Why can China maintain a high crop diversity? A spatial-temporal dynamic analysis

Crop diversity is crucial for producing more food and nutrition in the crowded planet and achieving agricultural sustainable development, and thus it is a hot topic in shaping policies aimed at ensuring food security. Many studies have revealed that enhanced crop diversity can benefit crop productivity. However, research on how to maintain a relatively high crop diversity at regional and national scales remains limited. This study attempts to examine the underlying mechanisms of crop diversity changes in China and eventually answer why China can maintain a high crop diversity from the spatial-temporal perspective. To achieve this end, the county level crop area dataset for the period of 1980–2014 was compiled and used to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of crop diversity in China. The result reveals that the China’s crop diversity trended upward over past 35 years, evidenced by more than 7 major crops at national level and 4 major crops at county level having undergone massive planting process to maintain a high crop diversity. Spatially, the crop diversity increased in more than two-thirds of the counties, and its hotspots moved gradually to the south-west mountainous area. The natural factor of slope and the social factor of population density contributed to shape the crop diversity pattern in global effects. In contrast, the irrigation degree, elevation of cropland, mean annual temperature and precipitation affected the spatially non-stationary distribution of crop diversity at the local level. On the whole, the maintenance of a higher crop diversity in China not only was limited by natural conditions, but also subject to adopt the multi-cropping systems strategic choice for the country to agricultural conditions. We argued that crop diversity can be an indicator to draw agricultural zoning, and increasing crop diversity should be recognized as a policy tool to implement agricultural sustainable development strategy.

Download Full-text

La complessitŕ dei mercati energetici e la necessitŕ di una regolazione multilivello

ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ◽

10.3280/efe2008-003006 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 121-152

Author(s):

Giuseppe Franco Ferrari

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

European Union ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Local Level ◽

National Level ◽

Energy Sector ◽

Energy Markets ◽

Multilevel Governance ◽

Energy Market ◽

The European Union

- The energy markets are very complex, because, on the one hand, they imply several different activities and, on the other hand, they involve various levels of govern- 183 ment. The energy market is divided indeed in different segments: supply (generation or purchasing), transmission, distribution and sale, which are allocated at different levels of government, from the international and European level (with reference to the security of energy supply), to the local level (with specific regard to the distribution and sale). This complexity makes the energy sector particularly critical, under the pressure of political interests and economical needs. Another sensitive point is linked with the environmental protection, since the consumption of energy is one of the most polluting human activities, and the demand of energy is growing up together with the economical growth of the developing Countries. This problem is increasingly discussed at the international level, with reference to the climate change issue, in order to plan a sustainable development for the whole globe: because of it, the Kyoto Protocol was issued within the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change. It establishes legally binding commitments for the reduction of four greenhouse gases for all the 183 ratifying Countries, according the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and provides for the promotion of renewable energy. The European Union ratified the Protocol implementing the relative obligations through, for instance, the creation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The European Union most of all addressed the competitive issue, since the 70s, in order to achieve the result to create a free energy market in Europe. The last results of the European energy policy were the directives on electricity and natural gas in 2004, that imposed the complete opening of the energy markets in almost all the European Countries (with few exceptions). The implementation of the European directives requires the intervention of the national level, since each Country has to modify its own regulatory framework, in order to comply with the directives. Everywhere in Europe, this process faces with several difficulties, but it is particularly hard in Italy, since the energy sector is traditionally public owned. Indeed, in our Country, the privatization and liberalization processes are strictly linked to another trend: the decentralization of legislative and administrative powers from the State to the Regions and Local Communities. Thus it is evident that the global governance of the energy sector, for its complexity and its sensibility, can only derive from a network of interventions by several levels of government, and different international, national and local actors, which realize a typical case of multilevel governance.Key words: Energy markets, competition, sustainable development, multilevel governance.JEL classifications: K21, K23.Parole chiave: Mercato energetico, concorrenza, sviluppo sostenibile, multilevel Governance.

