scholarly journals Sustainable recovery of tourism in the post-COVID-19 world: Advocacy for a Resource Nexus perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-332
Author(s):  
Daniel Karthe ◽  
Tobias Reeh ◽  
Felix Kempf ◽  
Halim Lee ◽  
Edeltraud Guenther
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Future Potential ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Sustainable Recovery

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had unprecedented impacts on tourism worldwide, causing a major downturn in sectoral economic development and employment. Even though affected regions, businesses and customers are united in their hope of a rapid recovery, a return to business-as-usual is not desirable from an environmental perspective. The COVID-19 pandemic could, however, also be an opportunity for sustainability-oriented transformations in various segments of the tourist industry. A concept that has received growing attention in sustainability science and policy but that has not yet been applied to tourism may have a significant future potential here: the Resource Nexus. As a consistent and application-oriented framework for the integrated management of environmental resources, the Resource Nexus can be a model for advancing sustainability in tourism. Instead of looking at a single dimension only, the Resource Nexus considers environmental resources in a holistic way, including potential synergies and trade-offs between different development goals. This can ultimately support a transition not only to more sustainability, but also to greater resilience of the tourism sector against environmental changes.

scholarly journals Water-energy-food nexus perspective: Pathway for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to country action in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Bijon Kumer Mitra ◽  
Devesh Sharma ◽  
Tetsuo Kuyama ◽  
Bao Ngoc Pham ◽  
G.M. Tarekul Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Water Security ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Perception Survey

Water, energy and food securities lie at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since these securities are interconnected, the business-as-usual approach (sectoral approach) cannot achieve them and need to apply the water-energy-food nexus approach for identifying and overcoming the roots of barriers and challenges. The study aims to prioritize interlinkages between SDG-2 (food security), SDG-6 (water security) and SDG-7 (energy security) for country action. In order to achieve this aim, the study implements a set of methods including stakeholder perception survey, network analysis, regression analysis and cross-sectorial group discussion. This article summarizes the outcomes of a case study in India. Stakeholders cognition derived through scrutinizing the perception survey admitted the need for a nexus approach in the action plans towards the SDGs. Quantitative assessment of interdependency showed that, of 182 interlinkages between SDG-2, SDG-6 and SDG-7 targets, 124 interlinkages had synergistic relation. The combined outcome of the cross-sectorial group discussion identified eight interlinkages as high priority (p>0.9) for immediate integrated planning and action. A total of ten interactions are moderate (p=0.6 to 0.9) and eight are low priority interlinkages (p<0.6). Solid understanding of synergies and trade-offs associated with SDG targets and initial prioritization of interlinkages would help India reorient its SDG priorities from a water-energy-food nexus perspective.

scholarly journals Second Workshop report: Mobilising the science community in progessing towards a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Greenhill ◽  
◽  
Christopher Leakey ◽  
Daniela Diz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Policy Impact ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Workshop Report ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Science Community ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Policy Communities

Through a programme of activities from January to July 2021, this Scottish Universities Insight Institute (SUII) project focussed on accelerating progress towards the ‘Just Transition’ for an environmentally sustainable, resilient and equitable economy and society in Scotland, within the framework provided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a series of activities to support dialogue between the scientific and policy communities in Scotland, the programme aimed to: 1. Develop our understanding of interdependencies between marine and cross-cutting policy themes to promote policy coherence, promoting synergies and managing trade-offs. 2. Mobilise the science and policy communities in co-developing knowledge for policy impact, including understanding data and evidence needs for innovation and measuring progress.

scholarly journals Synergies and Trade-Offs in the Sustainable Development Goals—The Implications of the Icelandic Tourism Sector

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4223
Author(s):  
David Cook ◽  
Nína Saviolidis ◽  
Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir ◽  
Lára Jóhannsdóttir ◽  
Snjólfur Ólafsson
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Cruise Ships ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Governance Institutions ◽  
And Performance

