scholarly journals A paradigm shift in sustainability: from lines to circles

2020 ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
Piergiuseppe Morone ◽  
Gülşah Yilan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
World Population ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Cradle To Cradle ◽  
Scarcity Of Resources ◽  
Shed Light

The concept of sustainability is attracting great attention as societies become increasingly aware of the environmental consequences of their actions. One of the most critical challenges that humankind is facing is the scarcity of resources, which are expected to reach their limits in the foreseeable future. Associated with this, there is increasing waste generated as a consequence of rapid growth in the world population (particularly in urban areas) and a parallel rise in global income. To cope with these problems, a linear strategy has been applied to increase efficiency by reducing the use of materials and energy in order to lessen environmental impacts. However, this cradle to grave approach has proven inadequate, due to a lack of attention to several economic and social aspects. A paradigm shift is thus required to re-think and innovate processes (as early as in the design phase) in such a way that materials and energy are used more effectively within a closed-loop system. This strategy, known as the cradle to cradle approach, relies on the assumption that everything is a resource for something else since no waste is ever generated in nature. In line with the cradle to cradle approach, the bio-inspired circular economy concept aims at eco-effectiveness, rather than eco-efficiency. While the circular economy has neither a confirmed definition nor a standardized methodology, it nonetheless carries significant importance, since it “is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles,” in accordance with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite some controversial opinions that “circles are not spirals, and for growth to occur, spirals with ever-increasing radii are required,” the circular economy concept is taking a central role in the sustainable development debate and, for this reason, deserves attention. The aim of this paper is to shed light on this debate, pointing out the main features of the emerging circular paradigm along with sustainability transition theories and circularity evaluation tools.

scholarly journals Sustainable Neighborhoods in Arab world; a Path Towards Sustainability

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Samah M. El-khateeb
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Arab World ◽  
World Population ◽  
Sustainable City ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
The World ◽  
Sustainability Principles

In the last years, the world has jumped rapidly towards more urbanisation, and for the first time in the history in 2008 urban population exceeded the rural population. By 2050, it is expected that two-thirds of the world population will live in urban areas. As a result of this rapid urbanisation worldwide, Sustainable Neighbourhoods SN emerged as a significant formation of cities that help in achieving sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development included this sustainability aim through the Sustainable Development Goal 11. This goal aims to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”The Sustainable City in Dubai is located in the United Arab Emirates, the development and construction started in 2014, and 95% of the site was completed in mid of 2016. The development of the Sustainable City shows that the occupation residents will have many incentives to buy a villa and live in the city such as free rooftop solar systems, open landscaped gardens, free Green Star rated home appliances, zero net maintenance fees, and zero net service charges. Additionally, the sustainable city in Dubai is an educational hub for sustainable design. It sponsored many students through its agreements with different universities and research labs. This research aims to understand the case of the sustainable city in Dubai as an Example of SN in the Arab world. The research will start with a literature review that identifies all related terminologies to SN, besides a comprehensive analysis of some fundamental principles of SN design. A case study analysis will be done including; site visit, and applying one of the principles of SN on the sustainable city in Dubai to understand and explore the sustainability principles in it.

Assessment of wood industrial pollutants based on emission coefficients in China

Holzforschung ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 1071-1078
Author(s):  
Jie Chu ◽  
Anuj Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industrial Waste ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Medium Density Fiberboard ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Waste Gas ◽  
Industrial Gases

AbstractThe implementation of circular economy in wood industries is an effective way for future sustainable development. The wood industries in China are not in the direction of circular economy approach due to less availability of assessment/calculation data of pollutants as per life cycle assessment (LCA) criteria. The present study focuses on the calculation of emission and pollutants from wood industries as per LCA; the emission and pollution data were collected from fiberboard Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood and particleboard (PB) production. The comparative analysis of dust emissions, industrial waste gases and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were performed among three wood industries. The results revealed that the fiberboard industry was the highest emitter of dust, industrial waste gas and COD; and particleboard industry was the least emitter. Further, results indicated that pollutant index of wood industries were significantly changed between 2015 and 2017; the industrial waste water discharge increased five folds and the COD, dust and industrial gases increased two times. This study provides with the emission and pollutants data of wood industries as per LCA to promote the sustainable development for circular and low carbon economics.

scholarly journals Relationship between tourism and Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Circular Economy as a future bet

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Rodríguez-Antón
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Peace And Justice ◽  
Development Goals

