Perpetual economic growth has ""worked"" for human civilization for centuries, but we've finally hit the wall, economically, socially, and environmentally. Advocates for growth can't deny one thing--the resources of the planet are finite, and running out fast, causing poverty, financial meltdowns, and wealth inequality. The authors show that cultivating a culture of ""enough"" can turn things around, and actually make us richer and happier.
Besides being the right thing to do for Mother Earth, recycling can also make money—particularly when it comes to upcycling, a zero waste practice where discarded materials are fashioned into goods of greater economic or cultural value. In Upcycling Aluminum, Carl A. Zimring explores how the metal’s abundance after World War II—coupled with the significant economic and environmental costs of smelting it from bauxite ore—led to the industrial production of valuable durable goods from salvaged aluminum.
Encouraging students to engage in the challenges and complexity of sustainability, this text considers not only the theories underlying sustainability, but more importantly how theories are translated into practice and the difficulties of achieving this in the world in which we live. This pragmatic focus gives students a greater understanding of the practice of sustainability and highlights the challenges involved.
The book demonstrates how to use the Six Sigma methodology to make process-focused decisions that will achieve the goals of sustainability and allow organizations to gain true benefits from process improvements. It covers sustainability and metrics, Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma tools, sustainability project management, sustainability modeling, sustainable manufacturing and operations, decision making, and sustainability logistics.
The concept of sustainability is traditionally viewed in exclusively environmental terms. Sustainability: Life Chances and Livelihoods links peoples livelihoods and life chances to the concept of sustainability by examining the way in which social and economic processes complement and compound environmental change. Looking at the main ingredients of sustainable development - health, economic policy, land use, ethics and education, in both the north and south, this book demonstrates the way in which the life chances of individuals both effect and are affected by, their environments.
The author discusses his proprietary framework, The Corporate Sustainability Scorecard TM C-suite rating system, that has been developed over 20 years and used by more than 50 companies to rate themselves on sustainability. He discusses sustainability transformation, governance, and strategy and execution. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship form important parts of his discourse in this important contribution to the debate on sustainability that will benefit business executives and those interested in sustainability and business.
The workshop was convened to explore the region's approach to urban sustainability, with an emphasis on building the evidence base upon which new policies and programs might be developed. Participants examined how the interaction of various systems (natural and human systems; energy, water, and transportation systems) affected the region's social, economic, and environmental conditions.
Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Cold Regions Development, held in Anchorage, Alaska, June 2-5, 2013. Sponsored by the Technical Council on Cold Regions Engineering and the Alaska Section of ASCE in cooperation with the International Association for Cold Regions Development Studies (IACORDS).
This collection contains 79 peer-reviewed papers that bring together the current state of knowledge on a variety of topics and techniques in research, planning, design, engineering, construction, and operations in the cold regions of the world.
This is an engaging primer of the history of the sustainability movement from the 1600s to the present day, illuminating how sustainability evolved from a relatively marginal idea to the centerpiece of international accords, a top priority for governments and non-profit organizations, and a philosophy of hope and resilience with widespread appeal.
The pursuit of sustainability has generated lifestyle changes for individuals across the globe; innovations within the arts and sciences, business, design, engineering, and agriculture; historic policies and laws at municipal and state levels; and crucial international protocols and agreements. Yet the meaning of sustainability remains unsettled, and the term frequently serves as green veneer for business as usual rather than a driver of fundamental change.
The pursuit of sustainability has generated lifestyle changes for individuals across the globe, widespread initiatives within civil society and business, historic policies for municipal, regional, and national governments, and crucial protocols and agreements by international organizations. Increasingly, sustainability provides a common language and goal for diverse peoples and nations. Yet the meaning of sustainability remains unsettled, and the term frequently serves as a PR strategy, a green veneer for business as usual, rather than a driver of fundamental change.
Sustainability is based on a simple and long-recognized factual premise: Everything that humans require for their survival and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on the natural environment. The environment provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Recognizing the importance of sustainability to its work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to create programs and applications in a variety of areas to better incorporate sustainability into decision making at the agency.
Seattle, often called the "Emerald City," did not achieve its green, clean, and sustainable environment easily. This thriving ecotopia is the byproduct of continuing efforts by residents, businesses, and civic leaders alike. In Seattle and the Roots of Urban Sustainability, Jeffrey Craig Sanders examines the rise of environmental activism in Seattle amidst the "urban crisis" of the 1960s and its aftermath.
Introduces the concept of "embedded sustainability' -- the incorporation of environmental, health, and social value into core business activities with no trade-off in price or quality and shows how companies can better leverage global challenges for enduring profit and growth.
Collaboratively written by top international experts and established scientists in various fields of agricultural research, this book focuses on the state of food production and sustainability; the problems with degradation of valuable sources of land, water, and air and their effects on food crops; the increasing demand of food resources; and the challenges of food security worldwide.
This book aims to understand these dynamics, examining the impacts of GM crops in diverse contexts and their potentials to contribute to sustainable agricultural futures. Part 1 draws on research from three global 'rising powers' - Brazil, India and Mexico - exploring the views of scientists, farmers and publics.
Containing career advice of great value to students of sustainability, and explaining how they can apply their knowledge to their future careers, its appeal extends well beyond the classroom. Sustainability at Work includes an easy-to-follow framework that anyone wondering how they can make a sustainable difference in the workplace can apply.
This book is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of recent developments in sustainability science and engineering. The book focuses on principles and practices and presents 18 interwoven chapters on four major themes: Design for sustainability; Sustainability metrics and analysis; Sustainable energy; Sustainable supply/value. Significant, state-of-the-art work, methodologies, practices and plans are presented by researchers, technology developers and industry leaders