The development of major economic sectors can provide the bedrock on which long-lasting national economic prosperity is formed. Iceland’s tourism sector is an example of a rapidly expanded industry in recent years, to the extent that it has become the largest sectoral contributor to the nation’s economy. The growth of the sector has led to a number of sustainability impacts, thus presenting opportunities and challenges in terms of meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Using the case study of Iceland, this paper aims to advance the conceptual understanding of the synergies and trade-offs between a nation’s tourism sector and performance across the 169 targets of the SDGs. Empirical results were derived from four theme-based focus groups comprised of expert participants, who were tasked with completing scoresheets concerning their perception of the extent of synergies and trade-offs for each target. The majority (126 in number) of the mean scoresheet outcomes for the SDG targets revealed neither synergies nor trade-offs. However, 32 synergies and 11 trade-offs were identified. Many of the target synergies related to new economic opportunities, such as jobs, employment, and training for young people. Target trade-offs tended to be environmental and social. In particular, concern was voiced about the greenhouse gas emissions of the Icelandic tourism sector, which derives from international aviation, cruise ships, and rental car usage. The outcomes of this study are of particular relevance to tourism companies, policy-makers, and governance institutions, all of whom are increasingly endeavouring to link their activities with the fulfilment of the SDGs, maximising synergies, mitigating the extent of any potential trade-offs, and potentially transforming trade-offs into synergies. Furthermore, the results are likely of interest to academics focused on researching the broad sustainability impacts of economic sectors and their contribution to meeting the visionary goals of the SDGs.

scholarly journals Synergies and Trade-offs in the Sustainable Development Goals – the Implications of the Icelandic Tourism Sector

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cook ◽  
Nína Saviolidis ◽  
Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir ◽  
Lára Jóhannsdóttir ◽  
Snjólfur Ólafsson
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Cruise Ships ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
And Performance

The development of major economic sectors can provide the bedrock on which long-lasting national economic prosperity is formed. Iceland&rsquo;s tourism sector is an example of a rapidly expanded industry in recent years, to the extent that it has become the largest sectoral contributor to the nation&rsquo;s economy. The growth of the sector has led to a number of sustainability impacts, thus presenting opportunities and challenges in terms of meeting the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Using the case study of Iceland, this paper aims to advance conceptual understanding of the synergies and trade-offs between a nation&rsquo;s tourism sector and performance across the 169 targets of the SDGs. Empirical results were derived from four theme-based focus groups, comprised of expert participants, who were tasked with completing scoresheets concerning their perception of the extent of synergies and trade-offs for each target. The majority (126 in number) of the mean scoresheet outcomes for the SDG targets revealed neither synergies nor trade-offs. However, 32 synergies and 11 trade-offs were identified. Many of the target synergies related to new economic opportunities, such as jobs, employment and training for young people. Target trade-offs tended to be environmental and social. In particular, concern was voiced about the greenhouse gas emissions of the Icelandic tourism sector, which derives from international aviation, cruise ships and rental car usage. The outcomes of this study are of particular relevance to tourism companies, policy-makers and governance institutes, all of whom are increasingly endeavouring to link their activities with the fulfilment of the SDGs, maximising synergies, mitigating the extent of any potential trade-offs, and potentially transforming trade-offs into synergies. Furthermore, the results are likely of interest to academics focused on researching the broad sustainability impacts of economic sectors and their contribution to meeting the visionary goals of the SDGs.

scholarly journals Workshop report: Driving the transition to a resilient and inclusive future: the role of the ocean and policy coherence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Greenhill ◽  
◽  
Christopher Leakey ◽  
Dani Diz ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Policy Impact ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Workshop Report ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Policy Communities

Through a programme of activities from January to July 2021, this Scottish Universities Insight Institute (SUII) project seeks to accelerate progress towards the ‘Just Transition’ for an environmentally sustainable, resilient and equitable economy and society in Scotland, within the framework provided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme aims to: 1. Develop our understanding of interdependencies between marine and cross-cutting policy themes to promote policy coherence, promoting synergies and managing trade-offs. 2. Mobilise the science and policy communities in co-developing knowledge for policy impact, including understanding data and evidence needs for innovation and measuring progress.

scholarly journals Biodiversity Targets, SDGs and Health: A New Turn after the Coronavirus Pandemic?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4353
Author(s):  
Claire Lajaunie ◽  
Serge Morand
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Planetary Boundaries ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Development Goals

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we invite readers to a reflection over the aim and use of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the determination of the new biodiversity targets in relation to health issues. Starting with a brief overview of the initiatives to consider health and the environment in the international arena before the adoption of SDGs, we show how the pandemic shed a new light on the need for research on the interlinkages of human and animal health and environmental changes. We examine underlying elements of the dialogue between science and policy, then we suggest considering SDGs as tool for the service of the environment, wellbeing and justice. We advocate for the translation of planetary health principles into action, together with the consideration of planetary boundaries, to redefine an adaptive environmental law for the sake of social justice and the health of the planet.

