This volume is the most comprehensive textbook on sustainable development. It has been developed with students and professionals from around the world specifically for those who need a thorough grounding in the subject. Coverage includes: background to sustainable development and global environmental issues; measurement and sustainability indicators; environmental assessment, management and policy; approaches and linkages to poverty reduction; impacts and infrastructure development; economics, consumption, production and market failures; governance; participation; disaster management; international financial institutions; international environmental agreements; and the role of civil society.

This revised and updated third edition provides an invaluable introduction to the characteristics, challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. The book's primary focus is on the developing world where conditions such as rising poverty and mounting debt combine to present particular challenges of sustainability. A key text, An Introduction to Sustainable Development includes: an analysis of the origins of sustainable development a discussion of the impact of past development processes on people and the environment details of the steps taken at a variety of levels to ensure sustainable development is identified a discussion of the particular challenges and opportunities of sustainable development in urban and rural contexts in the developing world a summary of the ongoing challenges of sustainable development for the global community. In the five years since the first edition there have been important shifts in development thinking. These shifts are reflected in this revised edition which considers the outcomes of Rio Conference, and contains many more insights into best sustainable practice on the ground. In this latest edition, the breadth and depth of the material has increased, and a new larger format enables the use of a more accessible design and use of student-friendly features e.g. boxed examples, discussion questions and further reading and glossary. Overall, this new edition of a classic text is a must-read for all those studying disciplines where sustainable development is key.

Introduction to Sustainable Development is a component of Encyclopedia of Development and Economic Sciences in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on “Introduction to Sustainable Development implies processes of fundamental change in our social systems and institutions. The thrust of this change [entails] … addressing the … new global awareness that the earth is finite, and all of the planet's life support systems – including social and economic systems – are globally interconnected and interdependent.” This volume is aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

""Introduction to Sustainable Development" provides an overview of and insights into the major challenges to sustainable development; encourages and enables the readers to participate in the sustainability transition. Sustainable development is increasingly identified as more of a necessity than an option or a luxury. Being multidisciplinary in nature, it requires the knowledge of scientific, economic and social sides of the problems and solutions, and how they interact. This book presents a critical account of our strengths and weaknesses in the pursuit of sustainability, with special reference to developing world perspective. It motivates the readers to work towards making truly inclusive and environmentally sustainable choices. It also inspires them to be engaged as 'change-makers' for more sustainable types of development in their families, companies and communities. The book has been divided into three parts: Part 1 makes the case for sustainable development and paints the overall vision; Part 2 presents stakeholders and tools that are needed in the transition to a sustainable future; and Part 3 contains application areas that help the reader to see how the lines from the previous parts come together in the major issues of contemporary times"--

This book develops a supporting structure for sustainable development, following a natural set of steps to reach an established goal. It provides the tools to navigate this Road to a Better Future by explaining concepts, giving ideas, proposing methods, and suggesting actions. To illustrate the utilization of techniques there are many examples, applied to a variety of activities, and to wrap up concepts, the last chapter is dedicated to the analysis of a community in search of a sustainable environment. A thematic index has been designed to help a person quickly find information on relevant topics.

The contested nature of sustainable development is explored through a detailed consideration of changing ideas and practices within environmentalism and development thinking.

Introduction to Sustainability for Engineers aims to incorporate sustainability into curricula for undergraduate engineering students. The book starts with an introduction to the concept of sustainability, outlining core principles for sustainable development to guide engineering practice and decision making, including key tools aimed at enabling, measuring and communicating sustainability. It also describes concepts as life cycle assessment, environmental economics, related institutional architecture and policy framework, business context of sustainability, and sustainable buildings and infrastructure. Appendices at the end of the book presents a summary of key concepts, strategies and tools introduced in the main text. Five Key Benefits: A comprehensive textbook for engineering students to develop competency in sustainability. Presents a framework for engineers to put sustainability into practice. Presents the link between sustainability and the design process. It shows the application of a sustainable engineering design process for putting sustainability into practice. There are well woven case studies and links to websites for learning in various engineering disciplines. Includes challenging exercises at the end of each chapter that will inspire students and stimulate discussion in the class.