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Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs refer to the UN stipulated road-map for development in 17 defined areas, by 2030. It was built on the previously established Millennium Development Goals (MDG). This first volume (SDG-1) deals with eradicating poverty with the help of modern ICT technologies needed to end poverty and create a better society. This much needed book, which is the first of its type to offer a specific focus on the relationship between technology and the SDG-1 goal, will be valuable for all working in the subject of global sustainable development. Global organisations and representatives of governments targeting no poverty share knowledge on these ICT practices to eradicate poverty in all means.

Environmental Economics and Ecosystem Services provides a rigorous yet accessible introduction to environmental economics, using ecosystem services as the underlying framework. Assuming no prior knowledge of economics, and using a conversational writing style, the focus is on exploring society's linkages with the environment and how economics can help solve key environmental problems.Structured in three parts, the book first introduces readers to the key theories in environmental economics and ecosystem services, and then explores the challenges of conservation. The final section examines environmental policy options, such as cap-and-trade, behavioral nudges, community-based natural resource management and carbon taxes. There is a strong international focus throughout the book, with real-life examples taken from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and other regions. Students are supported by a range of pedagogical features, including chapter objectives, chapter summaries, discussion questions and further reading suggestions. In addition, the book offers worked examples, analytical problems and “Challenge Yourself” boxes to develop critical thinking skills. Lecture slides and answers to questions for discussion and practice problems are available for instructors.This is the ideal text for introductory courses in environmental economics, ecological economics, economics of sustainability, environmental management, environmental policy and ecosystem services.

This is an open access book. Sustainable development is so important that humanity must do its utmost to achieve these goals for the well-being of the present and future generations. WTO members have started to reform WTO rules since the WTO's Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference in 2017. The book describes a possible bright future for readers: WTO members can integrate the UN SDGs into WTO law (i.e., create sustainable trade rules) by establishing a sustainable development club and constitutionalising the WTO.

Sustainability initiatives continue to impact every facet of our lives from economics to the environment. This book works to provide insight and innovation, delving into the vital intersections of technology, finance, policy, and more to chart a course towards a sustainable future. Through a comprehensive exploration of diverse domains, this book tackles the urgent need to refine current practices and embrace sustainable solutions compared to business as usual. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, this book serves as a catalyst for change, offering professionals, researchers, and students a roadmap for sustainable development. From artificial intelligence (AI) innovations for environmental solutions to ethical consumption and circular economy strategies, each chapter provides invaluable insights tailored to specific fields. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, Exploring Pillars of Sustainability for Modern Age Improvements empowers scholars to drive meaningful progress in their respective industries and become informed advocates for sustainability. By addressing the complex challenges of sustainability head-on, this book equips academic scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of the modern age. Through a forward-looking lens, it illuminates the transformative potential of sustainable practices, offering a vision of a future where economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship harmoniously coexist. As we stand at the precipice of change, Exploring Pillars of Sustainability for Modern Age Improvements serves as a guidepost for shaping a more sustainable and equitable world for generations to come.

In the 21st century, the imperative for sustainable development has assumed a paramount role, echoing the pressing global concerns surrounding environmental degradation, social inequalities, and economic challenges. Within this context, Sub-Saharan Africa emerges as a region of particular significance, where the pursuit of sustainability holds immense promise and relevance. Despite being endowed with abundant natural resources and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, Sub-Saharan Africa grapples with enduring issues of poverty, inequality, and environmental harm. This book explores the innovative paradigms of sustainable finance and business within Sub-Saharan Africa, exploring how novel approaches can effectively tackle the region's most pressing challenges while simultaneously catalyzing economic growth and societal progress. The chapters presented here comprise a diverse array of cutting-edge financial strategies, circular economy initiatives, technological advancements, and business models that are revolutionizing sustainable development across the continent. Sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by its youthful demographic and rapidly expanding economies, is poised for transformation. Yet, it confronts formidable obstacles in the form of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The United Nations'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a comprehensive framework to address these issues. However, realizing these objectives requires innovative solutions that can surmount the unique constraints of the region. Fortunately, Sub-Saharan Africa is a crucible of innovation, with a growing community of entrepreneurs, financiers, and decision-makers committed to sustainable development. Initiatives promoting circular economies are reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency, while financial instruments like impact investing and green bonds are attracting new streams of funding. Simultaneously, technological breakthroughs such as mobile payment systems and renewable energy solutions are expanding access to essential services and driving economic expansion. Despite these encouraging advancements, Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a pivotal juncture in its journey towards sustainability. This book, with a focus on practical and scalable solutions, endeavors to showcase the most promising and successful models that can propel sustainable development across the region.

Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS) have been developed by local farmers in Southeast Asia initially through the development of jungle rubber. Jungle rubber is a very practical and easy way to develop at very low cost non clonal rubber plantations with forest regrowth, being then the main smallholding rubber cropping system until the 1950s. Later on, for political reasons, clonal plantations with better productivity were developed though national planting programs in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Today, most of the jungle rubber has disappeared or is not anymore tapped, replaced by monoclonal plantation. However, in some countries, some local farmers continue to adopt or develop agroforestry practices, basically associating rubber with various number and types of plants and trees in both immature and mature period, in order to increase global productivity at plot level and diversify sources of incomes to increase farms'resilience. In this book, we explain what has been the historical and societal conditions for RAS to develop in countries like Thailand and Indonesia and why there is a future for RAS in the current world with global economic uncertainty. The objective is to provide evidence of RAS interest and constraints in order to develop such systems in other countries. The book integrates various sources from the editor and associated researchers and students, written since 1994 and updated in 2024.

Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS) have been developed by local farmers in Southeast Asia initially through the development of jungle rubber. Jungle rubber is a very practical and easy way to develop at very low cost non clonal rubber plantations with forest regrowth, being then the main smallholding rubber cropping system until the 1950s. Later on, for political reasons, clonal plantations with better productivity were developed though national planting programs in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Today, most of the jungle rubber has disappeared or is not anymore tapped, replaced by monoclonal plantation. However, in some countries, some local farmers continue to adopt or develop agroforestry practices, basically associating rubber with various number and types of plants and trees in both immature and mature period, in order to increase global productivity at plot level and diversify sources of incomes to increase farms'resilience. In this book, we explain what has been the historical and societal conditions for RAS to develop in countries like Thailand and Indonesia and why there is a future for RAS in the current world with global economic uncertainty. The objective is to provide evidence of RAS interest and constraints in order to develop such systems in other countries. The book integrates various sources from the editor and associated researchers and students, written since 1994 and updated in 2024.

Climate change is triggered by a too high concentration of greenhouse gases in the air, carbon dioxide in particular, primarily originating from fossil fuel-burning. Since such burning will not stop any time soon, the concentration will undoubtedly rise further, exacerbating climate change. There is no escape from this. That is where carbon capture comes in: direct air capture (DAC) scrubs the surplus carbon dioxide out of the air for actually lowering this concentration. At the same time emission levels must be drastically lowered by fitting point-source emitters with carbon capture installations. This book sets out the case for such carbon capture, which is a must, without which the climate cannot be repaired.

​This book explores how climate change affects households that rely on shifting cultivation and how to assess their vulnerability. This study looks at micro and macro levels in Indian states with indigenous communities practicing shifting cultivation. The micro-level study has been conducted in 52 villages, with 1469 households covering 7067 population in seven states of India in the Northeastern region. The book covers different topics related to climate change, such as its patterns, impact on households and agriculture, forest management, and the role of indigenous knowledge in mitigation. This research is associated with different sectors like shifting agriculture, forestry sector, climate change and rural development etc. and integrated with large respondents and stakeholders through both direct and focus group discussions. Research scholars, climate activists, institutional and non-institutional organisations, people interested in environmental science, social science and policymakers will find this book very relevant.

This Open Access book addresses climate change in Europe and Latin America from a comparative regionalism studies (CRS) perspective. Written by an international team of scholars and experts, chapters critically analyze proposals for mitigating climate change while contributing to the mutual understanding about the issues at stake across regions. The book is divided into three main sections. In the first section, authors discuss EU and Latin American cooperation, negotiations, and perspectives on climate change, exploring their agendas, the interests and key challenges at the global, regional and interregional levels. The second section focuses on the challenges to finance development and a greener economy. The third section explores new green solutions to climate change in the agriculture sector and initiatives such as nature-based solutions to climate change and best practices. Providing policy oriented solutions for combatting regional climate change at a critical juncture, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of international relations, international law, and environmental politics, as well as public officials and climate change activists.

Drawing together the evidence of archaeology, palaeoecology, climate history and the historical record, this first environmental history of Scotland explores the interaction of human populations with the land, waters, forests and wildlife.This volume spans 450 years that saw profound transformation in Scotland's environment. It begins in the fifteenth century, when the ‘Golden Age'of the early 1200s was but a fading folk memory in a land gripped by the gathering grimness of a ‘little ice age'. Colder, wetter, stormier weather became the new normal, interspersed with brief episodes of warmer but still moist conditions, all of which brought huge challenges to a society on the knife-edge of subsistence. Viewing the religious and political upheavals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries against the cycles of disease and dearth that were ever-present into the later 1700s, the book explores the slow adoption and application of the ideas of ‘Improvement'and the radical disruption of Scotland's environment that ensued. Reformation, revolution and rebellion were the background noise to efforts to subsist and succeed through a hostile age, in which Scotland's environment was an adversary to be tamed, mastered and made ‘polite'. As the last, bitter decades of the ‘little ice age'were ground out in foreign wars, forced clearances and potato famines, Scotland prepared itself to embrace the Industrial Age.

This book highlights the efforts made to realize the concept of ‘Circular Bioeconomy'. It has twelve (12) chapters, focussed on five (5) sections, namely Biomaterials, Environment, Energy, Pharmaceutical and Enzyme Technology. It portrays research, linking ‘Circular Bioeconomy'to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The concept of ‘Circular Economy', including ‘Circular Bioeconomy', aims to shift the current, essentially linear economic system to a more sustainable one. Accordingly, the key goal of a ‘Circular Economy'is to slow, narrow and close material resource loops, built on the foundation of renewable energy and non-toxic materials. Further, a sustainable ‘Bioeconomy'goes beyond simply switching fossil resources with renewable, biological resources. It requires low-carbon energy inputs, sustainable supply chains and promising disruptive conversion technologies for the sustainable transformation of renewable bioresources to high-value bio-based products, materials and fuels. Thus, a sustainable ‘Circular Bioeconomy'transition will necessitate a set of consistent metrics that fit all products and industries.

True mangrove flora and their associates in the lower Gangetic region are noted for their wide spectrum of ecosystem services in which carbon storage and sequestration by the forest is one of the most important components. Many researchers are updating the carbon repository of the lower Gangetic delta mangroves with the aim to ascertain their role to reduce the carbon dioxide level of the near surface atmosphere. However, due to difficulty in assessment, marketing, and lack of clarity over ownership of natural resources, the mangrove-based carbon trading system has not yet crystallized.There is an estimated 13.76 Mha of mangrove forests world-wide, approximately 20% (2.6 Mha) of which is potentially investible for carbon finance projects, based on the probability of imminent threat. The magnitude and the variability of threats to which the mangroves of the lower Gangetic delta are exposed to have made the trading process more complicated. In addition, gaps also exist between the national government policy and the trading of the blue carbon projects, which has kept the future of such projects remain on hold. The authors put forward the views that the creation of more financial facilities for restoration and expansion of blue carbon (preferably mangroves) with the involvement of the local communities can provide the initial capital involved in developing mangrove-based carbon projects. This includes the costs of conducting feasibility studies, implementing capacity-building programs, monitoring the health of the mangrove plantation/restoration on regular basis, and creating mangrove-based alternative livelihood programs that will support island dwellers of the region in order to accelerate the magnitude of mangrove-based carbon projects leading to growth of the mangrove trading market.

