scholarly journals Futures Studies & the CircularEconomy: an Interdisciplinary Approach to Sustainable Development

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-60
Author(s):  
Ricardo Weigend Rodríguez ◽  
Francesco Pomponi ◽  
Bernardino D’Amico
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Futures Studies ◽  
Alternative Futures ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
The Future

While the Circular Economy (CE) is gaining traction as a new economic paradigm to overcome the linear economy, it has not yet developed an understanding on how to transition from the present into the future. What if the future is different from what the CE expects? We argue that the CE cannot answer this question adequately and therefore is not capable of developing this understanding alone. To address this shortcoming, we propose Futures Studies (FS) as a complementary discipline because it offers exactly what CE lacks: methods to explore alternative futures. Whilst both communities are working towards the same goal —a sustainable tomorrow— until now they show little to no interaction. This research represents a first step towards embedding realistic considerations of futures into the CE debate: it reviews literature in both fields and their theoretical background to highlight potential synergies, and lay a path on where and how to start.

The future of the circular economy and the circular economy of the future

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-546
Author(s):  
Ricardo Weigend Rodríguez ◽  
Francesco Pomponi ◽  
Ken Webster ◽  
Bernardino D'Amico
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Futures Studies ◽  
Alternative Futures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
The Future ◽  
Bibliometric Review ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe circular economy (CE) has gained momentum in recent years as a new economic paradigm. While the CE sets a very defined vision for a sustainable future, it still operates in the present. As such, existing guidance on and research into the CE lack a necessary understanding of how to go from the present to the future. What if the future is different from what the CE expects? The CE cannot answer this question adequately and therefore is not capable of developing this understanding alone. To address this shortcoming, this paper proposes futures studies (FS) as a complementary discipline because it offers exactly what CE lacks: methods to explore alternative futures.Design/methodology/approachTo understand the level of interdisciplinary research in the built environment between CE and FS, a systematic literature review is carried out using a bibliometric review and a snowballing technique. This manuscript reviews seminal literature in both fields and their theoretical background.FindingsThis paper demonstrates the lack of collaboration between CE and FS and highlights a systemic failure within CE, which is to consider the future as unknowable. It further provides an initial understanding of where the synergy sits, recommendations on where to start and introduces some of the FS chief methods that could be used by CE in the built environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ bibliometric review and snowballing approach might have missed out on some literature that still falls within the scope. Such limitations are due, on one hand, to the authors’ bibliometric review approach by selecting publications based on matching keywords. On the other hand, the snowballing approach is affected by the authors’ subjective judgements on which of the publications are worth to explore based mainly just on the title and abstract of the paper.Practical implicationsThe inclusion of Futures Studies will allow a stronger focus on approaching possible futures to be integrated overtly into existing work, research and action within the CE community.Social implicationsIt is more reasonable to expect that by cooperatively creating and implementing constructed futures with FS methods and CE principles, a better future for the built environment be reached. This is why it is so relevant for humanity that these two communities start to interact as soon as possible and maintain and open and productive collaboration in transitioning towards a sustainable society.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first of its kind by considering FS into the CE debate.

The future of governance in Iran

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Asghar Pourezzat ◽  
Mohammad Hoseini Moghadam ◽  
Maryam Sani Ejlal ◽  
Ghazaleh Taheriattar
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Futures Studies ◽  
Alternative Futures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
International Trends ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Government

