Reinvigorating the sustainable development research agenda: the role of the sustainable development goals (SDG)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) contain a set of 17 measures to foster sustainable development across many areas. It offers a good opportunity to reinvigorate sustainable development research for two main reasons. First, it comprises many areas of SD research, which have become mainstream thanks to the UN SDGs. Second, the fact that the UN and its member countries have committed to attaining SDGs by 2030 has added a sense of urgency to the need to perform quality research on SD on the one hand, and reiterates the need to use the results of this research on the other. Even though the basic concept of sustainability goes back many centuries, it has only recently appeared on the international political agenda. This is partly due to an awakening of the fact that the human ecological pressure on the planet is still much larger than what nature can renew or compensate for. Based on this state of affairs, this paper presents an outline of the process leading to the agreement on the UN SDGs, and looks at some of the ecological aspects as a result of continued pressure of human activities on natural resources. Furthermore, a set of research needs is proposed – also based holistically on updated research trends – discussing the degree of urgency of some measures and explaining why the UN SDGs need to be accorded greater priority in international sustainable development research efforts.     

Indigenous people and sustainable development in Amazonas

Indigenous populations have lived for many generations in a sustainable fashion, developing knowledge about how to live in harmony with the environment. However, the sustainability of their life styles, their quality of life and the maintenance of intact ecosystems are threatened by a series of changes, including incorporation into the general fabric of society, conflict with non-indigenous migrants, expansion of indigenous populations and the globalization of national economies. This paper looks at the potential for policy to deal with these issues. In particular, it is shown that the ‘polluter pays principle’ is not appropriate for indigenous societies. The paper recommends a set of policies and shows how international cooperation in the areas of monitoring and enforcement, augmentation of demand for rain forest products and eco-certification can help indigenous groups improve their quality of life and maintain ecosystems in their current undisturbed state.     

The sustainable development oxymoron: quantifying and modelling the incompatibility of sustainable development goals

ABSTRACT

In 2015, the UN adopted a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate poverty, establish socioeconomic inclusion and protect the environment. Critical voices such as the International Council for Science (ICSU), however, have expressed concerns about the potential incompatibility of the SDGs, specifically the incompatibility of socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. In this paper, we test, quantify and model the alleged inconsistency of SDGs. Our analyses show which SDGs are consistent and which are conflicting. We measure the extent of inconsistency and conclude that the SDG agenda will fail as a whole if we continue with business as usual. We further explore the nature of the inconsistencies using dynamical systems models, which reveal that the focus on economic growth and consumption as a means for development underlies the inconsistency. Our models also show that there are factors which can contribute to development (health programmes, government investment) on the one hand and ecological sustainability (renewable energy) on the other, without triggering the conflict between incompatible SDGs.     

湘北红壤丘岗区农业可持续发展问题探讨

从自然资源条件、农业基础设施、后备资源潜力、科技储备等方面剖析湘北红壤丘岗区农业发展的优势；同时阐明了阻碍该区农业可持续发展的主要因素，即土壤肥力普遍偏低、季节性干旱严重、农业生态系统脆弱、资源利用不合理、开发与利用资源的资金短缺、体制缺陷和思想观念陈旧等。提出了10条促进该区农业持续高效发展的技术途径和措施，即：(1)推广农村实用新技术，迅速提高土地生产力；(2)充分发挥“土壤水库”和工程水库的作用，抗御季节性干旱；(3)协调水土矛盾，建立丘岗开发的资源互利型利用模式；(4)全而开展生态农业建设，改善农村生态环境；(5)大力调整农业结构，尽快形成新的主导产业或生产项目；(6)壮大村级集体经济，充分发挥它在现代农业建设中的杠杆作用；(7)以市场为导向，建立农产品商品生产基地，加快农业产业化进程；(8)增强科技投入，充分发挥科技进步的推动作用；(9)建立完善的投资管理和激励机制，提高广大农民参与农业综合开发的积极性；(10)强化农业先进技术的培训和推广，提高农民科技素质。     

The role of spatial scale in sustainable development

The role of spatial scale in sustainable development is assessed by dividing the world into multiple spatial units at different levels on a socio-political spatial scale. The basic patterns of sustainable development do not appear to be evident at all spatial levels, owing to the absence of some capital stocks and the conversion processes linking them, but environmental economics theory can be generalized to explain phenomena at various levels. Capital conversion processes influencing the sustainability of development of spatial units are constrained by processes at different levels, e.g. those imposing environmental conditions on development or affecting availability of investment capital. The autonomy of individual spatial units is also compromised by capital transfers to and from other units at the same level, so it is proposed that the sustainability of development of a particular unit should be estimated using net, rather than gross capital trends. Because of uneven development the same degree of sustainability should not be expected at the same time for all spatial units at the same spatial level.     