This monograph is designed to provide a comprehensive and accessible reference to Net Zero efforts globally. Firstly, the book explains the basics of Net Zero, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG), and the global climate change struggle. A chapter on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), as standardisation and screening of sustainability follows. Next comes a chapter on carbon pricing and carbon tax. After these background chapters, the book continues with eight chapters that cover Net Zero across a variety of economic sectors: energy supply, business sector, transport, residential, industrial processes, waste management, public (and government), and agriculture, forestry and land use. These economic sectors are adopted from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UK National Statistics. Each chapter includes basic background information, technical or scientific, and a policy section. The sector-based chapters also include sectoral emissions analysis, review, and then a horizon scanning for innovative companies and their business models. This will enable non-experts from the business sector to read and understand the dynamics and trends in other sectors. Similarly, students and fresh graduates will easily follow the chapter (or the industry) that interests them and comprehend the basics and contemporary business trends. By joining research work with the business models of 400 noteworthy and innovative companies, this book constructs a vital bridge between academia, practical reality, policy, and business implementation, with a keen focus on environmental value.

This is an open access book. The Graduate School of Universitas Sebelas Maret organizes the 2nd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies (ICOMSI) 2023. This conference aims to bring together scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from various disciplines to engage in meaningful discussions on the critical issues surrounding cultural preservation, social equity, and ecological balance and their collective contribution to achieving a sustainable and inclusive future.In today's rapidly changing world, preserving cultural heritage and fostering social equity is paramount to ensuring a harmonious and sustainable society. We can cultivate a more inclusive and tolerant society by recognizing and appreciating diverse cultural expressions and practices. Simultaneously, addressing environmental challenges and achieving ecological balance is crucial for our planet's and future generations long-term well-being.This conference is a platform to explore the intricate connections between cultural preservation, social equity, and ecological balance. Participants can share their research findings, experiences, and best practices in various domains, including cultural studies, social sciences, environmental sciences, and related disciplines. The conference encourages interdisciplinary dialogues and collaborations to develop innovative strategies and approaches that foster a sustainable and inclusive future.We invite researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and students interested in cultural preservation, social equity, and ecological balance to attend this conference. Together, we can explore innovative solutions, share insights, and collaborate towards building a sustainable and inclusive future for our global community.

Greening Our Economy for a Sustainable Future examines the green economy by balancing social needs, the environment, and the economy. It argues that different economic models must be developed to address the environment caused by economic expansion. The book not only looks at the opportunities of having a green economy, but also goes into areas such as greenwashing, social washing, sustainability, economics, and more. In addition, it addresses how one can improve well-being through a symbiotic relationship between economic growth and environmental stewardship. - Reviews literature and case studies that can be applied on a large-scale on measures to change the way of economic development to implement a green economy theory - Examines bottlenecks that occur when resource scarcity or poor quality makes investment more expensive - Highlights opportunities for innovation spurred by policies and framework conditions that allow for new ways of addressing environmental problems

The book offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to sustainable energy, circular economy, and sustainable financing for ESG practices. The publication is needed at this time because the world is facing urgent environmental and social challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, which require a fundamental transformation of our economic and social systems. The transition to sustainable energy, circular economy, and sustainable financing for ESG practices offers a promising pathway to address these challenges and achieve sustainable development goals.The purpose of the publication is to provide a holistic and practical guide for policymakers, business leaders, investors, and other stakeholders who are interested in advancing sustainable energy, circular economy, and ESG practices. The book covers a range of topics, including the drivers of the transition, policy frameworks and regulations, technology and innovation, business models and financial instruments, and the role of stakeholders in facilitating the transition. It also emphasizes the importance of integrated approaches that balance economic, social, and environmental objectives, and provides practical examples and case studies of successful sustainable energy, circular economy, and ESG practices from around the world.The new contribution of this publication is its interdisciplinary and practical approach to sustainable energy, circular economy, and ESG practices. The book draws on the latest research from various fields, including economics, engineering, environmental science, and social science, and provides a synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from a diverse range of stakeholders, such as governments, businesses, and civil society organizations. The publication also provides a roadmap for how stakeholders can work together overcome the challenges of the transition and create a more sustainable and equitable future.The book is a timely and essential guide for anyone who is interested in advancing sustainable development goals. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to sustainable energy, circular economy, and sustainable financing for ESG practices and offers practical solutions and case studies from around the world. Its interdisciplinary and practical approach makes it a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, investors, and other stakeholders who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future.

The Palgrave Handbook of Zero-Carbon Energy Systems and Energy Transitions provides a comprehensive and authoritative source of information, analysis and recommendations on the multi- and inter-disciplinary subject of zero carbon energy systems. The Handbook will advance thinking and research underlying the on-going energy transition by; covering a wide range of energy technologies and sources (e.g. fossil fuels, renewables, low carbon energy) including investigating the potential of new and alternative technologies and fuel sources and looking at the power, heating/cooling and transport sectors; Looking at varied legal jurisdictions and governance approaches including developing and developed countries and investigating potential new approaches to achieving a zero carbon energy system; Providing a broad range of theoretical and methodological approaches from a range of disciplines; Inclusion of a global range of case studies from Africa, Arctic, Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas (Central, North and South) and the Pacific, from the international, national, sub-national to city/community level.

