Climate, Society, and Sustainable Development: Assessing Vulnerability, Building Adaptive Capacity

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Rosenzweig ◽  
Daniel Hillel
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Working Definition ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
Agriculture And Food

Agriculture and food security, water resources, ecosystems, natural disasters, and human health are all affected significantly by short-term fluctuations of weather and by longer-term changes of climate. Such effects can be severe enough to disrupt national and regional economies, particularly in developing countries, thus exacerbating poverty and thwarting sustainable development in both the short and long term. Developed and developing countries differ in their vulnerability to the effects of climate and in their capacity to recover from them. Developing countries are expected to be more vulnerable than developed countries to long-term climate change caused by the anthropogenic build-up of greenhouse gases. The challenge is to integrate climate adaptability into sustainable development effectively, so that detrimental effects are minimized and positive effects are enhanced. In this chapter we address the questions of how climate generally and El Niño specifically can affect sustainable development, consider the related concepts of vulnerability and adaptive capacity, and evaluate policies and programs designed to incorporate improved responses to climate variability and change into society. Sustainable development, a term brought to the attention of the world by the Bruntland Report, Our Common Future (United Nations Commission on Environment and Development, 1987), is a broad, often normative term used to describe a process by which developing countries are able to achieve economic growth comparable to the more developed countries without compromising environmental health and social equity. The report defines development as sustainable when it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Another simpler working definition that has been put forward is “development that lasts” (Magalhães, 2000, p. 4). Sustainable development is often characterized asmultidimensional, having economic, social, environmental, and political aspects (Magalhães, 2000). Economic sustainability is defined as the ability of programs to exist without long-term government incentives. Social sustainability relates to progress toward amelioration of poverty, income equality, and inclusiveness; whereas political sustainability involves shared participation in decision making and in stable institutions. Environmental sustainability involves the use of natural resources in a way that preserves or enhances their productivity, even while conserving habitats, biodiversity, and landscape.

Dichotomous impacts on social and environmental sustainability: competitiveness and development levels matter

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Doyle ◽  
Mauricio Perez Alaniz
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Dynamic Panel Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Development Levels

Purpose Whereas in developed countries, sustainability primarily focuses on environmental topics, in developing countries the issues of poverty, development and equity are equally, if not more, important. The purpose of this paper is to apply measures of social and environmental sustainability to assess sustainable development for the period 2005–2015 across a sample of 94 countries for which relevant data are available. Countries include two groups: developed and developing countries. Design/methodology/approach Using the index-based approach introduced by the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Project, a range of indicators are collected for estimating trends in both social and environmental sustainability. For the panel of data identified, a dynamic panel data estimator method is applied to the data set constructed. This paper presents the empirical results identifying key competitiveness factors related to social and environmental sustainability (separately and combining both aspects in a comprehensive sustainability framework). Findings This study explores how sustainable competitiveness offers a comprehensive assessment of the inter-related dynamics of the social, the environmental and economic building blocks of sustainable development simultaneously. Performance impacts are found to differ substantially across two groups of countries depending on their development level. This highlights the challenges in shaping and achieving sustainable development goals. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is novel in examining the intersections between economic competitiveness and environmental and social sustainability addressing an identified research gap. In addition, the paper investigates the most important competitiveness pillars focusing on both strengths and weaknesses in sustainable competitiveness across developed and developing countries.

scholarly journals Conflitos Socioambientais envolvendo Projetos de Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL) na América Latina10.5773/rgsa.v3i3.182

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Andréa Ventura ◽  
José Célio Silveira Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
America Latina ◽  
Social Environmental