Managing natural resources with eco-friendly technologies for sustainable rural development: a case of Garhwal Himalaya

Traditional Central Himalaya societies face a range of socio-economic and environmental problems. The potential of science and technology has not yet been adequately and appropriately harnessed to overcome the development constraints posed by the fragile Himalayan environment. Thus there is a need for large-scale establishment of technology resource centers. The Garhwal Unit of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development established rural technology demonstration and training centers in three different agroecological zones between 550 and 2200 m asl and in 13–15 locations, with suitable technologies based on appropriate use and management of locally available bio-resources that ensure people participation. About 35 on-site training courses were organised for about 2329 participants. The participants were given on-site demonstrations, training and technical know-how on various technologies, to enable farmers to better understand problems faced during implementation of new technologies for sustainable management of natural resources. An action research framework and training manuals were also developed in consideration of local socio-economic condition. The documentation and analysis of research (quantitative and qualitative) and data related to cost–benefit analysis of the technologies adopted by farmers generated through this study has created wider sharing of farmer training outputs, at farm level, amongst the scientific communities and with policy planners.     

Emerging,diverging and converging paradigms on sustainable development

Sustainable development has been used in various contexts by theoreticians and practitioners from a number of disciplines. This review explores some of these contexts from basic and applied ecological sciences, social sciences and philosophical works. It is concluded that there is a need to develop a theoretical paradigm that helps to explain the reasons underlying human resource use—a fundamental question that has been ignored in many other studies. A theoretical, evolutionary approach and several premises derived from this approach are offered. The theoretical framework suggests that societal scale, social structure, interrelatedness of individuals, and reciprocal relations between individuals may all be important in determining the types of management programmes that promote sustainable resource use by humans. Examples of solutions to various sustainability issues at different scales, based on different kinds of incentive structures, are also presented.     

Using the sustainable development goals towards a better understanding of sustainability challenges

The United Nations General Assembly agreed and approved in September 2015 the document ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, which contains a set of measures aiming to balance economic progress and protection of the environment, whilst at the same time remain aware of the need to address the many disparities still seen between industrialised and developing countries. The Agenda document consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which among many other tasks, intend to eradicate poverty and create better health conditions in both developed and developing countries. But despite the need for and the relevance of the SDGs, it is unclear how they may help to address present and future sustainability challenges. Based on the need to shed some light on such a relationship, this paper describes each of the SDGs, and offers an analysis of the extent to which their implementation may offer support to ongoing attempts to handle some of the pressing problems seen in pursuing sustainable development. Three case studies are presented to show in practice how best the SDGs can be handled. The paper concludes that the process of implementing the SDGs offers unrivalled opportunities to advance equal opportunity and foster economic empowerment, helping countries to promote the cause of sustainable development in their territories, hence benefiting their populations.     

微生物资源的开发利用与农业可持续发展

对微生物资源在农业可持续发展中的作用及其合理开发利用进行了阐述和总结。认为微生物作为一种宝贵的资源,它与农业可持续发展的关系十分密切,它在土壤肥力的提高与保持、营养元素的转化、环境净化与生态系统的平衡等方面起着极其重要的作用。因此,加强以微生物肥料、微生物农药、微生物食品、微生物饲料、环境激素和环境工程微生物等为核心的农业清洁生产技术的研究与开发利用将具有广阔的应用前景。微生物农业即所谓的"白色农业"将成为未来农业可持续发展的重要方向之一。     

