World Sustainability Series

We have entered a new era where business, technologies, communities, and even pandemic deceases cross borders with unprecedented speed and intensity. 2030 Agenda and 17 SDGs reflect the global community's high expectations of finally reversing the destruction of our natural and social habits, and achieving a more balanced and equitable pathways toward well-being of all. However, despite the initial efforts, the world is not on track to achieving the most of the 169 targets that comprise the goals. It is evident that we have a system problem, so we need a system solution. Authors presented a hierarchical system consisting of two-level management systems: first level—unsustainability reduction systems and second level—control system for transformations toward sustainability. The book clearly shows that implementation of systems for unsustainability reduction and for transformations toward sustainability is possible, and that sufficient knowledge is available to get started. It is designed for researchers, practitioners, and politicians.

This book fills an important gap in the literature and gathers contributions from an interdisciplinary and international team of authors, whose fields of expertise include human geography, management, intersections of sustainability and leisure, behavioral psychology and tourism.

In order to yield the expected benefits, sustainability initiatives need to be undertaken by means of a close cooperation between universities on the one hand, and societal partners on the others. The principle of co-creation and co-execution of sustainability initiatives increases the value for all by mutual learning, and the sharing of expertise and resources. But pursuing sustainability initiatives with a community and societal involvement is not simple. There is a perceived need for a better understanding of how universities can interact with society, in order to support the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

This book is an attempt to address this need, by a novel approach which focuses on current potentials and challenges, across a wide range of fields and expertise. The book focuses on how the theory and practice of sustainable development interact and shows the need for a continuation of the dialogue among sustainability academics and practitioners, so as to address the issues, matters and problems at hand. The spectrum of themes addressed on this book also entails how environmental values and ethics are applied and the relationship between social, biological and cultural diversity. It also includes a broad disciplinary approach to sustainability, including education, research and case studies, and the links with human–environment relations in a sustainable development context.

This book describes initiatives and concrete examples on sustainable food production worldwide. In the current world scenario, where nations all over the world are struggling to accomplish the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure sustainable patterns for all, this book provides a contribution towards a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the cross-cutting issues related to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security. This interdisciplinary book supports the efforts to engage a commitment from all fields of science, to work together to provide knowledge that could help to address SDG2 (No hunger) and lead to the promotion of quality of life, by means of a more sustainable food production, and improved food security. 

This book includes contributions from scientists and representatives from government and non-governmental organisations working in the field of land management and use and on management of fires. The book is truly interdisciplinary and has both a research and application-oriented dimension. The list of topics includes sustainability and water management; sustainability and biodiversity conservation;  the future sustainability of nature-based industries such as agriculture, mining, tourism, fisheries and forestry; sustainability, people and livelihoods; sustainability and landscapes planning; sustainability and land use planning; handling and managing forest fires. The papers are innovative and cross-cutting, and many have practice-based experiences. Also, this book, prepared by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the World Sustainable Development Research and Transfer Centre (WSD-RTC), reiterates the need to promote a sustainable use of land resources today.

This book highlights the vital necessity for combining sustainable development processes from different areas, with applications in areas such as science, education and production sectors. These sectors have previously been separated by linguistic and technological barriers. Breaking down these barriers will allow an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary flow of information, leading to greater efficiency, and towards a more real resilient and sustainable economy development. This book fills in the gap in respect of publications addressing aspects of innovation and sustainable development and focuses on a range of areas, such as I. Gradual transition to innovative development; II. Continuity of technology in education, science and industry; III. Convergency directions, interdisciplinary relations in scientific research; IV. Digital technologies for sustainable development; V. Global trends and regional aspects of innovation and traditions in environmental management; VI.International legal regulations and environmental and economic relations among business communities. The publication fosters the global efforts towards taking better advantage of the many opportunities which innovation in specific areas may offer.

This book aims to give a contribution to a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the cross-cutting issues on energy, environment and health research topics in the current world scenario, where nations all over the world are struggling to accomplish the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure sustainable patterns for all. This interdisciplinary implies a commitment between all fields of science, working together to provide knowledge that could result in the promotion of quality of life. At the present, it is evident that not all people benefit from sustainable policies and practices and the communication between health, energy, environmental and social problems is undeniable. A call for different views could be a pathway attracting universities, stakeholders, organizations and civil society to deeply discuss how one solution does not fit all societies. Few publications are coherently handling this matter. This book is expected to fill this gap and to develop an interest in a larger audience working in general sustainable development and cross-cutting issues. This book is produced by the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR). 

Sustainability is now a widely spread concept, and much progress has been achieved since the 1970s, when it started to be widely discussed. At present, many international organizations and scientists are active in implementing sustainable development as a whole and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular. Nevertheless, the main research agenda is being led by some countries, providing a good opportunity for other nations and regions which have not yet been so active, to bring their viewpoints to the global discussion. One of these regions is Latin America.

a) to provide research institutions, universities, NGOs, government agencies, and enterprises from the region with an opportunity to present their works in the field of sustainability and

Last but not least, a further aim of the book is to present methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies and projects, which aim to show how sustainability may be enhanced in practice.