O Protocolo de Kyoto surge em 1997 como uma pretensa solução para o aquecimento global, Apenas um dos seus mecanismos permite a participação direta dos países em desenvolvimento: o Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL). A proposta deste mecanismo é que os países em desenvolvimento possam contribuir para a redução de gases do efeito estufa usando financiamento dos países desenvolvidos e, ao mesmo tempo, promovam o desenvolvimento sustentável. No entanto, não há um consenso os atores sociais envolvidos sobre a eficácia dos projetos MDL. Um número crescente de ONGs os critica, argumentando que não há contribuição para o meio ambiente global e para o desenvolvimento sustentável com o MDL. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma investigação que analisou, através de um estudo de caso comparativo, dois diferentes projetos MDL na América Latina: o Projeto Plantar, no Brasil, e o Projeto Fray Bentos de Biomassa, no Uruguai. Os casos têm pelo menos um ponto comum: ambos envolvem conflitos socioambientais entre empresas privadas e ONGs sobre plantações de eucalipto em escala industrial. Através de revisão bibliográfica e documental, entrevistas com os principais atores envolvidos em cada caso, e da observação não participante, este artigo tenta analisar as principais semelhanças e diferenças entre estes conflitos. Observa-se que, não obstante as diferenças marcantes existentes, os casos são ligados em aspectos-chave, a exemplo da contestação ao modelo de desenvolvimento apoiado pelos projetos de MDL e da forma de contestação utilizada pelos integrantes do movimento social ambientalista de oposição. Palavras-chave: Conflitos socioambientais; Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL); América Latina. Abstract The Kyoto Protocol comes up in 1997 as a supposed solution to global warming. Only one of its mechanisms allows direct participation of developing countries: the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The purpose of this mechanism is that developing countries can contribute to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions using funding from developed countries and, at the same time, promote sustainable development. However, there is not a consensus on CDM projects effectiveness among the social actors involved. A growing number of NGOs criticize them, arguing that there is not any contribution to the global environment and sustainable development with the CDM. This paper presents the results of an investigation that examined, through a comparative case study, two different CDM projects in Latin America: Plantar Project in Brazil and the Project Biomass Fray Bentos in Uruguay. The cases have at least one point in common: both involve social and environmental conflicts between private companies and NGOs on eucalyptus plantations in industrial scale. Through literature and documentary review, interviews with key actors involved in each case, and non-participant observation, this article attempts to analyze the similarities and differences between these conflicts. It is observed that, despite marked differences, the cases are linked to key aspects, such as the challenge to the development model supported by the CDM projects and the contestation methods used by the social environmentalist movement of opposition. Keywords: Social Environmental Conflicts; Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM); Latin America.

Examining perspectives and dimensions of clean development mechanism

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pravesh Aggarwal ◽  
Rupesh Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Clean Development Mechanism ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
Development Mechanism

Purpose This paper aims to critically evaluate the working of the clean development mechanism (CDM) particularly in developing and least developed countries in the light of recent developments. Design/methodology/approach Part I of the paper delves upon various international rules governing the CDM. Part II of the paper draws out the rationale behind the introduction of the CDM under the Kyoto Protocol so as to provide a basis for its critical assessment in actual practice, as dealt with in Part III. Finally, the paper makes a concluding remark and suggests a way forward. Findings It is submitted that the CDM suffers from a gamut of concerns, which need to be adequately addressed. The business-centric approach followed by the investors of CDM projects has been a major reason behind denial of social, economic and environmental benefits pertinent for attaining sustainable development in the developing countries. The urge to derive economic benefits resulting from their investment has made the developing countries more competitive but turn a blind eye to reduced standards maintained for sustainable development. Besides, long-term benefits arising out of such projects, along with greater public participation of local stakeholders in CDM activities, have usually taken a backseat. A need is there to involve the CDM in the agricultural sector, which would have long-term benefits. Besides, it is required to enhance local stakeholder consultation, which ensures that people affected by a CDM project can give a timely, meaningful input to a proposed project. In the 80th meeting of the CDM Executive Board, held in Bonn, it was further decided that the complaints of the local stakeholders shall be given effect through subsequent changes in the project design of the CDM pipeline, along with their consultation before the real start of the project. Greater participation will also be ensured through increased publically available data on CDM projects. Originality/value The paper is original and brings out some valuable suggestions to improve the working of the CDM.

scholarly journals The Impact of Sustainability Awareness and Moral Values on Environmental Laws

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5882
Author(s):  
Rita Yi Man Li ◽  
Yi Lut Li ◽  
M. James C. Crabbe ◽  
Otilia Manta ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Environmental Legislation ◽  
Environmental Laws ◽  
Academic Publications ◽  
The Impact

