This collection of research papers, presented at meetings organised by the Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT), concerns a variety of issues relating to the area of sustainable development. WIT has a long and very successful record of organising conferences on the topic of sustainability, which requires an interdisciplinary approach. Any sustainable solutions that are derived solely from the perspective of a single discipline may have unintended damaging consequences that create new problems. Thus effective sustainable solutions require the collaboration of scientists and engineers from various disciplines, as well as planners, architects, environmentalists, policy makers, social scientists, and economists. The contents of this book reflect that interdisciplinary approach, and include topics under the main areas of: Sustainable development and planning; Disaster management; Air pollution; Urban transport; Ecosystems and Water resources management.
Sustainable Separation Engineering Explore an insightful collection of resources exploring conventional and emerging materials and techniques for separations In Sustainable Separation Engineering: Materials, Techniques and Process Development, a team of distinguished chemical engineers delivers a comprehensive discussion of the latest trends in sustainable separation engineering. Designed to facilitate understanding and knowledge transfer between materials scientists and chemical engineers, the book is beneficial for scientists, practitioners, technologists, and industrial managers. Written from a sustainability perspective, the status and need for more emphasis on sustainable separations in the chemical engineering curriculum is highlighted. The accomplished editors have included contributions that explore a variety of conventional and emerging materials and techniques for efficient separations, as well as the prospects for the use of artificial intelligence in separation science and technology. Case studies round out the included material, discussing a broad range of separation applications, like battery recycling, carbon sequestration, and biofuel production. This edited volume also provides: Thorough introductions to green materials for sustainable separations, as well as advanced materials for sustainable oil and water separation Comprehensive explorations of the recycling of lithium batteries and ionic liquids for sustainable separation processes Practical discussions of carbon sequestration, the recycling of polymer materials, and AI for the development of separation materials and processes In-depth examinations of membranes for sustainable separations, green extraction processes, and adsorption processes for sustainable separations Perfect for academic and industrial researchers interested in the green and sustainable aspects of separation science, Sustainable Separation Engineering: Materials, Techniques and Process Development is an indispensable resource for chemical engineers, materials scientists, polymer scientists, and renewable energy professionals.
This book gathers high-quality research papers presented at the 2nd AUE international research conference, AUEIRC 2018, which was organized by the American University in the Emirates, Dubai, and held on November 13th-15th, 2018. The book is broadly divided into two main sections: Sustainability and Smart Business, and Sustainability and Creative Industries. The broad range of topics covered under these sections includes: risk assessment in agriculture, corporate social responsibility and the role of intermediaries, the impact of privatizing health insurance, political events and their effect on foreign currency exchange, the effect of sustainable HR practices on financial performance, sustainability integration in the supply chain and logistics, gender inequality in the MENA economies, the panel data model, the model of sustainable marketing in the era of Industry 4.0, micro-enterprises as a tool for combating unemployment, the impact of financial education and control on financial behavior, measuring financial and asset performance in agricultural firms, a comprehensive strategic approach to sustainability in the UAE, sustainability and project finance, HR analytics, FaD or fashion for organizational sustainability, a conceptual framework of sustainable competitive advantages, psychology of organizational sustainability, Blockchain technology and sustainability, veganism and sustainability, institution building from an emotional intelligence perspective, sustainable concrete production using CWP, occupants’ behavior and energy usage in Emirati houses, the effect of shop lighting on consumer behavior, multimedia applications in digital transformation art, integrating biomimicry principles in sustainable architecture, experimental sustainable practices in fashion education, technology-assisted student-centered learning for civil engineering, and a 10-step design process for architectural design studios. All contributions present high-quality original research work, findings and lessons learned in practical development.
In recent years, much work has been done in formulating and clarifying the concept of sustainable development and related theoretical and research issues. Now, the challenge has shifted to designing and stimulating processes of effective planning and decision-making, at all levels of human activity, in such a way as to achieve local and global sustainable development. Information technology can help a great deal in achieving sustainable development by providing well-designed and useful tools for decision makers. One such tool is the decision support system, or DSS. This book explores the area of DSS in the context of sustainable development. As DSS is a very new technique, especially in the developing world, this book will serve as a reference text, primarily for managers, government officials, and information professionals in developing countries. It covers the concept of sustainable development, defines DSS and how it can be used in the planning and management of sustainable development, and examines the state of the art in DSS use. Other interested readers will include students, teachers, and analysts in information sciences; DSS designers, developers, and implementors; and international development agencies.
Jeffrey D. Sachs is one of the world's most perceptive and original analysts of global development. In this major new work he presents a compelling and practical framework for how global citizens can use a holistic way forward to address the seemingly intractable worldwide problems of persistent extreme poverty, environmental degradation, and political-economic injustice: sustainable development. Sachs offers readers, students, activists, environmentalists, and policy makers the tools, metrics, and practical pathways they need to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Far more than a rhetorical exercise, this book is designed to inform, inspire, and spur action. Based on Sachs's twelve years as director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, his thirteen years advising the United Nations secretary-general on the Millennium Development Goals, and his recent presentation of these ideas in a popular online course, The Age of Sustainable Development is a landmark publication and clarion call for all who care about our planet and global justice.
