Social Sustainability Requires Social Sustainability: Procedural Prerequisites for Reaching Substantive Goals

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Boström ◽  
Åsa Casula Vifell ◽  
Mikael Klintman ◽  
Linda Soneryd ◽  
Kristina Tamm Hallström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Sustainability Standards ◽  
Implementation Of Standards ◽  
Internal Relationships ◽  
Scholarly Attention

The synergies and trade-offs between the various dimensions of sustainable development are attracting a rising scholarly attention. Departing from the scholarly debate, this article focuses on internal relationships within social sustainability. Our key claim is that it is difficult to strengthen substantive social sustainability goals unless there are key elements of social sustainability contained in the very procedures intended to work toward sustainability. Our analysis, informed by an organizing perspective, is based on a set of case studies on multi-stakeholder transnational sustainability projects (sustainability standards). This article explores six challenges related to the achievement of such procedures that can facilitate substantive social sustainability. Three of these concern the formulation of standards and policies, and three the implementation of standards and policies. To achieve substantive social sustainability procedures must be set in motion with abilities to take hold of people's concerns, frames, resources, as well as existing relevant institutions and infrastructures.

scholarly journals SDGs mainstreaming at the local level: case studies from Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromi Masuda ◽  
Mahesti Okitasari ◽  
Kanako Morita ◽  
Tarek Katramiz ◽  
Hitomi Shimizu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Policy Integration ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Stakeholder Partnerships ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

AbstractThere has been increasing interest in local-level implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the emergence of various initiatives undertaken by local governments, studies on the process of mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda within local contexts remain limited. This study is aimed at identifying possible approaches for supporting local governments in successfully mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. We developed an analytical framework covering key components for local-level mainstreaming of the SDGs based on our review of recent policy guidelines for implementing the SDGs and the policy integration and coherence literature. Subsequently, we applied this framework within case studies of two designated municipalities under the Japanese government’s “SDGs Future Cities” initiative aimed at localizing the SDGs. The analysis demonstrated how local governments could develop and apply key components of the SDGs mainstreaming process. Our findings suggest that the following approaches can facilitate local governments’ efforts to mainstream the SDGs: first, municipalities can foster local ownership to address the challenges they face. Second, existing policy resources can be linked with formal procedures. Third, multi-stakeholder partnerships can be developed. Fourth, vertical communication channels can be established with international and national-level organizations. Overall, the article contributes to a growing literature on SDGs implementation at the local level by identifying key components required for their mainstreaming, introducing perspectives derived from Japanese case studies.

Empowering Developing Nations and Sustainable Development: Case Studies and Synthesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hameedullah Zaheb ◽  
Najib Rahman Sabory ◽  
Tomonobu Senjyu ◽  
Mikaeel Ahmadi ◽  
Sayed Hashmat Sadat
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Developing Nations

The Long Road to Sustainability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gillespie
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Problem ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Good News ◽  
Correct Selection ◽  
The Third ◽  
Positive Indicators ◽  
Laws And Policies ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Selection Of

This book examines the idea of sustainable development, made up of economic, social, and environmental parts over the period of human history. This work suggests humanity has been unsustainable in all three areas for most of its history, although in the last few hundred years the scale of unsustainability has increased, while, simultaneously, answers have started to emerge. This conclusion can be seen in two parts, namely the economic and social sides of sustainable development and then the environmental ones. This work suggests that, with the correct selection of tools, solid and positive foundations for the economic and social sides of sustainable development is possible as the world globalizes. This is not, however, a foregone conclusion. Despite a number of recent positive indicators in this area, there are still very large unanswered questions with existing mechanisms and other gaps in the international architecture which, if not fixed, could quickly make problems of economic and social sustainability worse, not better. With the third leg of sustainable development, that for the environment, the optimism is not as strong. The good news is that science, laws, and policies have evolved and expanded to the level that, in theory, there is no environmental problem which cannot be solved. In many areas, especially in the developed world, success is already easy to measure. Where it is not easy to measure, and pessimism creeps in, is in the developing world, which is now inheriting a scale and mixture of environmental difficulties which are simply unprecedented.

scholarly journals Using Deliberative Democracy for Better Urban Decision-Making through Integrative Thinking

Urban Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Janette Hartz-Karp ◽  
Dora Marinova
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Deliberative Democracy ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Capital City ◽  
City Region ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Urban Issues ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