This edited collection proposes a wide range of approaches to address the legal issues pertaining to the end of the fossil fuel era. While the fossil fuel era is coming to an end both because of the inherent limits of its resources and because of the need to prevent to further pump out CO2 in an already saturated atmosphere, the legal dispositions to ensure an ordered and rational shift toward cleaner energy still need to be developed. Not only in relation to CO2 emissions themselves but also in relation to the manifold issues related to environmental justice in an era of global climate change and global warming. This book is unique in that it provides a theoretical framework but also works to address cutting edge issues through a series of case studies.

This second edition brings together the views of expert academics and practitioners on the latest regulatory developments in sustainable finance in Europe and includes 5 new chapters on sustainable remuneration, reporting, lending, green monetary policy and ESG. The volume includes a wide range of cutting-edge issues, which relate to three main themes along which the volume is structured: (1) corporate governance; (2) monetary policy and financial stability ; and (3) financial markets. With individual contributions deploying different methods of analysis, including theoretical contributions on the status quo of macro-financial research as well as law and economics approaches, the collection encourages interdisciplinary readership and will appeal to those researching capital markets law, European financial law, and sustainable finance, as well as practitioners within the finance industry.

This book presents a detailed analysis of sustainable utilization of natural gas for low-carbon energy production. Its content is divided into three parts with the intention to address natural gas supply chain, technological advances in natural gas utilization, and role of natural gas in transition to a low-carbon economy. In particular, it describes the various technological pathways for the conversion of natural gas to valuable products such as hydrogen, syngas and other alternative fuel, which can be used as chemical intermediates or for co-generation of electricity and heat. This book is targeted at wide audience in the academia and industries who want a comprehensive knowledge of how natural gas can be sustainable utilized for low-carbon energy production.

Financial markets play a critical role in climate finance as they are a major source of funding for many of the projects and initiatives aimed at addressing climate change. For instance, banks and investors can provide loans and capital to companies that are developing renewable energy projects, building energy-efficient infrastructure, or implementing climate-smart agricultural practices. Moreover, the importance of climate finance in financial markets goes beyond just funding environmental initiatives. Investors and financial institutions are increasingly factoring in climate risks and opportunities into their decision-making processes, including assessing the financial risks posed by climate change and the potential impact of new regulations and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.This book is a collection of recent developments in climate change and climate finance. As the global community seeks to address the impacts of climate change, financial institutions are being called upon to play a larger role in supporting the transition to a sustainable economy. This includes incorporating climate risks into investment decisions, developing new financial products that support climate-friendly investments, and promoting greater transparency and accountability in the financial sector. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is impacting the global financial system and explores the potential solutions that can help address these challenges. The contributions aim to examine the complex interplay between climate change and finance, and the potential for innovative financial instruments and policies to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

This book aims to integrate multiple disciplinary such as management, economics, and geography from the perspective of resource science and also to strengthen research on resource management to promote sustainability in natural resources. It established clear definition of natural resources and in-depth exploration of main fields such as water resources, land resources, and agricultural resources. Classic methods of economics are applied to solve the problems of resource consumption, environmental pollution, and climate change in modern society. On the basis of classical economics, the disciplinary system of environmental and natural resources is further developed. It is a helpful reference for readers to further study natural resources and environmental economics.

This book highlights clean energy transition via sustainable utilization of biomass resources, viz. forestry, agriculture, agroforestry, grassland, and seaweeds to climate change mitigation. Bioresources have tremendous potential to mitigate global warming. Also, biomass is expected to play a multifunctional role including food production, source of energy and fodder, biodiversity conservation, and yield of goods and services to the society. It brings together perspectives of various communities involved in the research and regulation of bioenergy deployment in the context of climate change mitigation. The book presents the way forward to policy makers and stakeholders involved with bioenergy development. This development may be directive challenges in the transport sector where options such as hydrogen and electric vehicles relying on hydro, wind, and solar PV will require decades to become established on a substantial scale. Furthermore, meeting ambitious climate change targets will also require environment-friendly fuels in air and marine transport where no alternative to biofuels is currently available. The process design-via-onion model for sustainable utilization of biomass resources is also one of the most important subjects of the book. This book includes state-of-the-art approaches on bottlenecks and circular economy analysis for biomass energy use to reduce climate change and sustainability frameworks to guide bioenergy development.

In the current view of complex global challenges, from climate upheavals to resource depletion and social inequalities, the need for sustainable development has become more essential than ever. Academic scholars and researchers play a pivotal role in devising solutions, yet they often grapple with the intricate interplay between theoretical insights and practical applications. This gap hinders the transformation of innovative ideas into tangible societal advancements, leaving a void where real-world strategies for cross-industry sustainability should thrive. This book is more than a collection of pages; it is a roadmap to bridge the theoretical-practical divide. For those determined to make a tangible impact, this volume gathers an assembly of esteemed experts, uniting a diverse spectrum of disciplines and perspectives. From renewable energy to smart healthcare, circular economies to sustainable finance, it presents a holistic panorama of actionable insights, underpinned by the ethical imperatives of inclusivity and environmental responsibility. Anchored in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this book serves as a guiding star, channeling theoretical prowess into pragmatic solutions. Fostering Cross-Industry Sustainability With Intelligent Technologies is the guidepost sought by academic scholars, scientists, innovators, and students alike. It cultivates a profound comprehension of the real-world implications of research, while also fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that supersede conventional boundaries. This comprehensive book offers a wealth of sustainable science and intelligent technology applications, brushed with the hues of ethics and societal impact. With its pages infused with visionary insights, it beckons humanity toward a future where challenges morph into opportunities and sustainable development becomes an achievable reality.