生态伦理:可持续发展的伦理基础

可持续发展是始源于人类所面面临的生态危机、以人与自然关系的协调发展为基本内容的一种生态化发展模式,它所面对和需要处理的是人类发展需求无限性与自然资源有限性这一矛盾,即人类对自然的价值取向、开发强度是否符合自然规律的问题.目前学界对它的研究已突破"经济-科技-政治"等实践层面,开始深入到"观念-价值-文化"等认识论、价值论领域.生态伦理是对人与自然关系的哲学反思中应运而生的一种革命性的伦理思想,本质上属于人类社会的"观念-价值-文化"领域,其理论构成、研究对象正契合人类的可持续发展.生态伦理作为可持续发展伦理基础是可持续发展的客观要求和必然选择:①生态伦理突破传统的道德定义,将伦理关怀的对象扩展到人与自然界关系的领域,为可持续发展奠定了坚实的思想基础,提供可靠的伦理前提;②生态伦理肯定自然价值和自然权利,直接回应了在可持续发展中人为何要尊重自然价值与权利这一理论课题,为人类对大自然的价值认同寻到理论根基,使可持续发展寻找到坚实的价值支点;③生态伦理在反思和批判传统道德评价标准的基础上,提出全新的道德评价标准,为现实的可持续发展战略的设计与安排提供伦理支持和辩护.     

科学施肥与农业生产可持续发展

化肥的施用，实现了农业的增产，一百多年来为解决中国人民的温饱问题做出了重大贡献。肥料仍然是粮食安全的重要保障。但不合理施用化肥造成环境污染和食品安全问题，使人们产生了对化肥的错误认识。文章认为必须树立起科学施肥的观念，努力提高化肥利用率，形成有机、无机肥料合理配合使用的格局，促进农业生产可持续发展。此外，还认为应加强肥料市场管理，使之有法可依，并能迎接入世的挑战。     

Pollution prevention for sustainable development: the land-use question

The central argument of the paper is that effective pollution prevention can be achieved only by integrated land-use planning which offers the broad framework for co-ordinating technological and non-technological means to achieve sustainable development. The paper first reviews the role of land-use in preventing or contributing to pollution over time, focusing especially on contemporary efforts to promote environmental protection through land-use planning and management. The relationship between land-use, pollution and sustainable development is analysed by examining the most important types of land-use-related problems, discussing their causes and identifying a number of land-use-related constraints to sustainable development. Finally, a land-use planning and policy framework approach to pollution prevention for sustainable development is outlined which emphasizes the need for integrated analysis of pollution problems and adoption of comprehensive approaches to their solution. Scientific, spatial, temporal and policy issues are addressed in the context of the proposed approach.     

Towards sustainable local economic development: the UK experience

Despite a growing interest by academics and policy makers in sustainable development, there have been relatively few attempts to examine the economic development implications of adopting such policies. This is especially true at the local level, where very few studies have been undertaken. This paper attempts to remedy this situation through an investigation of strategies introduced by local authorities in the United Kingdom. Existing policies are examined and suggestions made for future policy developments.     

自组织理论与复合生态系统可持续发展

复合生态系统出现了一系列环境问题阻碍了区域的可持续发展。文章将自组织理论引人到可持续发展领域，建立以实现可持续发展为目标的复合生态系统自组织理论：分析了复合生态系统的自组织特性，阐述了复合生态系统内部非线性结构和熵相互作用对系统自组织演化的影响，论述了复合生态系统自组织与可持续发展的关系，即复合生态系统达到自组织运作状态或总体趋势时，系统就达到了可持续发展。提出了复合生态系统自组织运行规律就是要实现社会规律、经济规律和自然规律的协同，即“三律协同”。在此基础上，探讨了实现复合生态系统自组织的途径：系统开放、引入负熵；建立以生态经济、生态环境、生态文化组成的耗散结构；建立复合生态系统目标实现的分段时间结构；加强系统协调机制，制定符合系统社会、经济和自然规律协同的各项措施。     

Rubber cultivation and sustainable development in Xishuangbanna,China

SUMMARY

Xishuangbanna in southwest China is a tropical and subtropical region with extraordinary traditional cultures and attractive landscapes. Rubber cultivation is a key production source undergoing rapid growth. It contributes substantially to improvement of the local economic situation and partially replaces traditional slash-and-burn agriculture in the uplands, but it also results in biodiversity loss and environmental degradation and disturbs the peaceful life of the indigenous people. We discuss the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) preserved in daily practices and the present types of rubber plantations and suggest the application of TEK, in particular, the indigenous land-use experience to rubber cultivation, in order to promote sustainability in local economic development and ecological well-being.     