scholarly journals The evolution of life cycle assessment in European policies over three decades

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serenella Sala ◽  
Andrea Martino Amadei ◽  
Antoine Beylot ◽  
Fulvio Ardente
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
General Concept ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Policy Domain ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Purpose Life cycle thinking (LCT) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are increasingly considered pivotal concept and method for supporting sustainable transitions. LCA plays a relevant role in decision support, for the ambition of a holistic coverage of environmental dimensions and for the identification of hotspots, possible trade-offs, and burden shifting among life cycle stages or impact categories. These features are also relevant when the decision support is needed in policy domain. With a focus on EU policies, the present study explores the evolution and implementation of life cycle concepts and approaches over three decades. Methods Adopting an historical perspective, a review of current European Union (EU) legal acts and communications explicitly mentioning LCT, LCA, life cycle costing (LCC), and environmental footprint (the European Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint PEF/OEF) is performed, considering the timeframe from 1990 to 2020. The documents are categorised by year and according to their types (e.g. regulations, directives, communications) and based on the covered sectors (e.g. waste, energy, buildings). Documents for which life cycle concepts and approaches had a crucial role are identified, and a shortlist of these legal acts and communications is derived. Results and discussion Over the years, LCT and life cycle approaches have been increasingly mentioned in policy. From the Ecolabel Regulation of 1992, to the Green Deal in 2019, life cycle considerations are of particular interest in the EU. The present work analysed a total of 159 policies and 167 communications. While in some sectors (e.g. products, vehicles, and waste) life cycle concepts and approaches have been adopted with higher levels of prescriptiveness, implementation in other sectors (e.g. food and agriculture) is only at a preliminary stage. Moreover, life cycle (especially LCT) is frequently addressed and cited only as a general concept and in a rather generic manner. Additionally, more stringent and rigorous methods (LCA, PEF/OEF) are commonly cited only in view of future policy developments, even if a more mature interest in lifecycle is evident in recent policies. Conclusion The EU has been a frontrunner in the implementation of LCT/LCA in policies. However, despite a growing trend in this implementation, the development of new stringent and mandatory requirements related to life cycle is still relatively limited. In fact, there are still issues to be solved in the interface between science and policy making (such as verification and market surveillance) to ensure a wider implementation of LCT and LCA.

Functional diversity alters the effects of a pulse perturbation on the dynamics of tritrophic food webs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Ceulemans ◽  
Laurie Anne Myriam Wojcik ◽  
Ursula Gaedke
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Nutrient Pulse ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Food Web Model

Biodiversity decline causes a loss of functional diversity, which threatens ecosystems through a dangerous feedback loop: this loss may hamper ecosystems' ability to buffer environmental changes, leading to further biodiversity losses. In this context, the increasing frequency of climate and human-induced excessive loading of nutrients causes major problems in aquatic systems. Previous studies investigating how functional diversity influences the response of food webs to disturbances have mainly considered systems with at most two functionally diverse trophic levels. Here, we investigate the effects of a nutrient pulse on the resistance, resilience and elasticity of a tritrophic---and thus more realistic---plankton food web model depending on its functional diversity. We compare a non-adaptive food chain with no diversity to a highly diverse food web with three adaptive trophic levels. The species fitness differences are balanced through trade-offs between defense/growth rate for prey and selectivity/half-saturation constant for predators. We showed that the resistance, resilience and elasticity of tritrophic food webs decreased with larger perturbation sizes and depended on the state of the system when the perturbation occured. Importantly, we found that a more diverse food web was generally more resistant, resilient, and elastic. Particularly, functional diversity dampened the probability of a regime shift towards a non-desirable alternative state. In addition, despite the complex influence of the shape and type of the dynamical attractors, the basal-intermediate interaction determined the robustness against a nutrient pulse. This relationship was strongly influenced by the diversity present and the third trophic level. Overall, using a food web model of realistic complexity, this study confirms the destructive potential of the positive feedback loop between biodiversity loss and robustness, by uncovering mechanisms leading to a decrease in resistance, resilience and elasticity as functional diversity declines.

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