This book covers green finance with a focus on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) consequences of green financing and its role in attaining sustainable development and a carbon-neutral economy. It provides research-based practical solutions for sustainable development, as well as insights from green finance, presenting a framework for studying green finance in the domains of accounting, banking, investing, and insurance. Of interest to academics, investors, and policymakers in green finance and development and alternative financing, the book features a global cast of contributors from both academia and practice.

This book presents the contributions from the 2nd International Conference Engineering Innovations and Sustainable Development, held in Samara, Russia on April 20–21, 2023. By presenting international research on various sustainability issues, it includes topics such as current trends in industrial and agricultural development, innovations in the construction and transport sectors, problems concerning the financing of innovative activities and governmental support for innovations, and engineering competences and skills in the era of new technologies. It also covers the economic, environmental, and informational aspects of sustainable development in the context of innovations. Finally, the book addresses theoretical and practical aspects by studying the phenomenon of sustainability and engineering development in terms of comparing international experiences. It provides significant value for scientists, teachers, and students of higher educational institutions, and specialists, who are researching sustainable development issues in the era of engineering innovations.

​​In recent years sustainable finance along with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects and their implications for financial institutions have attracted the attention of academics and policy makers. The aim of the book is to bring together chapters that discuss the most recent empirical and theoretical evidence in the field, along with policy making and regulatory initiatives. The book covers topics such as the changing role of banks in the financial system, the differences between sustainable banks and traditional banks, ESG and financial performance, bank social responsibility and customer satisfaction, ESG risk management of financial institutions, the politics of climate finance and policy initiatives, and the role of bank regulators. It will be of interest to academics and policymakers working in banking, risk management, sustainable finance and related fields.

This open access book is based on the research outputs of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) in 2021. It covers major topics of Chinese and international attention regarding green development, such as climate, biodiversity, ocean, BRI, urbanization, sustainable production and consumption, technology, finance, value chain, and related topics. It also reviews the progress of China‘s environmental and development policies and the impacts from CCICED. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing insight for policy makers in environmental issues.

Blue Planet Law is the global and future-oriented environmental law that is necessary to face the global environmental crisis in the Anthropocene, assuming especially the link between climate action (SDG 13) and ocean sustainability (SDG 14). This open access book focuses on means of overcoming global environmental problems such as climate change, ocean degradation and biodiversity loss and the consequent risks for human life, health, food and wellbeing. It explores how environmental law, at the international, European and national levels, might set economic and technological development on a more sustainable path. Law must engage in dialogue with other areas such as philosophy, economics, ecology, and biology. This book highlights protection of the climate and the oceans and sustainable use of natural resources, through new policies, economies and technologies, including biotechnology, with a view to the preservation of life, health, food and a healthy environment for the present and future generations. The book may be seen as a contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 14 and a tribute to the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, also known as the Stockholm Conference (1972), on its 50th Anniversary.

This handbook covers the air quality/air pollution from the viewpoints of causing impacts on human/ecosystem health and climate change. Traditionally, air pollution has been a concern mainly in terms of its impacts on human health, and it is still an immediate public and governmental concern in most Asian countries. However, in recent years so-called extreme weather events, such as stronger tropical cyclones, flooding, drought, and other phenomena, have been manifested causing tremendous losses of human lives and properties. Importantly, climate models tell us that such extreme weather events are actually induced by anthropogenic global warming. It has been pointed out that mitigation or alleviation of such climate change leading to the extreme weather events in the next 30 years can be possible only by reducing air pollutants with positive radiative forcing such as ozone or methane, which are called short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Here, concerns about mitigation of air pollutants from the points of human health and climate change have merged. This book covers different kinds of air pollutants and radiative forcers and how they can be measured. It also mentions the situation of air pollutants in different continents and their regional impacts to human health, environment and economy as well as their link to extreme weather events. The book presents how the air pollution and climate change can be mitigated and how clean air technologies and international initiatives for co-controlling air pollution and climate change have been developed.

Recent Developments in Green Finance, Green Growth and Carbon Neutrality explains the role of green finance in transforming the global economy into a green and carbon neutral one. The book explores the synergy between green growth strategy and green finance policy (2G) and carbon neutrality in an economic-environmental-financial framework that helps readers understand how to design a feasible path toward achieving carbon neutrality through economic initiatives and financial innovations. It shows how to apply the notion of green growth to organizations and illustrates the need for a theory of energy economics that estimates the benefits of a low-carbon transition and carbon neutrality. Sections include historical background, relevant literature necessary to understand topics, the notions of green finance, green growth and carbon neutrality from an economic perspective. Other sections cover models and methods of carbon neutrality assessment, the nexus between carbon neutrality and economic development, green growth and financial development, green finance and green energy exploration and consumption, and more. Two chapters specifically focused on UN SDGs 7 and 13 round out the book, and it concludes with a final section that gathers and integrates the concepts discussed throughout the book. - Uses green finance and green growth to develop a framework for achieving a carbon neutral society - Brings together current knowledge in this field of research, then goes further to explain relevant concepts and the theoretical and empirical relationship between carbon neutrality, green growth and green finance - Includes two chapters dedicated to a discussion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 which underpin this book

This textbook introduces and explains the issues around climate change and its mitigation. It includes topics across disciplines and can be used as a single-volume text by students studying a range of subjects. Among the topics included are: ·How to adopt significant mitigation measures now to avoid the most catastrophic long-term consequences of climate change.·Reducing the rates of highly potent, short-lived emissions of methane gas and black carbon particulates—reductions that are necessary to meet the temperature targets of the Paris Agreements.·Implementing wide-ranging adaptation measures to reduce the deaths and economic costs of extreme heat waves, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.·Recognizing the unusually rapid warming in the Arctic, which is disrupting weather patterns in the northern hemisphere and currents in the Atlantic Ocean, causing world-wide sea-level rise, and also causing methane leaks in the Arctic region—leaksthat could eventually lead to irreversible global warming consequences. Meeting these challenges effectively requires action by both governments and businesses. The book examines the national and local governmental policies—and business practices—that are needed in sector-specific chapters. An objective of the book is to inform readers about specific problems resulting from climate change—and the wide range of potential government policies and business practices, changes in technologies, and changes in public attitudes and actions that can reduce the emissions and otherwise lessen their impacts. Indeed, a central message is that understanding the issues posed by climate change requires no less than an understanding of climate science, micro- and macro-economics, technologies for mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as politics and law at many governmental levels from local to global. The author has included short case studies that illustrate and integrate multiple analytic perspectives. The book is therefore appropriate for students, professionals, and general audiences with wide-ranging interests and backgrounds.

