Achieving Sustainability: The Ultimate Human Challenge: Critical Barriers and Future Perspectives

Description

The book provides an assessment of whether sustainability is realizable in the current societal framework. What are the challenges and the barriers - and what are the levers necessary to meet and overcome them? Through a revision of the essence of sustainability the book provides an opportunity to understand the deeper level of the radical change that sustainability represents, and the resistance that is preventing its realization. To build the argument the sustainable development model is compared with current development theories as well as alternative solutions based on utopian models of the past. The book assesses the results that can be achieved within the current systemic framework, based on case stories. It outlines the limitations to sustainability, pointing out and defining the multiple, cross-sectoral and systemic barriers that hinder the transition. Finally, the book offers perspectives on achieving a sustainable future, encompassing the impacts from recent events including the pandemic as well as the multiple mitigation and transition initiatives undertaken globally. Brian Goodwin's QuoteLike the caterpillar that wraps itself up in its silken swaddling bands prior to its metamorphosis into a butterfly, we have wrapped ourselves in a tangled skin from which we can emerge only by going through a similarly dramatic transformation. Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Author Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 The Topic 1.2 The Approach 1.3 The Research 1.4 Structure and Content Readings and References 2 The Essence of Sustainability 2.1 Context and Emergence of Sustainability 2.2 Brundtland Definition 2.3 Sustainability in a Development Context 2.4 Key Global Initiatives Readings and References 3 The Challenges of the Current Development Model 3.1 Development 3.2 The Current Paradigm 3.3 Development Crises 3.4 Role of the State 3.5 The Sustainable Development Model 3.6 Perspectives Readings and References 4 Embracing and Learning from Utopian Thought 4.1 Searching for Utopia 4.2 Definition of Utopia 4.3 The Role of Utopian Thought 4.4 Sustainability and Utopia 4.5 Experiments with a Sustainability Bias 4.6 Perspectives Readings and References 5 Implementing Sustainability in the Current Paradigm 5.1 Implementing Sustainability 5.2 Principles, Models and Processes 5.3 Indicators, Monitors, and Assessment Tools 5.4 Standards and Certifications 5.5 Social Indicators and Indexes 5.6 Perspectives Readings and References 6 Three Transition Stories 6.1 Transition Processes 6.2 Case Story One: The Island of Samsø 6.3 Process and Key Success Factors 6.4 Difficulties and Barriers 6.5 Case Two: Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation 6.6 Process and Key Success Factors 6.7 Difficulties and Barriers 6.8 Case Three: Novozymes 6.9 Process and Key Success Factors 6.10 Difficulties and Barriers Readings and References 7 Barriers Hindering Transition to Sustainability 7.1 The Barrier Issue 7.2 Key Barriers to Sustainable Development 7.3 Universal Barriers 7.4 Case Story/Local Barriers 7.5 Perspectives Readings and References 8 The Turning Has Started 8.1 The Ultimate Challenge  8.2 The Covid Effect 8.3 End of Neoliberalism? 8.4 Net Zero Transition 8.5 Promises, Pledges and Agreements 8.6 The Will to Change 8.7 The Challenge Readings and References Index