This book provides the latest research on zero carbon industry and its practical implications for eco-innovation and environmental sustainability for businesses in current scenario. In a zero-carbon industry, there would be profound, sometimes disruptive, changes in our economy compared to our current one. As the world approaches zero carbon industry by 2050, economic output will shift progressively (and permanently) toward those goods and services that do not emit greenhouse gases. Changes in these dynamics would ripple along entire value chains, transforming industries. Creating a zero-carbon industry will require fundamental changes in both our economies and societies. Taking eco-innovation and environmental sustainability seriously will be crucial to businesses, and companies are increasingly keen to signal this commitment. This book aims to illustrate a detailed exploration of the complex and interconnected domains of zero carbon industry, eco-innovation, and environmental sustainability. In addition to combining the academic expertise of emerging and established scholars from different academic fields, this book provides an integrated understanding of the topic on zero carbon emissions, eco-innovation, and environmental sustainability from a broader perspective by combining the work of established and emerging scholars. There is a need to fundamentally transform the zero carbon industry, eco-innovation ecosystem in order to achieve sustainability through the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of things, blockchain, and cloud technologies.

The book sheds light on various advancements in zero carbon industry, eco-innovation, and emerging technologies for the purpose of sustainability, and it aims to address the urgency of responding to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) as part of the global mandate.

This book offers a comprehensive detail about the role that corporate social responsibility can play in promoting sustainable development thereby ensuring a resilient and greener future for all. The book emphasises how business strategies and environmental harmony are becoming more integrated, thereby supporting the agenda towards a sustainable development.

The synergistic and symbiotic relationship between social responsibility and sustainability has evolved over the years with enterprises becoming more aware of their commitment towards ethical, equitable, inclusive, and environmentally conscious practices. Adopting a socially responsible attitude by the new age entrepreneurs represents the paradigm shift in how corporations understand and undertake their regular activities. The traditional objective of wealth maximisation that the enterprises followed led to severe misutilisation of resources in terms of its environmental and societal impact and led to severe corporate disasters. It gave rise to adopting alternative objectives that are not only holistic but also combine concern for profits, humanity, society, and, above all, the environment. The result is that almost every major corporation has adopted a code of conduct and established the necessary management structures and procedures to ensure compliance with the newly framed objective of socially responsible profits. Consequently, the concept of corporate social responsibility has acquired momentum in recent times. This has come after the realisation that social responsibility is a significant environmental and organisational sustainability dimension that only some enterprises can sustain for a while. Over the years, this harmonisation has ushered in significant progress, reshaping the perspective of businesses towards their societal and environmental impact.

The scientific, cultural and diplomatic relations between Europe and its partners in North America are very strong. From a scientific point of view, this long-standing cooperation has taken place across a wide range of areas. They include the field of sustainability, where North America and Europe are working hand in hand, seeking solutions to the many regional and global problems currently faced. Against this backdrop and in order to facilitate a broad discussion on the contribution of higher education institutions from both sides of the Atlantic towards a more sustainable future, this book is being produced.

The book gathers inputs from universities and research organizations on the one hand, but also from companies and enterprises on the other, from Europe and North America, working on matters related to sustainable development in a higher education context. It also provides a platform for the dissemination of information on the latest initiatives, paving the way for technology transfer and networking. Furthermore, the book intends to provide a fertile basis upon which European and North American organizations may cooperate more closely in this key area. Last but not least, a further aim of the book is to present methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies and projects, which aim to show how sustainability in North America and in Europe may be enhanced in practice.

This book, "Energy for Sustainable Development: Capitalising on the Transformative Potential of Energy to Promote Economic Growth and Improve Livelihoods" explores the interconnections between energy and sustainability. Authored by a diverse group of scholars and practitioners, the book argues that much can be gained, by capitalising on the potential of energy as a tool for income generation, economic development and improvements in livelihoods across the world.
 
The authors delve into various matters related to energy and sustainability, describing various approaches, methods, initiatives and projects aimed at inspiring and motivating individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable practices in respect of energy generation and use. By drawing on lessons from across the world, the book advocates for a holistic approach to energy generation and use, that integrates technical, environmental, economic and social dimensions.
 
In summary, "Energy for Sustainable Development: Capitalising on the Transformative Potential of Energy to Promote Economic Growth and Improve Livelihoods" is a thought-provoking exploration of how energy can be sustainability produced and used.
 
This book is a valuable resource for researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners in the energy sector. It invites readers to rethink how energy is generated and used, while inspiring transformative actions that prioritise sustainability and equity. This book offers practical insights and fresh perspectives for anyone committed to using energy resources to build a more sustainable future.