Winner, 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic TitleWinner, 2023 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the category of Ecology and Environment, Foreword ReviewsMany accounts of climate change depict disasters striking faraway places: melting ice caps, fearsome hurricanes, all-consuming fires. How can seeing the consequences of human impacts up close help us grasp how global warming affects us and our neighbors? This book is a travelogue that spotlights what a changing climate looks like on the local level—for wherever local happens to be.Michael M. Gunter, Jr. takes readers around the United States to bear witness to the many faces of the climate crisis. He argues that conscientious travel broadens understanding of climate change and makes its dangers concrete and immediate. Vivid vignettes explore the consequences for people and communities: sea level rise in Virginia, floods sweeping inland in Tennessee, Maine lobsters migrating away from American territorial waters, and imperiled ecosystems in national parks, from Alaskan permafrost to the Florida Keys. But Gunter finds inspiring initiatives to mitigate and adapt to these threats, including wind turbines in a tiny Texas town, green building construction in Kansas, and walkable urbanism in Portland, Oregon. These projects are already making a difference—and they underscore the importance of local action.Drawing on interviews with government officials, industry leaders, and alternative energy activists, Climate Travels emphasizes direct personal experience and the centrality of environmental justice. Showing how travel can help bring the reality of climate change home, it offers readers a hopeful message about how to take action on the local level themselves.

This book explores theoretical and empirical perspectives on corporate governance and sustainability and reflects upon India's three decades of corporate governance reforms. It provides a solid base of information culled from extensive empirical research. It will contribute to the 2030 agenda of the United Nations on Sustainable Development Goals by lighting the way forward and enhancing the convergence of corporate governance with sustainability in business entities. Adopting a credible and uniform sustainability reporting framework and cultivating a pervasive “sustainability culture” through effective “sustainability leadership” has become a business imperative. It will be highly relevant for all stakeholders, including shareholders, boards of directors, managers, academicians, and researchers, and it will empower, enrich, and enable them to gain more conceptual clarity and empirical understanding of corporate governance and sustainability issues. In addition,it shows the pathway for policymakers and practitioners to address the myriad challenges that emanate from sustainability by suggesting new approaches emerging in the critical domain of corporate governance.

Die Klimakrise betrifft uns alle - Doch wie kann ein klimafreundliches Leben für alle erreicht werden? Zahlreiche wissenschaftliche Sachstandsberichte bestätigen schon lange den umfassenden Handlungsbedarf, um die Klimaziele zu erreichen. Dieser betrifft alle Lebensbereiche: von Arbeit und Pflege über Wohnen bis zu Mobilität, Ernährung und Freizeit. Doch wie verwirklicht man solch eine Transformation? Der Bericht unterstreicht, dass die Möglichkeiten, klimafreundlich zu leben, wesentlich durch Strukturen vorgegeben ist. Die vorherrschenden Appelle an das verantwortungsbewusste individuelle Verhalten Einzelner und Aufrufe zu nachhaltigem Konsum werden in ihren Wirkungen überschätzt. Entsprechend ist die Kernbotschaft des Berichts, die gemeinsame Gestaltung von Strukturen für ein klimafreundliches Leben ins Zentrum der Klimapolitik zu stellen. Daher gibt das Buch Antworten auf folgende Fragen: Wie können Rahmenbedingungen so gestaltet werden, dass ein klimafreundliches Leben für jeden selbstverständlich oder zumindest erleichtert wird?Welchen Beitrag können die verschiedenen gesellschaftlichen Akteure leisten? Was bedeutet dies für Recht und Governance, die Wirtschaft, Globalisierung und das Finanzsystem?Können Medien einen Beitrag dazu leisten? Welche Rolle haben Ungleichheit, soziale Sicherung und Raumplanung und welche Infrastrukturen sind notwendig? Dieses Open Access Buch ist das Ergebnis eines umfassenden wissenschaftlichen Erstellungsprozesses, der sich an der Arbeitsweise des Weltklimarates IPCC orientierte: mehr als 80 Autor_innen analysierten die aktuelle wissenschaftliche Literatur zur Gestaltung von Strukturen für ein klimafreundliches Leben. Dazu wurden über 2000 Literaturquellen ausgewertet. Zur Absicherung der Qualität wurden die Ergebnisse der Autor_innen von in etwa 180 Expert_innen und circa 100 Stakeholdern in mehreren Runden begutachtet. Der innovative Zugang und die bisher wenig aufgegriffenen Themenfelder machen das Buch zu einem Standardwerk für die Klimaforschung im deutschsprachigen Raum.

This book envisions the future of resilient finance and the societal value of responsible investment. Capturing the Zeitgeist of our post-pandemic new Renaissance, the book describes the contemporary use of economics to improve environmental conditions, widen access to health care, and foster social justice. The Future of Resilient Finance helps students, research scholars, and interdisciplinary global governance practitioners understand resiliency management through strategic finance and responsible economics as a politics and international relations tool. The new age of resilient finance captures monetary means as a source of politics, diplomacy, and international aid. The current outpouring of rescue and recovery funds is portrayed as new generation of resilient finance aimed at peace and prosperity for humankind. The integration of environmental, social, and governance criteria in portfolio choices is covered to grant sustainable value offinance for society.

