scholarly journals Facing policy challenges with inter- and transdisciplinary soil research focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

SOIL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Bouma ◽  
Luca Montanarella
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Development Goals

Abstract. Our current information society, populated by increasingly well-informed and critical stakeholders, presents a challenge to both the policy and science arenas. The introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offers a unique and welcome opportunity to direct joint activities towards these goals. Soil science, even though it is not mentioned as such, plays an important role in realizing a number of SDGs focusing on food, water, climate, health, biodiversity, and sustainable land use. A plea is made for a systems approach to land use studies, to be initiated by soil scientists, in which these land-related SDGs are considered in an integrated manner. To connect with policy makers and stakeholders, two approaches are functional. The first of these is the policy cycle when planning and executing research, which includes signaling, design, decision making, implementation, and evaluation. Many current research projects spend little time on signaling, which may lead to disengagement of stakeholders. Also, implementation is often seen as the responsibility of others, while it is crucial to demonstrate – if successful – the relevance of soil science. The second approach is the DPSIR approach when following the policy cycle in land-related research, distinguishing external drivers, pressures, impact, and responses to land use change that affect the state of the land in the past, present, and future. Soil science cannot by itself realize SDGs, and interdisciplinary studies on ecosystem services (ESs) provide an appropriate channel to define contributions of soil science in terms of the seven soil functions. ESs, in turn, can contribute to addressing the six SDGs (2, 3, 6, 12, 13, and 15) with an environmental, land-related character. SDGs have a societal focus and future soil science research can only be successful if stakeholders are part of the research effort in transdisciplinary projects, based on the principle of time-consuming "joint learning". The internal organization of the soil science discipline is not yet well tuned to the needs of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches.

scholarly journals Facing policy challenges with inter- and transdisciplinary soil research focused on the SDG's

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Bouma ◽  
Luca Montanarella
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Joint Activities

Abstract. Our current information society, populated by increasingly well informed and critical stakeholders, presents a challenge to both the policy and science arena's. The introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals offers a unique and welcome opportunity to direct joint activities towards these goals. Soil science, even though it is not mentioned as such, plays an important role in realizing a number of SDG's focusing on food, water, climate, health, biodiversity and sustainable land use. A plea is made for a systems approach to land use studies, to be initated by soil scientists, in which these land-related SDG's are considered in an integrated manner. To connect with policy makers and stakeholders two approaches are functional, following: (i) the policy cycle when planning and executing research, which includes signaling, design, decision, implementation and evaluation. Many current research projects spend little time on signaling which may lead to disengagement of stakeholders. Also, implementation is often seen as the responsibility of others while it is crucial to demonstrate – if successful – the relevance of soil science and (ii) the DPSIR approach when following the policy cycle in land-related research, distinguishing external drivers, pressures, impacts and responses to land-use change that affect the state of the land in past, present and future. Soil science cannot by itself realize SDG's and interdisciplinary studies on Ecosystem Services (ES) provide an appropriate channel to define contributions of soil science in terms of the seven soil functions. ES, in turn, can contribute to addressing the six SDG's (2, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 15) with an environmental, land-related character. SDG's have a societal focus and future soil science research can only be successful if stakeholders are part of the research effort in transdisciplinary projects, based on the principle of time-consuming "joint-learning". The internal organization of the soil science discipline is not yet well – tuned to the needs of inter – and transdisciplinary approaches.

scholarly journals FORUM paper: The significance of soils and soil science towards realization of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Keesstra ◽  
J. Bouma ◽  
J. Wallinga ◽  
P. Tittonell ◽  
P. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Policy Arena

Abstract. In this FORUM paper we discuss how soil scientists can help to reach the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals in the most effective manner. Soil science, as a land-related discipline has important links to several of the SDGs which are demonstrated through the functions of soils and the ecosystem services that are linked to those functions. We explore and discuss how soil scientists can rise to the challenge both internally, in terms of our procedures and practices, and externally in terms of our relations with colleague scientists in other disciplines, diverse groups of stakeholders and the policy arena. To meet these goals we recommend the following steps to be taken by the soil science community as a whole: (i) Embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as they provide a platform that allows soil science to demonstrate its relevance for realizing a sustainable society by 2030. (ii) Show the specific value of soil science: Research should explicitly show how using modern soil information can improve the results of inter- and trans-disciplinary studies on SDGs related to food security, water scarcity, climate change, biodiversity loss and health threats. (iii) Given the integrative nature of soils, soil scientists are in a unique position to take leadership in overarching systems-analyses of ecosystems; (iii) Raise awareness of soil organic matter as a key attribute of soils to illustrate its importance for soil functions and ecosystem services; (iv) Improve the transfer of knowledge through knowledge brokers with a soil background; (v) Start at the basis: educational programs are needed at all levels, starting in primary schools, and emphasizing practical, down-to-earth examples; (vi) Facilitate communication with the policy arena by framing research in terms that resonate with politicians in terms of the policy cycle or by considering drivers, pressures and responses affecting impacts of land use change; and finally (vii) all this is only possible if researchers, with soil scientists in the frontlines, look over the hedge towards other disciplines, to the world-at-large and to the policy arena, reaching over to listen first, as a basis for genuine collaboration.