国内外可持续发展指标体系研究进展

可持续发展是人类社会发展的必由之路。可持续发展指标的筛选和指标体系的构建,是人类全面实施可持续发展战略的重要组成部分,是人类社会可持续发展研究中的前沿性课题。20世纪90年代以来可持续发展研究的热点已经从可持续发展的定义转向可持续发展的评价,特别是指标体系的构建。20多年来,可持续发展指标体系的研究已经出现了从理论探讨走向了实际应用的趋势。通过分析20世纪90年代以来国内外有代表性的不同尺度上的可持续发展指标体系：联合国可持续发展委员会（UNCSD）的可持续发展指标体系、世界银行衡量可持续发展的新指标体系、波罗的海21世纪议程、英国、瑞典、芬兰、德国、美国、瑞士、丹麦及中国等国的可持续发展指标体系、欧洲城市可持续发展指标体系、新西兰玛努卡市的可持续发展指标体系、美国西雅图市社区可持续发展指标体系、中国的云南省、海南省、山东省等省以及南京市和哈尔滨市的可持续发展指标体系、山西交口县可持续发展指标体系、云南山区民族行政村可持续发展指标体系,对国内外可持续发展指标体系研究进行了总体评价。结果发现如果在以西方文明为主的现代化和城市化的框架下进行区域可持续发展的分析和评判,那得到的结论本质上是区域现代化或城市化程度的反映,而不是对区域可持续发展现状和趋势的评判。20多年来,国内外可持续发展指标体系的研究取得了丰硕的成果,为人类实施可持续发展战略打下了坚实的基础。     

Restrictions and options: A heuristic tool to integrate knowledge for strategies towards a sustainable development

SUMMARY

This article presents the heuristic ‘Restrictions and Options’ that was created in an interdisciplinary research team to identify restricting and supporting factors regarding sustainable ways of actions for different institutional and individual actors in the need-field of nutrition. The heuristic format is first presented on a general level. Then it is combined with two different approaches: first, with a systemic constructivist approach to organization theory, and second, with the ipsative theory of action (psychology). Its abilities are illustrated by examples from two research projects.

The heuristic tool was developed to help identify relevant factors that restrict or support sustainable development in two empirical settings and also could be used to compare the findings. Combining the two approaches remains for future research.     

Evolution,variability and sustainable development

SUMMARY

Sustainable development is a global challenge to science and society. In politics and economics the concepts for establishing a sustainable society are numerous, nonetheless necessary interdisciplinary approaches are still marginalised. Trying to foster a deeper communication between biology and social science, an evolutionary perspective on sustainable development is offered. Subsequently, the role of variability and diversity in evolution is highlighted. Hereby, special attention is devoted, among other things, to the links between variability and stability in the long term. Next, selection and variability are emphasised in the cultural context. This is followed by general implications for sustainability. In contrast to strategies aiming at short-term optimisation and economic efficiency, we argue that the conditions and circumstances maintaining variability and momentary sub-optimal alternatives are highly relevant for a socio-economic system that is heading for sustainable development.     

中国农业可持续发展技术

随着经济的高速发展，中国农业面临着环境与发展的双重挑战。为实现农业的可持续发展，必须在继承传统农业技术精华和引进现代农业新技术的基础上，运用生态经济学原理和系统工程方法，在不同层次上建立起具有中国特色的农业可持续发展技术体系。通过协调环境保护与经济发展、自然资源开发及其永续利用的关系，实现生态与经济的良性循环，达到持续发展的目标。     

Measuring and assessing indicators of sustainable development for Scotland: a pilot survey

In this paper, we review three broad classes of indicators of sustainable development. These are economic, ecological and sociopolitical indicators. We then report the results of a pilot study which measured five different indicators for Scotland: an approximate environmentally-adjusted Net National Product; the Pearce-Atkinson Measure; Net Primary Production; Appropriated Carrying Capacity; and the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare. We find that not all indicators point in the same direction, but a majority suggest that Scotland is at best only marginally sustainable. Data limitations, however, suggest a degree of caution in the interpretation of these results.