This book explains why Venezuela is so rich in natural resources—it has been producing oil since 1922 and harbors the largest oil reserves in the world—and yet it is also a failed nation of class-divided citizens exhibiting deep poverty in a corrupt, incompetent state. Venezuela is a bipolar nation, where two marked poles in the society exist which have historical origins and are mutually exclusive.The book provides a critical analysis of Venezuela's history, economy and politics and explains the context and implications of the bipolar poles, known as the elite pole and the resentful pole. Both, it shows, have done serious harm to Venezuela's prosperity.The author describes the vicious circle of oil wealth, corruption, inefficiency and world market dependency and gives recommendations for a better future.

This book opens up a critical dimension to the field of industrial ecology. The book discusses the emerging green theories in industrial ecology and evolving practices adopted by businesses to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The author(s) identifies valuable lessons to be learned and presents conceptual frameworks and ideas to guide future industrial ecology applications, which are integrated into the triple bottom line approach and have cornerstone value to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the book discusses the relevant economic theories that serve as the foundation for the presented green views. This elaboration of economic ideas reinforces our work's relevance to achieving a green economy. Therefore, this book is essential for industrial ecology scholars and those interested in ensuring an environmentally sustainable future.

This book discusses emerging contexts of global warming and climate change, agricultural vulnerability and adaptation from local to global scale. Climate change, resilience in relation to agriculture and livelihoods and multi-dimensionality of various approaches are clearly taken into account by providing studies and perspectives on various methods and scales based on natural science to social science frameworks. This edited work contains chapters that are interdisciplinary, covering climate change, agriculture vulnerability, disaster impact, productivity efficiency, food security, livelihood resilience, land degradation, sustainability, in terms of plan and perform for transformation, sustainability and adaptation, including philosophy, change and economics, as well as the natural sciences. This book addresses the sustainable development goals to reduce the adverse impacts on agricultural productivity brought on by climate change and its adaptation and disaster risk reductionin developing and developed nations. Some of the assessed challenges include soil erosion, land use conversion, natural resource mismanagement, crop productivity decline and economic stagnation. This book covers important issues in the production and consumption of food in the past and present periods, agriculture, livelihood, and climate change, disaster risk management and society. All of these are under the threat of ongoing climate change and significant challenges to livelihood sustainability. The book is arranged into five broad sections: each part will cover a set of chapters dealing with a particular issue of the climate change, agriculture and society: approach toward sustainability. This book aims to attract attention of students, researchers, academician, policymakers and other inquisitive readers interested in different aspects of climate change, agriculture, livelihood and sustainability, particularly at local to global context.

This book demonstrates how the inclusion of nature in engineering decisions results in innovative solutions that are economically feasible, ecologically viable, and socially desirable. It advances progress toward nature-positive decisions by protection and restoration of ecosystems and respect for ecological boundaries. The topic of this book is an active area of academic research, and leading companies are including goals associated with ecosystem services in their sustainability plans. This book is the first collection of methods and applications that explicitly include the role of nature in supporting engineering activities and describes the role that ecosystems play in supporting technology and industry. It describes approaches, models, applications, and challenges for innovation and sustainability that will be useful to students and practitioners.

This handbook analyzes and develops methods and models to optimize solutions for energy access (for industry and the general world population alike) in terms of reliability and sustainability. With a focus on improving the performance of energy systems, it brings together state-of-the-art research on reliability enhancement, intelligent development, simulation and optimization, as well as sustainable development of energy systems. It helps energy stakeholders and professionals learn the methodologies needed to improve the reliability of energy supply-and-demand systems, achieve more efficient long-term operations, deal with uncertainties in energy systems, and reduce energy emissions.Highlighting novel models and their applications from leading experts in this important area, this book will appeal to researchers, students, and engineers in the various domains of smart energy systems and encourage them to pursue research and development in this exciting and highly relevant field.

This book makes general considerations regarding global changes and contemporary economic issues in Asian countries in real terms. It offers a collection of original conference papers from the annual international conferences on “Contemporary economic issues in Asian countries” (CEIAC Conference) commenced in 2022 in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF, Sungkyunkwan University (Korea), and Tamkang University (Taiwan). The theme of the CEIAC Conference 2022 deals with broad aspects of the contemporary economic issues in Asian countries. It covers topics such as economics and business (economic theory, national and international income distribution, macroeconomic policies, sectors of economy, productivity developments, financial market, business governance, bank financing, etc.), green economy and sustainable development (developing process, development policy, public policy, sustainable growth, green growth, etc.), and international trade and investment (international trade theory, free trade agreements, tariffs, intellectual property, international law, etc.). The book would interest a wide array of professors, researchers, lecturers, students in fields of economics, consultants, and decision makers interested in the issues related to economic issues in Asia.

This book investigates factors that contribute to the development of an efficient financial sector in Ghana. While sustainable finance has long been known to propel economic growth and development, and while many African countries have taken initiatives to develop integrated frameworks of their financial sectors that tackle developmental challenges, scholars and policymakers have always grappled with understanding of factors that enhance performance of the financial sector. In this book, an expert team of authors examines the financial landscape, central bank policies, competition, financial innovation, financial inclusion and banking stability in Ghana, while also exploring how financing models such as enterprise finance and microfinance can be more effective in sustaining financial markets. The authors discuss how Ghana can build fortified institutions, regulatory frameworks, and productive capacity to strengthen the financial sector and foster pathways that will enhance economicdevelopment. Empirical and scientific evidence give this book a unique approach that is both qualitative and quantitative.