scholarly journals Modelling land system evolution and dynamics of terrestrial carbon stocks in the Luanhe River Basin, China: a scenario analysis of trade-offs and synergies between sustainable development goals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiren Xu ◽  
Fabrice G. Renaud ◽  
Brian Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Urban Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Luanhe River Basin ◽  
Land System ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development Goals

AbstractA more holistic understanding of land use and land cover (LULC) will help minimise trade-offs and maximise synergies, and lead to improved future land use management strategies for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, current assessments of future LULC changes rarely focus on the multiple demands for goods and services, which are related to the synergies and trade-offs between SDGs and their targets. In this study, the land system (combinations of land cover and land use intensity) evolution trajectories of the Luanhe River Basin (LRB), China, and major challenges that the LRB may face in 2030, were explored by applying the CLUMondo and InVEST models. The results indicate that the LRB is likely to experience agricultural intensification and urban growth under all four scenarios that were explored. The cropland intensity and the urban growth rate were much higher under the historical trend (Trend) scenario compared to those with more planning interventions (Expansion, Sustainability, and Conservation scenarios). Unless the forest area and biodiversity conservation targets are implemented (Conservation scenario), the forest areas are projected to decrease by 2030. The results indicate that water scarcity in the LRB is likely to increase under all scenarios, and the carbon storage will increase under the Conservation scenario but decrease under all other scenarios by 2030. Our methodological framework and findings can guide regional sustainable development in the LRB and other large river basins in China, and will be valuable for policy and planning purposes to the pursuance of SDGs at the sub-national scale.

scholarly journals ENDORSEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) IN ENERGY-RESEARCH SECTOR

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Fadhil Md. Din ◽  
Santhana Krishnan ◽  
Din Yu-You Li ◽  
Yu Qin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Smart Power ◽  
Coal Fuel ◽  
Development Goals

The renewable energy industry is instrumental to the achievement of all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the urgency and scale at which renewables must be deployed to meet the world’s sustainable development and climate goals, it is critical that the industry understand its potential impact on all of the SDGs [McCollum et al., 2019]. This mini revision of energy and its relationship with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is mainly towards the agenda of Decarbonize by Mid-Century, Roadmap to 2050, as the aspiration of the “The World in 2050” (TWI 2050), which transformational of six exemplary to achieve SDGs in long-term period [Stanford et al., 2017]. The Roadmap 2050 dreams for six pillars, which are (1) Zero-Carbon electricity, (2) Electrification of end users, (3) Green Synthetic Fuels, (4) Smart Power Grids, (5) Material Efficiency, and (6) Sustainable Land-use. This pillar is only emphasizing the most intensified sectors that could threaten future society, which are Power, Industry, Transportation and Buildings [Khanna et al., 2019]. However, this update only describes the most related topic on Energy (or Power) as the subject matter. Currently, the recent attention of the common energy sector is to promote the Energy Efficiency Index (EEI), minimizing the coal-fuel or fossil-fuel burning system in energy and transportation sectors, and implementing the Renewable Energy initiatives [Anderson et al., 2018]. SDGs and all impose materials (indicator, measurement, impact and outcome) is not only strategize to make further improvement in life and planet, but beyond the prosperity of humanity in the future with the emphasize of “No One Left Behind”. Energy-research based is the contemporary engagement with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), industry-driven, community translational project and government policy. The aims of this interesting topic are concurrent with the ASEAN Renewable and Energy Roadmap under the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the agenda 2030. Therefore, the initiative by “The Hitachi Global Foundation” is recruiting more youth program in the assessment of “promoting of academic research, science and technology” since 2015 for the purpose of pioneering research in society [Hitachi report, 2019]. One of the important enabling sustainability activity is “Energy, Environment” as the contribution to the international community and provide solution to the various issues and challenges. Any research related to the energy will bring back the concepts of SDGs, which combining the 5Ps (Prosperity, People, Partnership, Peace and Planet). Numbers of researchers participating the utmost inspiring “research and empowerment of society” program is being selected based on scientific knowledge, creativity and contribution to the publics. One of the global outcome is a similar targeted by “Roadmap to 2050”, with the clause supporting the RD activities that should aims for continuous process of decarbonisation society and lock-in the solution in long run. Thus, as one of the influential contribution in the roadmap and TWI 2050, The Global Hitachi Foundation is a one step ahead to engage more researchers in the SDGs implementation.

scholarly journals Contribution of Ecosystem Services to Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veidemane
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Water Ecosystems

