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17.181 / 17.182 Sustainable Development: Theory and Policy
Spring 2009
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Sustainable Development:
Theory & Policy
Week 8
From Sustainability Problems to
Solution Strategies
Professor Nazli Choucri
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Contents
2
1.
Contextualization
2.
Introducing GSSD
3.
From Problems to Solutions
4.
The Transformation Problem
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1. Contextualization
• • • • • • 3
Globalization & World-wide eConnectivity
Increased Knowledge Intensity
New Technologies for Knowledge Networking Dow Jones Indices of Corporate Sustainability Sustainability Measures for Decision
Persistent Gaps Local-Global Gaps
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The Argument
Convergence of global trends is transforming
traditional knowledge practices, creating new
research modes & accelerating ‘new knowledge’.
Such transformations may reduce bias in
international research and knowledge-gaps worldwide.
But research designs must reflect fundamentals of diversity, complexity, globalization & localization. 4
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8.2 Introducing the Global System
for Sustainable Development
(GSSD)
•
•
Knowledge of Sustainability
Knowledge for Sustainability
Global knowledge meta-networking
Structured knowledge on sustainability
System for using “state-of-the-art” knowledge
management
Decision support collaborative platform
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Knowledge About What?
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•
Human activities & conditions
•
Sustainability problems
•
Scientific & technological solutions
•
Economic, political & social solutions •
International actions & responses
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Conceptual Framework - Rings
International Responses
Social Solutions
Technical Solutions
Problems
Activities
Activities
Problems
Technical Solutions
Social Solutions
International Responses
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Conceptual Framework - Slices
Industry
Mobility
Agriculture
Land Use
Trade
Energy
Water
Governance
Conflicts
Urbanization
Migration
Population
Consumption
Unmet Needs
8
MIT
Global S ystem for Sustainabilit y Development
Copyright © 1999 GSSD ™
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Copyright © 2000 MIT
N. Choucri
Spring
2006
© NChoucri
- MIT
Center for
Innovation in Product
Development
pm
Conceptual
Conceptual Framework
Framework
Industry
Mobility
Agriculture
Forest &
Land Use
Trade & Finance
Energy Use
& Sources
Water Use & Sources
Governance &
Institutions
Conflicts &
Wars
Migration &
Dislocation
Urbanization
Population
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Unmet Basic
Needs
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Consumption
Spring 2006
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FROM ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS TO
SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEMS
SU ST A I N AB I L I T Y PR O BL E M S
Environmental
impacts of trade;
Hazardous wastes
Land , air & water pollution;
Ozone depletion;
Environmental
impacts
Impacts of trade
competitiveness
Depletion of nonrenewable resources;
Pollution, wastes,
eco l og i cal ef f ec ts
Constraints on
peace-keeping;
Energy use
& sources
Governance &
institutions
R
C
Environmentallypolluting fertilizers
land overuse;
ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS
Industry
T rade &
finance
Soil erosion &
degradation;
Environment & health
effects; Socioeconomic
dislocations;Global
change & GHG
emissions
Transport &
Mobility
Forest destruction
A gr i cu l t ure
T
E S
Forest & Land
use
E
C
U
H
N
Water sources
& uses
O
O
Human impacts on
sources & needs;
S
E
L
R
G
O
Joint human &
natural causes
Casualties;
Conflicts
& wars
Y
Physical destruction;
Soci al m arg i na l i z ati on
Natural causes
& impacts;
Weapons tr ade & use;
Damage to natural
environments;
Migration &
dislocation
L
A
Urbanization
Unmet
Stresses related to changes in
Population
Consumption
basic
needs
group composition; Changes in density
& pattern;
ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS
Distribution tensions;
Political shifts
Social & resource
Poor quality of life;
Resource use
constraints relative to demand;
Food shortages;
& depletion;
Gender & age-specific problems
Health hazards;
Waste accum u l at i on
Disease
Conflicts over
resources
Poverty expansion;
Social stress;
Urban pollution & natural
resource shortages;
Spatial dynamics
SU ST AI N A B I L I T Y PR O B L E M S
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8.3