Purpose Through an examination of macro-historical studies on the governance of Iran, the purpose of this study is to identify the most significant and important events and trends in the rise and fall of Iranian governments and introduce alternative futures in a range of possible, plausible and preferable forms of future governance. To carry out a foresight study of alternative futures of Iranian governance, the authors used futures studies, based on the detection of the most critical driving forces, which are also the most important uncertainties. Futures studies as an interdisciplinary field of study help to identify the events and trends that affect political change and offer scenarios of four alternative futures for the governance of Iran: Smart and Stable Government, Authoritarian Development-oriented Government, Irrational Government and Irrational Breakable Government. The authors believe that Iran’s endeavors to promote democracy, taking the changing international trends into account, make a more trustworthy future for Iran both possible plausible. Design/methodology/approach Based on macro-history approach and by using “shared history”, future triangle and then scenario planning, the future of Governance in Iran has been analyzed. Findings Whenever the government has distanced itself from the public and has neglected the trend of international change, it has been faced with a period of collapse and annihilation. And whenever these two important factors are understood, the result is a trend of development and growth. Therefore, the most favored image of Iran’s future relies on the maintenance and promotion of public participation and on increasing attention to the sustainable realities of international relations. Originality/value The complexities of events and trends affecting the rise and fall of previous governments of Iran make it necessary to use an interdisciplinary approach to understand the events that have emerged or are emerging in its governance. In this study, from futures studies point of view, transformation of governance has been studied.

scholarly journals Luonnontiedekasvatuksen muuttuvat tavoitteet: luonnontieteellisestä lukutaidosta kestävyyskasvatukseen, toimijuuteen ja tulevaisuusajatteluun

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Laherto
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Science Education ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
School Science ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Transformative Education ◽  
Futures Studies ◽  
Alternative Futures ◽  
Action Science ◽  
Building Activities

Globaalit ympäristö- ja kestävyyskriisit muuttavat luonnontiedekasvatuksen tavoitteita, didaktiikkaa ja tutkimusta. Luonnontieteellisen lukutaidon (engl. scientific literacy) merkitys kytketään yhä useammin transformatiiviseen kestävyyskasvatukseen. Siinä ei riitä, että koulussa opitaan luonnontieteen sisältötietoa tai sen käyttämistä arjessa, vaan luonnontiedekasvatuksen pitää lisäksi tukea vastuullista toimijuutta ja arvopohjaista muutosta sekä yksilöissä että yhteiskunnassa. Artikkelissa argumentoidaan, että tulevaisuudentutkimuksen ajattelutapoja hyödyntämällä on mahdollista tukea vaihtoehtojen ja vaikutusmahdollisuuksien näkemistä ja niihin tarttumista. Luonnontieteiden opetus tarjoaa hyvän alustan skenaarioajattelulle, tulevaisuuden epävarmuuden kohtaamiselle ja uudistavan toimijuusorientaation rakentamiselle. Ehdotuksia konkretisoidaan esittelemällä I SEE -projektissa kehitettyä tulevaisuusorientoitunutta luonnontiedeopetusta. Lopuksi pohditaan ehdotusten ajankohtaista merkitystä kestävyysongelmien ja COVID19-pandemiankin aikoina.   Changing Goals of Science Education: From Scientific Literacy to Education for Sustainable Development, Agency, and Futures thinking Abstract Global sustainability crises are changing the aims, pedagogies and research in science education. The field is increasingly oriented towards transformative education for sustainable development. School science should now support responsible agency and value-based transformation. This article argues that the thinking in the field of Futures Studies can help students to see alternative futures and take action. Science education provides excellent opportunities for scenario building activities, addressing the uncertainty, and shaping transformative agentic orientations. Future-oriented activities developed in the I SEE project are presented as an example. The suggestions are discussed with relation to the topical sustainability crises and the COVID19 pandemic. Keywords: science education, education for sustainable development, futures thinking, agency

scholarly journals Urbanisation et environnement: la ville du present et du futur

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannis TSIOMIS
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Environmental Dimension ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
The Future ◽  
Urban Project ◽  
The City

Abordagem interdisciplinar da cidade na perspectiva do urbanismo, da arquitetura e dos arquitetos. Novos conceitos e noções para o tratamento da cidade considerando a dimensão ambiental. Relação entre desenvolvimento urbano e meio ambiente. Urbanismo, projeto urbano e desenvolvimento sustentável. Urbanization and the environment: the city of the present and of the future Abstract Interdisciplinary approach of the city under the urbanism, architecture, and architects’ perspective. New concepts and notions for treating the city, considering the environmental dimension. Relationship between urban development and the environment. Urbanism, urban project, and sustainable development.