Download Full-text

Gender responsiveness in forest management towards sustainable development

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20187408005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 ◽

pp. 08005

Author(s):

Ryza Dani Pratiwi ◽

Ismi Dwi Astuti Nurhaeni ◽

Drajat Tri Kartono

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Forest Management ◽

Local Level ◽

Research Result ◽

National Level ◽

Living Environment ◽

Gender Mainstreaming ◽

Environmental Aspect ◽

Central Java ◽

Development Goals

Sustainable development as a development process giving environmental aspect needs attention. As an effort to reach sustainable development, the United Nations envisioned comprehensive vision to reach the better world in 2030 through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and land ecosystem are considered two of seventeen objectives of SDGs, where land ecosystem covers forest management to actualize sustainable forest. Since 2000 the Indonesian government echoed gender mainstreaming strategy through gender-perspective integration in various fields of development. Even, the Forest Minister in 2011 and 2017 issued regulation on gender mainstreaming in living environment and forestry. This research aims at studying gender responsiveness of policy on forest management. It is a qualitative descriptive research conducted in Central Java Province since the location constitutes a preserved forest with wide critical land. Documentation studies and in-depth interview were employed as data collecting technique. The research result reveals that forest management in the national level is gender-responsive, namely it has considered the different needs between men and women. However, policy in the local level is still neutral gender. Women have access towards forest sources but they don’t have control on it. The social norms about gender role contributed to gender relation in forest management.

Download Full-text

The critical review of agriculture technological transfer in the era of decentralization

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202130603021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 306 ◽

pp. 03021

Author(s):

Ahmad Fawaiq Suwanan ◽

Andrew Moirore Rori ◽

Dediek Tri Kurniawan

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Local Level ◽

Agricultural Sustainable Development ◽

Technological Transfer ◽

Inhibiting Factor ◽

Decentralization Policy ◽

Development Goals

The progress of agricultural technological transfer in accordance with socio-economic conditions has long been recognized as an obstacle in accelerating agricultural development. After two decades of implementing decentralization, Indonesian agricultural technological transfer has become more complex. The purpose of this study is to identify the performance of the agricultural technological transfer after two decades of implementation of the decentralization in Indonesia. The lack of collaboration between the various agriculture institutions, as well as a centralistic approach in agricultural development for more than three decades considered to be the main inhibiting factor of the effectiveness of technological transfer. The implementation of the decentralization policy in early 2001 has affected in changes fundamental of the organizational structure and management of government institutions that carry out extension functions in agriculture. This fundamental change has implications in the performance of most agricultural sector’s organizations and personnel. Developing agricultural sustainable development requires collaboration between local, regional and central levels. In creating decentralized agricultural policy, including the technology transfer and innovation, it will be effective when they have commitment to a mutually support between related institutions. Pentahelix sinergy among stakeholders in local level will be substantial for maintaining long term agricultural sustainable development goals.

Download Full-text

Sustainable development: Implementing utopia?

Sociologija ◽

10.2298/soc1201007k ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 7-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Drago Kos

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Local Level ◽

National Level ◽

Real Life ◽

Actual Behavior ◽

Abstract Concept ◽

The Everyday ◽

Social Potential ◽

Everyday Reality ◽

Strong Contrast

Sustainable development is popular, but also indeterminate concept, with many meanings and interpretations. This complex and vague idea seems more difficult to implement on the local basis then on the national level. It is therefore surprising that such an abstract concept has rather high mobilizing power. One of the explanations lies in its positive image. When one compares the ?optimistic? concept of sustainability with the ?pessimistic? concept of entropia, it is possible to hypothesize that its popularity is the result of its utopistic potential, i.e. its ability to visualize the reconciliation of the eternal fight between man (society), and nature. Comparing attitudes and statements with the actual behavior makes it possible to conclude that sustainability is just as popular as declaration, which is in strong contrast with the everyday reality. It is quite understandable that sustainability, as a radical concept, is difficult to implement in the real life. A lot has to be done in coordinating the measures on the local level in order to prevent shocks which would destabilize communities. But just the fact that the concept is provocative makes it effective in stimulating the discussion on numerous questions considering sound, sustainable development. This paper tries to structure the concept of sustainability in order to clarify its social potential.