Published in two volumes, this new book, Advances in Sustainable Development and Management of Environmental and Natural Resources: Economic Outlook and Opinions, addresses the varied aspects of natural resources and their management in conjunction with socioeconomic aspects. With chapters from authors from around the world, this volume features 24 chapters that cover many aspects of the sustainable utilization of management of natural resources and provides new insight into the nexus of ecology and economy and their application in various fields of science. The chapters include case studies and research from India, Africa, South America, and elsewhere. After first laying the foundation, the volume goes on to discuss sustainable development and natural resource management from an economics point of view. Chapters address myriad issues involved in natural resources and environmental management, including soil and water resources management in arid lands, resource management for agricultural purposes, contemporary global legal norms of environment and sustainable development, how emissions factor into regional economies, mitigation of the impact of climate change through sustainable practices, rainwater harvesting technology, and much more. The chapters include case studies that discuss soil, agroforestry, agriculture, wetlands, and floral diversity. The book provides a solid foundation for a realistic perspective of the role of sustainable development and management of natural resources while taking the socioeconomic impact into consideration as well. It will be a valuable resource and reference for the study of ecology, economics, sustainable development, natural resource management, and other allied fields.
This book, from noted materials selection authority Mike Ashby, provides a structure and framework for analyzing sustainable development and the role of materials in it. The aim is to introduce ways of exploring sustainable development to readers in a way that avoids simplistic interpretations and approaches complexity in a systematic way. There is no completely "right" answer to questions of sustainable development – instead, there is a thoughtful, well-researched response that recognizes concerns of stakeholders, the conflicting priorities and the economic, legal and social aspects of a technology as well as its environmental legacy. The intent is not to offer solutions to sustainability challenges but rather to improve the quality of discussion and enable informed, balanced debate. - Winner of a 2016 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association - Describes sustainable development in increasingly detailed progression, from a broad overview to specific tools and methods - Six chapter length case studies on such topics as biopolymers, electric cars, bamboo, and lighting vividly illustrate the sustainable development process from a materials perspective - Business and economic aspects are covered in chapters on corporate sustainability and the "circular materials economy" - Support for course use includes online solutions manual and image bank
This second title of a three-volume series based on research by the influential BEQUEST network examines the methodology of environmental assessment, providing unique insight into critical aspects to sustainable urban development.
Written by 43 authors from Africa, Europe and Latin America, this book presents 19 topics addressing poverty in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leadership in implementing SDGs, and SDGs in service delivery and local government. As the world has gone past five years of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the intertwined 17 SDGs, new opportunities in research continue to open up. Hence, documenting some of the initiatives put in place around the world regarding the implementation of the SDGs is one of the aims of this publication. With 10 years remaining, the book further enhances the desire to scale up SDGs implementation. The selection of case studies from the selected regions also provides a balance in terms of how the SDGs are being rolled out for economic growth, environmental stewardship and social protection. The ambition remains even with the challenge brought by the COVID-19 pandemic that preoccupied the whole of 2020; spilling over to 2021. There is no doubt that resources have been diverted, but the world must stay on the course to 2030 and beyond. Therefore, the book is relevant for several stakeholders including the academics, development partners, government officials and other individuals that are involved in making sure no one is left behind in the lead to 2030.
This book profiles various cases that are emerging in addressing global challenges in the context of SDGs for society in the era of climate change and covers case studies of projects being undertaken to tackle biodiversity, food security, climate change, energy and water security. The book is written by 37 authors, and will appeal to various stakeholders including academics working within the identified thematic areas, policy planners, development agencies, governments and United Nations agencies. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 ushered a new era in the global development agenda as the world transitioned from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The new era of SDGs that are all-inclusive, unlike the MDGs with the focus now being on ensuring human success that is predicated on environmental protection. The year 2020 marked five years post the adoption of the SDGs with increased calls for stock-taking of progress made amid strong calls for a decade of action to accelerate the delivery of the SDGs by 2030. These calls have been louder now given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reset the global economy and increased intensity of extreme weather events across the world. Since climate change has emerged as one of the biggest threats to the achievement of the SDGs, there has been growing concerns on its impact on biodiversity loss and the extinction of some species. There are also concerns regarding increased food insecurity at the household level in some parts of the world, particularly in Asia and Africa. With the demand for climate change action on the increase, there have also been growing calls for the big carbon emitters to drastically cut their emissions and invest in clean energy to save the planet by following development pathways making emissions stay under the 1.5°C increase in temperature. .