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2030 are established to address global challenges including environment and human well-being. The SDGs are interconnected and achievement of them requires consideration of the planet’s ecosystems and resources - land, water and air. Ecosystem services (ES) approach has a high potential for better planning, policy and decision making. Understanding how different ecosystems (e.g., forests, rivers, wetlands, grasslands) contribute to the social and economic benefits is critical to ensure the long-term biodiversity protection and sustainable use of ecosystems. A conceptual framework linking biodiversity and ecosystem condition (its structure and functions), and ES to human well-being has been well-established in EU by so called MAES process (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services) lead by the European Commission. The framework is applied in recent research studies and projects, as well as national MAES processes. Various methods are applied for MAES in terms to determine biophysical, economic and social values and to deliver integrated ecosystem assessment. Assessment of ES and trade off analysis shall provide a new perspective for land use planning and decision making at different administrative and spatial levels and in different sectoral policies. EU and national policies for instance on agriculture, fishery, forestry, climate should account the benefits provided by relevant ecosystems and to ensure that the values are not diminished but rather enhanced during the implementation of the policies. Terrestrial and water ecosystems are interconnected as land-based human activities creates pressure that impacts the conditions in water ecosystems and thus delivery of ES by rivers and lakes. For example, intensive agricultural land use produces food for people and income; however, the activity also most frequently causes problems with water quality and quantity in the catchment area and a loss of biodiversity. A risk of such trade-off shall be handled in policy development. Ecosystems also contributes to the resilience of communities by reducing the risk of natural hazards and mitigate adverse impacts. Regulating services such as flood control are substituting investments in flood protection ensured by forests, wetlands and grasslands instead of human built infrastructure. Appropriate land cover and land use shall serve as a basic flood protection measure. Natural processes are increasingly recognised to create new-type solutions that use and deploy the properties of natural ecosystems and their services in an “engineered” way. A wide range of measures called also as nature-based solutions provide another opportunity to work with nature towards global sustainability.

scholarly journals Stimulating Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Conservation Action: Predicting Future Land Use/Cover Change in Virunga National Park, Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads Christensen ◽  
Jamal Jokar Arsanjani
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
National Park ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Land Cover Changes ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Land Cover Maps

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) presents a roadmap and a concerted platform of action towards achieving sustainable and inclusive development, leaving no one behind, while preventing environmental degradation and loss of natural resources. However, population growth, increased urbanisation, deforestation, and rapid economic development has decidedly modified the surface of the earth, resulting in dramatic land cover changes, which continue to cause significant degradation of environmental attributes. In order to reshape policies and management frameworks conforming to the objectives of the SDG’s, it is paramount to understand the driving mechanisms of land use changes and determine future patterns of change. This study aims to assess and quantify future land cover changes in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by simulating a future landscape for the SDG target year of 2030 in order to provide evidence to support data-driven decision-making processes conforming to the requirements of the SDG’s. The study follows six sequential steps: (a) creation of three land cover maps from 2010, 2015 and 2019 derived from satellite images; (b) land change analysis by cross-tabulation of land cover maps; (c) submodel creation and identification of explanatory variables and dataset creation for each variable; (d) calculation of transition potentials of major transitions within the case study area using machine learning algorithms; (e) change quantification and prediction using Markov chain analysis; and (f) prediction of a 2030 land cover. The model was successfully able to simulate future land cover and land use changes and the dynamics conclude that agricultural expansion and urban development is expected to significantly reduce Virunga’s forest and open land areas in the next 11 years. Accessibility in terms of landscape topography and proximity to existing human activities are concluded to be primary drivers of these changes. Drawing on these conclusions, the discussion provides recommendations and reflections on how the predicted future land cover changes can be used to support and underpin policy frameworks towards achieving the SDG’s and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

scholarly journals Embedding the United Nations sustainable development goals into energy systems analysis – expanding the food-energy-water nexus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taco Niet ◽  
Nastaran Arianpoo ◽  
Kamaria Kuling ◽  
Andrew Wright
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Diversity ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development Goals

Abstract BackgroundThere have been numerous studies that consider the nexus interactions between energy systems, land use, water use and climate adaptation and impacts. These studies have filled a gap in the literature to allow for more effective policymaking by considering the trade-offs between land use, energy infrastructure as well as the use of water for agriculture and providing energy services. Though these studies fill a significant gap in the modelling literature, we argue that more work is needed to effectively consider policy trade-offs between the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to avoid missing important interactions.ResultsWe examine the 17 SDGs individually to determine if it should be included in a modelling framework and the challenges of doing so. We show that the nexus of climate, land, energy and water needs to be expanded to consider economic well-being of both individuals and the greater economy, health benefits and impacts, as well as land use in terms of both food production and in terms of sustaining ecological diversity and natural capital. Such an expansion will allow energy systems models to better address the trade-offs and synergies inherent in the SDGs. Luckily, although there are some challenges with expanding the nexus in this way, we feel the challenges are generally modest and that many model structures can already incorporate many of these factors without significant modification.Finally, we argue that SDGs 16 and 17 cannot be met without open-source models and open data to allow for transparent analysis that can be used and reused with a low cost of entry for modellers from less well off nations.ConclusionsTo effectively address the SDGs there is a need to expand the common definition of the nexus of climate, land, energy, and water to include the synergies and trade-offs of health impacts, ecological diversity and the system requirements for human and environmental well-being. In most cases, expanding models to be able to incorporate these factors will be relatively straight forward, but open models and analysis are needed to fully support the SDGs.

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