We argue that environmental legislation and regulation of more developed countries reflects significantly their moral values, but in less developed countries it differs significantly from their moral values. We examined this topic by using the keywords “sustainability” and “sustainable development”, studying web pages and articles published between 1974 to 2018 in Web of Science, Scopus and Google. Australia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda were ranked as the top three countries in the number of Google searches for sustainability. The top five cities that appeared in sustainability searches through Google are all from Africa. In terms of academic publications, China, India, and Brazil record among the largest numbers of sustainability and sustainable development articles in Scopus. Six out of the ten top productive institutions publishing sustainable development articles indexed in Scopus were located in developing countries, indicating that developing countries are well aware of the issues surrounding sustainable development. Our results show that when environmental law reflects moral values for betterment, legal adoption is more likely to be successful, which usually happens in well-developed regions. In less-developed states, environmental law differs significantly from moral values, such that changes in moral values are necessary for successful legal implementation. Our study has important implications for the development of policies and cultures, together with the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations in all countries.

scholarly journals Latin America: Reduced S&T Investment Puts Sustainable Development at Risk

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Bolaños-Villegas ◽  
Pablo Bolaños-Villegas ◽  
Pablo Bolaños-Villegas ◽  
Pablo Bolaños-Villegas ◽  
Pablo Bolaños-Villegas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Extreme Case ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
The Face ◽  
Social Turmoil

Latin America is home to more than 600 million people and has considerable natural and human resources. However, investment in science and technology (S&T) lags far behind that in developed countries. This gap represents a barrier to the development of economies based on knowledge and hampers the region's ability to tackle environmental and social problems. This lack of investment is evident in the extreme case of Venezuela, where much of the science workforce has fled economic chaos, but also in every Latin American country, including science powers such as Brazil and Argentina, where federal budgets in science, technology and education have been drastically reduced in recent years. Investments in S&T foster cooperation, commerce and good will and enhance resilience in the face of environmental and social turmoil. Therefore, scientists must start to actively engage governments and encourage long-term spending in S&T to support the development of Latin American societies.

scholarly journals Migration and Its Impact on Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Muslih Faozanudin ◽  
Shainima Islam
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
International Migration ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
The Impact

People’s mobility and international migration are quite interesting phenomena to discuss. Until now, there are still differences in views between industrialized countries and developing countries regarding the contribution of migration to development for both sending and receiving countries. This paper aims to analyze based on existing secondary data the linkage between migration and sustainable development. For analysis, this study uses a descriptive approach, with secondary data as the primary source. The analysis found that both sending and receiving countries - benefited from population mobility and international migration. The least developed countries in the economy and overall infrastructure are supplying countries for this migration process, and increasing remittances and skilled workers to help other countries. Although it is realized that this condition is the impact of the weak economic system of developing countries on the one hand and the demographic that occur in advanced industrialized countries on the other. To maintain the stability of the supply chain for economic development, international migration is included as one of the sustainable development programs that apply more humane values. Therefore, migrants should be seen as potential contributors to the growth of sending and receiving countries, and some even claim that they are heroes of foreign exchange. Keywords:  migration, remmitance, sustainable development Mobilitas masyarakat dan migrasi internasional merupakan fenomena yang cukup menarik untuk dibahas. sampai saat ini masih terdapat perbedaan pandangan antara negara industri dan negara berkembang, tentang  kontribusi migrasi terhadap  pembangunan, baik  bagi negara yang asal migrant maupun bagi negara penerima. Makalah ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis berdasarkan data sekunder yang ada mengenai keterkaitan antara migrasi dan pembangunan berkelanjutan. Untuk analisis, penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif, dengan data sekunder sebagai sumber primer. Hasil analisis menemukan bahwa kedua negara-negara pengirim dan penerima - mendapat manfaat dari mobilitas penduduk dan migrasi internasional. Negara-negara kurang berkembang dalam ekonomi dan infrastruktur secara keseluruhan menjadi negara pemasok untuk proses migrasi ini, dan meningkatkan pengiriman uang dan pekerja terampil untuk membantu negara lain. Meskipun disadari bahwa kondisi ini merupakan dampak dari lemahnya sistem perekonomian negara berkembang di satu sisi dan faktor demografi dan kesuburan yang terjadi di negara industri maju di sisi lain. Untuk menjaga stabilitas rantai pasokan pembangunan ekonomi, migrasi internasional dimasukkan sebagai salah satu program pembangunan berkelanjutan yang menerapkan nilai-nilai yang lebih manusiawi. Oleh karena itu, para migran harus dilihat sebagai kontributor potensial bagi pertumbuhan negara pengirim dan penerima,  bahkan ada yang mengklaim bahwa mereka adalah sebagai pahlawan devisa. Kata kunci:  migrasi, pembangunan berkelanjutan, remiten