Download Full-text

Analysis of the United Territorial Communities Strategies in the Context of Sustainable Development Policy Implementation

Mechanism of an economic regulation ◽

10.21272/mer.2019.83.02 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 33-45

Author(s):

Yuriy M. Petrushenko ◽

Anna S. Vorontsova ◽

Oksana S. Ponomarenko ◽

Kostiantyn O. Derbenov

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Regional Development ◽

Development Strategy ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Local Level ◽

National Level ◽

Sustainable Development Goal ◽

Development Goal ◽

Study Results

The concept of sustainable development has been considered as the main ideological paradigm of human existence. It is oriented not only on economic but also on social and environmental development. Its main ideas are grouped into Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which found their implementation at the national level of different countries, including Ukraine. They are also documented in such important political documents, as programs and strategies of the socio-economic development of the regions and the united territorial communities that have been formed due to the decentralization reform. The research paper analyses the number of SDGs which are adapted to the national (Ukraine) and regional (Sumy) levels. During the study, the aggregated ratings of SDGs according to their significance have been proposed. The study results reveal the priority directions of sustainable development of the whole country and its regional development vector. At the country level, the main trends have been highlighted: firstly economic, which involves the development of industry and infrastructure, increase in innovations, energy efficiency and secondly social, which includes improvement of healthcare, a justice system, and education. As for regional development, the main vectors have also been determined as economic growth, which is primarily due to the betterment in the labor market, the development of industry and infrastructure and social improvement, which is related to poverty reduction and improvements in quality of education, cooperation, and partnership. At the local level, the nine Strategies of united territorial communities of Sumy region were analyzed for using the methodology of sustainable development. Their main priorities have been appealed as followings: the openness, security, vitality and environmental sustainability of cities and towns; the strengthening of the global partnership for sustainable development; the establishment of sustainable infrastructure, the promotion of comprehensive and sustainable industrialization and innovation. Key words: united territorial community, sustainable development, strategy, global sustainable development goal, national sustainable development goal, regional development.

Download Full-text

Social enterprises as a tool for SDG implementation in slovakia

10.5817/cz.muni.p210-9896-2021-75 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Monika Bumbalová ◽

Marcela Chreneková

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Slovak Republic ◽

Local Level ◽

Research Question ◽

Grey Literature ◽

National Level ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Social Enterprises ◽

Territorial Development

The Slovak Republic as a member of the United Nations agreed to contribute to the fulfilment of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) defined in the document Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite the efforts at the national level, the actual implementation of national priorities, derived from SDGs, at local level is lacking a systematic approach. When it comes to the territorial development, however, Slovakia has recognized the potential of social economy and social enterprises in particular. Concrete steps were taken to stimulate occurrence of this phenomenon especially in the lagging behind regions. The attempt to intersect these two aspects represents the main objective of the presented paper together with an answer to the research question – to what extent can social enterprises be considered as a tool for SDGs’ implementation in Slovakia. Through an extensive work with scientific and grey literature and through the analytical lenses when processing secondary data from the Registry of Social Enterprises of Slovakia, we identified numerous linkages between the reality of social enterprises and their contribution to the SDGs mainly in the area of poverty reduction and inclusion, education, job market, circular economy, usage of local resources and environmental protection.

Download Full-text

SDGs mainstreaming at the local level: case studies from Japan

Sustainability Science ◽

10.1007/s11625-021-00977-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hiromi Masuda ◽

Mahesti Okitasari ◽

Kanako Morita ◽

Tarek Katramiz ◽

Hitomi Shimizu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Case Studies ◽

Local Governments ◽

Local Level ◽

National Level ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Policy Integration ◽

2030 Agenda ◽

Stakeholder Partnerships ◽

Multi Stakeholder

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

Download Full-text

Moving Businesses toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Evidence from an Italian “Benefit-For-Nature” Corporation

Entrepreneurship Research Journal ◽

10.1515/erj-2019-0305 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Massimo Battaglia ◽