No one has the slightest doubt about the enormous potential that the African continent has as a tourist destination. The diversity of cultures, the great biodiversity that it possesses, the multiple artistic manifestations that it offers and the beauty of the seas that surround it are key pieces in continuing to promote its capacity as a tourist attraction, which is approximately 60 million tourists per year who generate seven percent of exports and employment. However, in order for Africa to take off, it is necessary that a number of conditions related to security, health, education, eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities, peace and justice and quality of its waters, among others, are intimately related to the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda. In this context, we maintain that the implementation of the Circular Economy in Africa will be a key tool in this process of improving the sustainability of this continent in its three aspects, economic, social and environmental, and raising its level of tourism competitiveness.

scholarly journals The Role of Faith Systems and Religions in the Future of Sustainable Development: An Islamic Outlook

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Mamdouh M. A. Sobaihi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Distant Future ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Religious Networks ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Shed Light

Reference material concerning sustainable development has increased dramatically over the last decades, with more and more countries, agencies and businesses following the sustainable development ideals and principles. However, one of the most basic of human institutions has not contributed, and perhaps not allowed to contribute, to the debate. Religion and faith systems have a great potential in influencing not only the definitions of sustainable development but also concepts of human sustainable practices to achieve sustainable development goals. The main obstacle to the fulfillment of this potential appears to be the lack of outreach and acceptance of the scientific community to the religious and faith system institutions and individuals. In this paper, a review of the literature is carried out to shed light on the root of this schism between science and belief systems. In addition, the paper will highlight how the majority of the literature deals with process rather than the individual human being and how to make him/her a better practitioner of sustainability. It is also aimed that the paper shed some light on how religious and faith system ideals can be incorporated into sustainable development plans and systems. The main focus of the paper is to cast light on the religion of Islam and some of the Islamic teachings and Ideals and how they can be incorporated in delivering the message of sustainable development since the religion of Islam is forecast to be the largest faith on the planet in the not too distant future. In conclusion, a discussion on how the various religious networks can deliver the message of sustainability will be discussed.

Fostering Circular Economy in Urban Areas

2022 ◽  
pp. 165-178
Author(s):  
K. Orkun Aktaş ◽  
Can B. Aktaş
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Best Available Technologies ◽  
Design For X ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Efficient Manufacturing

The 21st century is an urban world. Strategies that aim to tackle the urban material challenge and promote circular economy are necessary to achieve sustainable development. Having established the importance of circular economy towards sustainable development, this study presents applicable strategies to reduce consumption and promote circularity specifically in urban centers. Main strategies may be categorized into three areas: reducing material use through better design, efficient manufacturing and processing, and more intensive recycling. For materials use reduction, dematerialization, appropriate design based on product service lifetime, design for X principles and extended producer responsibility are identified as prominent design approaches or policies. For effective manufacturing and processing, the implementation of best available technologies and additive manufacturing were identified to have potential significant impact. For end-of-life phase management, differences between upcycling, recycling, and downcycling require targeted industry-specific policies.

scholarly journals Impact Assessment of Growth Drag and Its Contribution Factors: Evidence from China’s Agricultural Economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengzhen Zhao ◽  
Zhenhua Chen ◽  
Hailing Zhang ◽  
Junbo Xue
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
World Population ◽  
Time Series Regression ◽  
Agricultural Economy ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Land Water ◽  
Percent Decline

The sustainable development of agriculture is important for China, where more than 20 percent of the world population live. Many factors affect the sustainable development of agriculture in China. The purpose of this paper is to find out what factors play influential roles on affecting the growth pattern. Based on a modified production function model built upon Slow (1956) and Romer (2001), the impact of growth drag on the agricultural economy, and the contribution resources, are evaluated empirically using a time-series regression analysis based on the case of China for the period 1978–2015. The estimated coefficient of the total agricultural growth drag in China is 1.32, which suggests that the annual agricultural growth is associated with a 1.32 percent decline due to the scarcities of land, water, and energy. Specifically, the growth drags from land, water, and energy are found to be 0.5 percent, 0.44 percent, and 0.38 percent, respectively. Additionally, the results suggest that capital is the most important factor in the agricultural sector, although agriculture is highly dependent on land. Capital contributes around 76.86 percent to the growth of the agricultural economy, whereas contributions from land, energy, water, and technological progress are relatively small. Therefore, more investment should be added to agriculture, to accelerate the technology progress. Furthermore, the saving of water and energy is also important for the sustainable development of agriculture.

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