In an ever changing interconnected world, the agriculture and food system faces constant challenges in many forms, such as the impacts of climate change, uncertainty surrounding the use of novel technologies and the emergence of new zoonotic diseases. Alongside these challenges professionals working in the food system are faced with opportunities to improve food production and distribution. As decision-makers attempt to balance these threats and opportunities in order to secure more sustainable production systems, the key question that arises is: What do we envisage as the future for agriculture and food production? With numerous voices advocating different and sometimes conflicting approaches, ranging from organic farming to wider use of GMOs through in vitro meat production, this discussion of the future raises significant ethical questions. The contributions in this book bring together a diverse group of authors who explore a set of themes relating to the ethical dimensions of the agriculture and food futures, including the role of novel technologies, the potential issues raised by the use of biofuels, the ethics of future animal production systems, concepts of global food security, as well as chapters on food governance priorities and educational aspects. It is intended that this volume serves as an interesting collection and acts as a source of stimulation that will contribute to wider debate and reflection on the future of the agriculture and food system.

The book is an edited collection of contributions by a distinguished international panel of academics on the main scientific, juridical, and economic aspects involved in the mitigation and adaptation processes imposed by climate change. Explicitly interdisciplinary, the book transversally cuts through different disciplines offering an outline of a phenomenon that is too often left to specific and sectorial insights. The volume is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the main concepts of the book: climate change and sustainability, wellbeing, and mitigation and adaptation. The second part presents the scientific understanding of climate change and explores some of the more pressing issues driving policy development, such as the melting of the glaciers and the impact on coastal areas. The third part discusses significant experiences in the environmental policies both in the European Union and in the United States of America. The last section explains possible approaches to climate change, by exploring the legal and economic aspects of both adversarial and more lenient approaches towards a more sustainable world. It faces four main issues in the economic and juridical context: consumer behaviors, climate litigations, environmental litigations and the alternative forms of dispute resolution on environmental matters, with particular regard to environmental mediation. Offering a new vision of sustainable policies, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of environmental policy, resource economics, environmental law, sustainable development, and public administration, as well as practitioners and policy makers working in related areas.

The effects of climate change are beginning to be felt around the world with rising temperatures, changing precipitation levels, more frequent and severe storms and longer more intensive droughts threatening human life and livelihoods and damaging property and infrastructure. As such, society in all countries – both developing and developed – need to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change, where resilience is the ability of a system to absorb stresses and adapt in ways that improve the overall sustainability of the system; enabling it to be better prepared for future climate change impacts.In this context, a climate resilient society is one that is: reflective (learns from experiences); robust (both people and infrastructure can withstand the impacts of extreme conditions); forward-thinking (with plans made to ensure systems function during extreme events); flexible (so systems and plans can change, evolve or adopt alternative strategies); resourceful (to respond quickly to extreme events); inclusive (so all communities including the vulnerable are involved in planning); and integrated (so people, systems, decision-making and investments are mutually supportive of common goals).The Climate Resilient Societies Major Reference Work includes chapters covering a range of themes that provide readers with an invaluable overview on how various levels of government have attempted to create climate resilient societies. In particular, each chapter, under its respective theme, will address how a government, or series of governments, at various levels in non-OECD and/or OECD countries, have implemented innovative climate resilient policies that seek synergies across strategies, choices and actions, in an attempt to build a climate resilient society. Each chapter will address one specific sub-theme out of the population of themes covered in the Major Reference Work: Water, Energy, Agriculture and Food, Built environment and Infrastructure, Transport, Human health, Society, Disaster, Business and Economy, and Financing Climate Resilience.

This book continues the discussion in the first two volumes on the challenges that organizations face in order to implement sustainability, ethics, and effective corporate governance, all of which are important elements of “standing out” from other companies. Examining the background of the New European Consensus on development with the new guiding motto ‘Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future,'the authors explore how this new legislation on sustainability issues around the world is forcing companies to deal directly with sustainability issues.The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), adopted by the United Nations in September 2015, is the international community's response to global challenges and trends in connection with sustainable development. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core, the 2030 Agenda is a transformative political framework designed to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development globally. It balances the economic,social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, including the key issues of governance and peaceful and inclusive societies, and recognizes the essential interlinkages between its goals and targets, i.e., that they must be implemented as a whole and not selectively. The respective chapters in this volume raise a number of questions regarding corporate social responsibility, ethics, and corporate governance in the face of new technology, and new approaches to climate change and sustainability reporting.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the energy policies in the European Union and Japan in terms of electricity markets and climate action, including energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and the reduction of emissions. The book evaluates and compares the regulatory frameworks for achieving energy transitions by answering a number of questions focused on the essence and range of the regulatory models used by leading global economies which herald carbon neutrality by 2050. The book provides a useful framework that systematises Japanese and European energy policies and legislation including electricity-related policies, plans, and programmes. Discussing these issues in relation to the European and Japanese 2050 energy transition the author delves into the four pillars of the transition: market reform, reduction of emissions, promotion of renewables, and enhancing energy efficiency. Each chapter demonstrates the timing of the actions undertaken both in Europe and Japan; analyses the character of the conducted actions, evaluates the stakeholders of the realised agenda; and presents the technologies involved in the energy transition.

This book contains contributions from the international conference “Engineering Innovations and Sustainable Development,” organized by three Russian universities on June 17–18, 2021. By presenting international research on various sustainability issues, it includes topics such as current trends in industrial and agricultural development, innovations in the construction and transport sectors, problems concerning the financing of innovative activities and governmental support for innovations, and engineering competences and skills in the era of new technologies. It also covers the economic, environmental, and informational aspects of sustainable development in the context of innovations. Finally, the book addresses theoretical and practical aspects by studying the phenomenon of sustainability and engineering development in terms of comparing international experiences. It provides significant value for scientists, teachers, and students of higher educational institutions, and specialists, who are researching sustainable development issues in the era of engineering innovations.