Patrizia Gragnani ◽

Nora Annesi

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Local Level ◽

Research Question ◽

National Level ◽

Sustainability Reporting ◽

Policy Framework ◽

Recent Attempt ◽

Benefit Corporations ◽

Development Goals

AbstractSustainable development goals (SDGs) are the most relevant and recent attempt to integrate sustainable development ambitions and environmental concerns in a policy framework. Recently, few studies have been conducted to investigate the gap between sustainability reporting and the SDGs, initiating a new stream of research (Lozano 2015; Rosati and Faria 2019). However, the role of accounting systems as a support for moving toward goals and targets outlined by the SDGs has been poorly deepened in not-traditional profit-oriented businesses. Among these, there are cooperatives: jointly owned benefit corporations. The peculiarity of cooperatives lays in the collective governance and the fact that profits are re-invested in the cooperative or in local projects and activities rather than being distributed to the shareholders. The present study intends to fill this gap by answering the following research question: can a cooperative, given its peculiar nature, contribute to sustainability? To do so, the annual sustainability reports of the largest Italian cooperative have been analyzed under the lens of SDGs. The results show that cooperatives can actively contribute to sustainability, especially on the local level. In fact, they have proved to be important players in transposing the SDGs from the national level to the local level, constituting an important link between the international community and the local one.

Download Full-text

Environmentally Sustainable Development of Urban Settlements In India: A Framework For Development of Indicators

Current World Environment ◽

10.12944/cwe.10.1.15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 121-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shuvojit Sarkar ◽

T Bhattacharyya

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Action Plan ◽

Local Level ◽

National Level ◽

Environmentally Sustainable ◽

Development Indicators ◽

Sustainable Development Indicators ◽

International Agencies ◽

Urban Settlements

There have been numerous efforts worldwide at various scales (global/national/regional/local) in the field of development of sustainable development indicators, focusing on either one or all of its various dimensions, following the Rio Summit in 1992. However, India has fallen behind in the area of development of Sustainable Development Indicators and none of the Indian cities figure in the review of the IISD Compendium, the most comprehensive database to date to keep track of Indicators efforts. A review of the initiatives by several international agencies and countries in formulation of the sustainability indicators though provide necessary guidance, the final framework needs to address the urban sustainability issues in the Indian context. The objective of this paper is to develop a set of indicators at macro and micro level for environmentally sustainable development of the urban settlements in India. It involves recommending an approach, a methodology and a structural framework for deriving the indicators set at various levels focusing on resource dynamics of urban settlements. Domain based classification has been followed wherein domains have been identified based on essential natural and built in resources. Further, for each domain environmental sustainability determinants have been recognised and based on them multilevel indicators have been identified with a goal of greater livability and quality of life. A way forward has been given for the evaluation of indicators for formulation of policies at national level and action plan at local level with stakeholder’s participation.

Download Full-text

Challenges of the Cultural Policies as a Sustainable Development Engine: Example of a Good Policy / City of Pancevo

Journal of Heterodox Economics ◽

10.1515/jheec-2015-0011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 29-58

Author(s):

Bojana Subasic ◽

Bogdana Opacic

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Policy Development ◽

Cultural Policy ◽

Local Development ◽

Local Level ◽

Good Practice ◽

National Level ◽

Cultural Development ◽

The Republic ◽

The City

Abstract Reforming cultural policy in Serbia comes into a focus after year 2000. With delegating jurisdiction on the local cultural systems, because one of the ideas is that local government and experts can recognize needs, potential and capacities for local development more clearly and comprehensively. This work deals with the challenges of cultural policy as initiators of sustainable development, where the City of Pancevo has been selected as an example of a good practice. The first part of the text deals with challenges of cultural policy on national level. When it comes to cultural policy development on the Republic level, one can say that participants in culture in Serbia contribute to improving culture every year. However, for more successful cultural policy it is necessary to approach cultural policy challenges in service of sustainable development. Ranking all challenges leads to a conclusion that it is necessary to solve problems such as financing of the institutions, lack of a strategic thinking and insufficient inter-sector, inter -department and international cooperation. The second part of the text is dedicated to the City of Pancevo, as an example of a good practice in cultural policy and sustainable development domain. During 2013. with the support of the IPA fund cross-border cooperation program, the City of Pancevo accomplished Poles of Culture project. Within that project the Center for Study in Cultural Development conducted a research of cultural needs and habits of citizens of Pancevo, cultural institutions and citizen associations within culture. The third part of the text deals with the research results of cultural needs and habits of Pancevo citizens. They represent guidelines for improving the city cultural policy. The fourth part of the text is dedicated to the cultural policy on the local level and recommendations for cultural policy improvement has been given based on the example of the City of Pancevo.

Download Full-text