The Present Situation and Development Trend of Sludge Disposal

2015 ◽  
Vol 733 ◽  
pp. 338-341
Author(s):  
Jian Rong Zhao ◽  
Ping Ning ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Xin Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Development Trend ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Sludge Disposal ◽  
The Future ◽  
Environmental Demand ◽  
Treatment And Disposal

In this paper, commonly used methods of sludge treatment and disposal, their advantages and disadvantages were introduced. Due to the requirements of sustainable development and circular economy, the sludge disposal technology would turn to development of harmless, reduction and resources. The study on sludge disposal of high-end technology would meet the future higher environmental demand.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic: An analytical study on opportunities for circular economy practices in India’s healthcare sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-242
Author(s):  
Sonal Narang ◽  
Dimpal Vij
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Analytical Study ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Economic Area ◽  
The Future ◽  
Market Driven

COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting impact in social, personal, and economic area globally. When we think of the economic recovery of India in the future, we face the challenge of moving forward more sustainably. An international NGO ARUP had published a worldwide report named ‘Health.Care.Without.Harm’; mentioning that only healthcare sector itself is accountable for about 4.4 percent of universal net emissions. The present study, therefore, highlights the vulnerabilities in the linear economy and how the pandemic crisis challenges the linear economy and provide opportunity to uptake circular practices and sustainable development within India’s healthcare economy. The paper outlines the recommendations on the circular economy by suggesting policy and market-driven solutions for the healthcare sector’s sustainability. (*The paper was presented at the AICTE International Conference on Circular Economy, Management and Industry, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Institute of Management Studies and Research, Navi Mumbai and Apeejay School of Management, Dwarka, Delhi, India. October 2021)

scholarly journals Innovations in Local Public Transport – Significance for the Local Community

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-135
Author(s):  
Justyna Trippner-Hrabi ◽  
Aldona Podgórniak-Krzykacz
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Technical Innovations

The article deals with the issues of the innovations implemented in public transport. Their theoretical background was defined in the form of the latest concepts of territorial development: the theory of sustainable development, circular economy, and smart city. The examples of innovations quoted above have been analysed in terms of their impact on: the local community, the environment, health, safety, and economic and social aspects. The main conclusion drawn from the analysis is that technical innovations in public transport contribute to improving mobility, the comfort and safety of commute, and, at the same time, have a positive impact on the environment.

The Meanings of Life and Value Priorities of the Post-Soviet Society in the Republic of Belarus

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Alexander N. Danilov
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Soviet Society ◽  
The World ◽  
Value Priorities ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Republic

The article discusses the meanings of life and value priorities of the post- Soviet society. The author argues that, at present, there are symptoms of a global ideological crisis in the world, that the West does not have its own vision of where and how to move on and has no understanding of the future. Unfortunately, most of the post-Soviet countries do not have such vision as well. In these conditions, there are mistrust, confusion, paradoxical manifestation of human consciousness. The main meanings that determine our life-world are: the desire of citizens for social justice and social security, the desire to figure out and understand the basic values of modern society, how honestly and equally the authorities act toward their fellow citizens, and to what extent they reflect their interests. The meanings of life, which are the answers to the challenges of the time, are embodied in the cultural code of each nation, state. The growth points of new values, which will become the basis for the future sustainable development of a new civilization, have yet to be discovered in the systemic transformative changes of the culture. In this process, the emergence of a new system of values that governs human life is inevitable. However, modern technology brings new troubles to humans. It has provided wide opportunities for informational violence and public consciousness manipulation. Nowadays, the scenario that is implemented in Western consumer societies claims to be the dominant scenario. Meanwhile, today there is no country in the world that is a role model, there is no ideal that others would like to borrow. Most post-Soviet states failed to advance their societies to more decent levels of economic development, to meet the challenges of the modern information age, and to provide the population with new high living standards. Therefore, in conditions of growing confrontation, we should realistically understand the world and be ready to implement changes that will ensure sustainable development of the state and society without losing our national identity.

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