainability accounting and the tools of sustainability accounting. The findings are significant in that they show that sustainability accounting can provide a reporting framework that allows organizations to commit significant resources to promote continuing sustainability in the interest of society and the environment.

The notion of green growth has emerged as a dominant policy response to climate change and ecological breakdown. Green growth theory asserts that continued economic expansion is compatible with our planet’s ecology, as technological change and substitution will allow us to absolutely decouple GDP growth from resource use and carbon emissions. This claim is now assumed in national and international policy, including in the Sustainable Development Goals. But empirical evidence on resource use and carbon emissions does not support green growth theory. Examining relevant studies on historical trends and model-based projections, we find that: (1) there is no empirical evidence that absolute decoupling from resource use can be achieved on a global scale against a background of continued economic growth, and (2) absolute decoupling from carbon emissions is highly unlikely to be achieved at a rate rapid enough to prevent global warming over 1.5°C or 2°C, even under optimistic policy conditions. We conclude that green growth is likely to be a misguided objective, and that policymakers need to look toward alternative strategies.

Under the consideration of different measures adopted by most United Nations (UN) states members, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aim to address main challenges related to social, economic and environmental issues. Numerous single indicators have been established to monitor progress towards sustainable development; however, the need for benchmarking the degree of sustainability of countries triggered the creation of the composite SDG Index, which originally compiled 77 indicators and has evolved to 99 at present. This research analyses the suitability of applying this composite index for assessing the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda. The scarce availability of information resulted in 60% of the SDGs indicators being disregarded in the SDG Index. The scores obtained through the application of this index clustered UN countries according to specific geographic areas, highlighting the need for developing regional SDG Indices to emphasize the achievement of lower-performed goals.