This article expands the evidence about integrative thinking by analyzing two case studies that applied the collaborative decision-making method of deliberative democracy which encourages representative, deliberative and influential public participation. The four-year case studies took place in Western Australia, (1) in the capital city Perth and surrounds, and (2) in the city-region of Greater Geraldton. Both aimed at resolving complex and wicked urban sustainability challenges as they arose. The analysis suggests that a new way of thinking, namely integrative thinking, emerged during the deliberations to produce operative outcomes for decision-makers. Building on theory and research demonstrating that deliberative designs lead to improved reasoning about complex issues, the two case studies show that through discourse based on deliberative norms, participants developed different mindsets, remaining open-minded, intuitive and representative of ordinary people’s basic common sense. This spontaneous appearance of integrative thinking enabled sound decision-making about complex and wicked sustainability-related urban issues. In both case studies, the participants exhibited all characteristics of integrative thinking to produce outcomes for decision-makers: salience—grasping the problems’ multiple aspects; causality—identifying multiple sources of impacts; sequencing—keeping the whole in view while focusing on specific aspects; and resolution—discovering novel ways that avoided bad choice trade-offs.

Education for Sustainable Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Meghna Tare
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

In 2003, in response to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the United Nations University (UNU) Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability launched a global multi-stakeholder network of Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on education for sustainable development (ESD). RCEs facilitate multi-sector collaboration and utilize formal, non-formal, and informal education to address sustainable development challenges in local and regional communities. In essence, RCEs are a tool for transformation to a more sustainable society, combining education and action for sustainable development. As we enter the new "ESD for 2030" decade, RCEs will continue to construct platforms for cross-sectoral dialogue between regional stakeholders and actors to promote and strengthen ESD at the local level. RCEs have committed to helping advance the five priority areas of action established in the Global Action Program on ESD and the new UN decade "ESD for 2030": advancing policy by mainstreaming ESD, transforming learning and training environments using whole-institution approaches, building capacities of educators and trainers, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating sustainable solutions at the local level. RCEs are uniquely positioned to serve as shepherds in the realization of the new "ESD for 2030" decade. As of January 2019, 174 RCEs have officially been acknowledged by UNU worldwide, with eight RCEs in the United States: Georgetown, South Carolina; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Greater Atlanta, Georgia; Greater Burlington, Vermont; Greater Portland, Oregon; North Texas, Texas; Salisbury, Maryland; and Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. RCEs serve an essential role in the achievement of "ESD for 2030" goals by translating global objectives into the local contexts of our communities.

Formation of information on social sustainability in the integrated reporting of agricultural enterprises

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Ivanovna Khoruzhy ◽  
Nina Yuiryevna Tryastsina
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
Social Reputation

The article deals with the methodological and practical issues of the formation of information about social sustainability in the integrated reporting of agricultural enterprises. The proposed format for the block «Social sustainability» of the integrated report, which allows more fully disclose information on the policy of agricultural enterprises in the field of social responsibility and sustainable development. In this block, the indicators are structured according to the groups recommended by the GRI G4 Guidelines, in the context of the characteristics of the company’s human and social-reputation capital. For each of the groups, indicators are recommended that reflect the directions of the company’s social policy.

Alternatives to solve SDG trade-offs and to enforce SDG synergies: a systematic literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Boar ◽  
Erola Palau Pinyana ◽  
Marc Oliveras-Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Economic Models ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs

PurposeThis paper takes a critical view of synergies and trade-offs and discloses the practices that countries and companies should apply to achieve sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper offers a systematic literature review of 408 papers to find models of sustainable development goals (SDGs) interaction with the aim of shedding light on the existing synergies and trade-offs and finding solutions to enhance these synergies and minimize the trade-offs.FindingsBoth rich and developing countries should follow multiple strategies to improve the quality of life of their citizens. Developing countries should focus on eradicating poverty. Rich countries should apply new economic models that are more likely to be environmental-friendly. Finally, the topic of SDGs should be revisited by the United Nations.Practical implicationsBoosting the quality of education and providing clean energy are two of the most relevant actions that should to be taken by countries, as they will accelerate the fulfilment of all the other SDGs. The use of circular economic models or new business models, such as the sharing economy, is essential to the achievement of sustained economic growth without negative environmental impact.Originality/valueThe paper analyzes SDG interactions and offers a critical vision of practices that countries and companies should adhere to for achieving sustainable development.

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