From Problems to Solutions
Nested System
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TYPES of SOLUTION STRATEGIES
Improved toxic release
inventories; Standards &
codes; Market based
incentives; Best Practices
Eco-efficiency & safet
measures; Markets &
mechanisms
for cleaner mobility;
Emission standards
& audits
Sustainable
agricultural practices;
Agriculture finance systems;
Improved food distribution
& finance methods
;
Market strategy;
CFC substitutes;
Limiting
Trade measures & policies;
Cleaner
Improved legislation;
Structural economic hazardous chemicals
production; Industrial
Improved accounting &
changes;
& fertilizers; Advances
Agroforestry forms;
ecology; Substitution of
measurements;
New
Efficient mobility in agriculture methods
Improved
functions; Waste
techniques
Improved storage
Provisions for dispute
Forest management
systems
products &
for forest use
& transport
minimization
resolution
programs
process; Improved
& reforestation;
Planning &
packag
ing
&
shipment;
Sustainable logging practices
Direct regulatory
management;
Cleaner production;&
Information
control;
Mobility
Industry
Eco-efficiency
technologies
Market strategies
Agriculture
measures
Alternative
Land &
& mechanisms;
Market based
Trade &
production technologies;
Forests
strategies;
Finance
Supply-side alternatives;
Public & private
Efficient use; Pollution
interactions;
control; Renewable
Demand-side
Government R&D
Energy
Improved
Water
management
non-polluting sources
information systems
New technological
Effective
Facilitate security &
Governance
approaches for damage
arms control;
economic cooperation;
Improved technologies
Conflicts & wars
& institutions
response; Use of
& methods for
War insurance;
technological options for
Improve political
maintaining peace
Migration
peace-making &
participation;
Contingency plans
Urbanization
& dislocation
peace-keeping
against violence;
Improve urban
Strengthen
Population
Unmet
Responsive
Meeting international
Consumption
infrastructure;
peace-keeping
basic needs
infrastructure strategies;
codes
Fertility
Reduce population
Migration
Access to
Waste
Resettlement
management;
concentrations
policies & strategies;
Waste management;
effective
management &
strategies
technology;
minimization; Improve
Urban services;
Safeguards to human &
Strengthen
production processes
natural habitats;
health services
Strengthen
Strengthen urban
business support
communities
Education;
Migrant support
Changes in
programs
Improvement of women’s
consumer behavior;
Poverty alleviation
opportunities & skills;
assistance;
Age-specific support programs;
Mechanisms for
Enhanced capacity building;
consumption change
Safety nets
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC,
Responsive legal systems
SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL
POLITICAL, & REGULATORY
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GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES
AGENDA 21
Institutional
Sustainability
Strategies
New Global
Accords &
Institutions
Conventions
Global
Conferences
Joint
Implementation
Trade Regimes
& Agreements
A gr eem ent s
f or Technol ogy
Di f f usi on, A dvance
& A ccess
International
Monitoring of
Hazardous
A ct iv it i es
Formal Constraints on
Hazardous Activities
Coordination for
Reconstruction
& Resettlement
I NTERNATI ONAL RESPONSES
and GL OBAL ACCORDS
International Pollution
Control Agreements
International
Codes of
Financial &
Investment Conduct
Voluntary
Agreements
Innovative
International
Investment Strategies
Private/Public
Partnership
Economic
Adjustment Targets
& Strategies
Population Assistance &
Management of Migration
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International
Benchmarking Systems
Conflict Management
Strategies
Dispute Resolution
Procedures
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Methodological & Strategic Issues
Concept & Theories
Indicators & Measures
Models & Case Studies
Agreements & Organizations
Policy, Strategy & Responses
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8.4 The Transformation
Problem
Assets vs. Liabilities
Sustainability or Sustainable ‘Growth”
Paths, Options, Trajectories
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Valuing all assets: human, capital, natural, environmental
1. The problem is how to deploy national assets and
manage national liabilities toward sustainability 2. This involves financial and non-financial assets all
forms of resources (human, natural, & economic)
can be used to serve national goals
3.
Diversity: in empirical manifestation regarding
transformation problem
4. Sustainability as a generic problem for industrial and developing countries
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