Labour Observatories for Agricultural Policymaking and Sustainable Development

2014 ◽  
pp. 56-63
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Crop Varieties ◽  
The Right

Assimilation of relevant information within a labour observatory is a key to success of an observatory. Management of such relevant information and its dissemination to the right audience at the right time is also important. In this regard, a labour observatory plays a very important role for successful operationalization of agricultural policies within developing countries. Historical information regarding soil, crop varieties, agricultural practices, and skill of agricultural labourers needs to be maintained by a labour observatory. Information from the observatory has to be communicated to policy makers for making a pragmatic decision in developing countries with large agriculturally dependent populations. These decisions can impact the lives of this population and can impact the sustainable development of these countries. Initiatives related to labour observatory started more than a decade back in developed countries. It has now begun in parts of Africa, too. The chapter highlights these developments and contextualizes the association between these observatories, agricultural policymaking, and sustainable development.

Assessing the Factors Affecting the Implementation of E-Government and Effect on Performance of DVLA

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
Gerald Dapaah Gyamfi ◽  
George Gyan ◽  
Mavis Ayebea ◽  
Florence Naa Norley Nortey ◽  
Prince Yaw Baidoo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Though many researchers have carried out studies on electronic government (e-government) and its effect on performance of public organizations in developed countries not much such studies have taken place in developing countries, creating a gap in literature. The current study seeks to fill the gap. The study highlights the factors affecting the implementation and sustainability of E-government and effect of the factors on performance of the driver and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) in Ghana. The study used purposive sampling technique to gather data from the DVLA (N-50) in 2016. The outcome of the study revealed that the challenges that impede the successful implementation of e-government include regular interruption of the electricity supply, online theft, poor ICT infrastructure, and financial constraints. Based on the benefits associated with the implementation of e-government, the current researchers made recommendations for long-term sustainability of e-government.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development, Education for Sustainable Development and Philippine Community

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Jim F. Raborar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World

Abstract Development is an innate manifestation on earth. It is not even surprising that the world has developed tremendously over the past decade considering the development in the previous decades. That is, development precipitates development. Therefore, even though everybody can see what risks it brings to the earth, we cannot simply restrain it. Of course, we cannot restrain it. The bottomline is that we have no choice but to be part of the development and be one of those who assist in the ever spontaneous development by trying to minimize its unwanted effects to the planet and its inhabitantants, the humans. Even looking at the ‘development’ from one’s own microcosm, we can perceive that as we go through life and gain some of what this world can offer, we produce tons and tons of wastes. These wastes, which are naturally not part of the earth, pollute and disrupt the natural processes of the planet. It is also simple to notice that the fundamental cause of the depletion of the earth’s natural resources was definitely proportional to the increase in population and to the development itself. Here lies one of the underlying global problems at hand aside from poverty, hunger, low access to education, and other socio-anthropological issues we have, this is the issue on natural resources depletion. Even to worldleaders from well-developed countries can recognize that they will also be the ones at the receiving end of this problem. It is basic that living organisms rely on their environment or the abiotic factors, to live sustainably. Considering these problems, the United Nations, with the worldleaders as its composition, has come up with strategies that advocate development while keeping the earth’s natural resources from depletion or the earth’s natural processes from disruption. This advocacy is called Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development is the development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the next generation to meet their own needs. It is, at its core, an advocacy for futurism and the next generation. Sustainable Development is primarily anchored with the case of the “carrying capacity” of the planet Earth. It was already implied by several natural scientists as well as social scientists that indeed the Planet Earth increasingly finds it hard to sustain the needs of the human races because of overpopulation. These things result to poverty and hunger around the world. On the otherhand, it is increasing implied that most of the Natural Resources of the planet goes to the well-developed countries, leaving the developing and underdeveloped countries with meager resources. This further increases cases of hunger and poverty. Although it is deceptive that the call for a sustainable development should take its toll on the countries with bigger economy since they consume the most and pollute the most, it is very definite that there should be a much more intensive application in developing countries since we are just about to experience what the rest of the developed countries have already experienced. More importantly, developing countries should advocate Sustainable Development since it is a common knowledge that even if they contribute least to the causes of natural resource depletion and disruption of natural processes, they are the ones who suffer most from the devastating effects of unsustainable development. As citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, we are one of those who suffer most.

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