Turning challenge into opportunity--a survey of successful sustainable ideas and practices from around the world.

Every fifteen seconds on our Earth, a child dies from waterborne disease. Three times an hour, another species becomes extinct. Each day we consume eighty-five million barrels of oil and pump twenty-three million tons of carbon dioxide into an already warming atmosphere. But against this bleak backdrop, beacons of hope shine from thousands of large and small initiatives taking place everywhere from isolated villages to major urban centers. Thriving Beyond Sustainability draws a collective map of individuals, organizations, and communities from around the world that are committed to building an alternative future—one that strives to restore ecological health; reinvent outmoded institutions; and rejuvenate our environmental, social, and economic systems. The projects and initiatives profiled are meeting the challenges of the day with optimism, hope, and results, leading the way in: Relocalization Green commerce Ecological design Environmental conservation Social transformation Overflowing with inspiration, the stories and ideas in these pages will cause the most chronic pessimist to see the glass as half full—to move beyond a perception of surviving with scarcity to one of flourishing with abundance. The comprehensive resource section provides the tools for everyone to become a catalyst for change. Andres R. Edwards is the author of The Sustainability Revolution, which has sold over twenty thousand copies. He is an educator, media designer, LEED-accredited green building and sustainability consultant, and the founder of EduTracks, a firm specializing in developing education programs and providing consulting services on sustainable practices.

This book approaches environmentalism via two academic disciplines, sociology and philosophy. Both have concerns about the environment's ability not only to sustain itself but to thrive. The authors argue that rather than simple sustainability, we must promote thrivability for the sake of protecting the environment and all living things. In this greatly expanded second edition, the authors have updated data and examples, introduced new topics and concepts, and emphasized the need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Numerous topics are explored, from the differences between sustainability and thrivability, and the overuse of plastic, to mass extinction, the role of natural disasters and more. The Covid-19 pandemic offers an added perspective on the relationship between disease and the environment.

A thriving life and livable future for our planet starts with you. Amidst the doom and gloom that dominates the headlines, a different kind of story about an alternative and sustainable future is unfolding. The players are social activists, visionaries, revolutionaries, and cultural innovators, the backdrop is this Anthropocene: the tipping point of our global and environmental challenges, and the narrative is the molding of a new paradigm to shape our collective future, and make environmental change. The Heart of Sustainability delves into the human dimension of this burgeoning international movement with an aim to become climate activists and build a better world. Author Andrés Edwards frames the conversation about consciousness, activism, innovation, and sustainability by: Explaining how self-development is a key driver for environmental planetary change Describing how the confluence of the consciousness and technological revolutions provide unique opportunities for balance and fulfillment Exploring how we can move forward individually and collectively to create a thriving, livable future from the inside out, during this Anthropocene. This landmark work illustrates the integration of the four Es: ecology, economy, equity, and education—the bedrock of the current sustainability framework-with the four Cs : conscious, creative, compassionate, and connected. Focusing on specific examples and concrete initiatives from social activists around the world, it shows us how to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and nature in order to tackle the climate change challenges we face as a global community. Andrés R. Edwards is the author of the award-winning Thriving Beyond Sustainability and The Sustainability Revolution . He is also the founder and president of EduTracks, a firm specializing education programs and consulting services on sustainable practices for museums, zoos, aquariums, culture and history centers.

Sustainability: Key Issues is a comprehensive introductory textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students doing courses in sustainability. Highly original, it covers the very broad spectrum of ideas covered under sustainability, from participation, resilience, growth, ecological modernism through to culture, sustainable communities and sustainable consumption. Each chapter covers one key idea, and has been written by an expert in that field. This book makes key issues approachable, with each chapter containing: a definition of the key concept a history of how and why the issue has emerged a discussion of the advantages, drawbacks, main contributions and controversies associated with this issue case studies to demonstrate how it works in reality critical discussion of mainstream models of sustainability and the reason why they don't work introduction of beyond-the-convention alternatives, including circular economy and cradle to cradle approaches This is the ideal book for students and anyone interested in understanding the key issues within sustainability and how they interact.

In the continuing debate of how to confront the challenges of climate change, individuals, advocacy groups, and political parties in the United States offer arguments and solutions based on economic and political viewpoints. But what if we are beginning from a distorted view? In this book, F. Stephan Mayer argues that our psychological representation of the world is at the heart of the underlying causes of climate change. Mayer posits that we need to change the way we see the world if we are to effectively take a new course of action to address this threat. Through an alternative worldview based on Aldo Leopold’s concept of land ethic, Mayer furthers the conversation by promoting a clearer vision of our relationship to nature and how it leads to a different path directed toward environmental sustainability. Based on over 20 years of psychological research examining the impact of the land ethic on pro-environmental behavior and personal well being, Mayer’s accessible tone invites readers to place their worldview within a broader framework, draw connections to their lives, and spark ideas of next steps that individuals and groups can take to transition to this alternative worldview and rectify this situation.

Innovation and Sustainable Manufacturing: Research and Development addresses the manufacturing sustainability challenge from different points of view, drawing on research from different disciplines to shed light on the latest green technologies, green product design methods, and materials. Addressing the needs of practitioners as well as academics, this book examines a range of important themes such as environmental impacts and how to assess them, how to set boundary conditions to include or exclude downstream supply chains, how to improve sustainability without sacrificing productivity, the cost benefits of sustainability, and how to trace impacts in manufacturing. By providing a thorough review of global research in this field, Innovation and Sustainable Manufacturing acts as an ideal entry point into this discipline for researchers, and a guide to the latest developments for forward-thinking practitioners. - Covers how different stages of the manufacturing supply chain can impact on sustainability - Combines research from a variety of disciplines to provide a comprehensive coverage of this complex subject - Explores the relationship between sustainability and other goals such as productivity, quality, and profitability

""To understand the environmental movement is to understand environmental organizations. And no one better understands this than Bosso. . . . His book is both important and timely."-Jeffrey M. Berry, author of The New Liberalism: The Rising Power of Citizen Groups "A must read for anyone interested in the future of our environment."-Frank R. Baumgartner, coauthor of Basic Interests: The Importance of Groups in Politics and in Political Science "An important, engaging and well-written book that's ideal for courses in environmental politics."-Robert J. Duffy, author of The Green Agenda in American Politics: New Strategies for the Twenty-First Century "A masterful study that fills a critical void in the field."-Michael E. Kraft, author of Environmental Policy and Politics." -- Publisher.

Beyond Environmental Crisis addresses the most pressing challenge facing humanity at the end of the 20th Century: Can the peoples of the Earth get together with enough creativity, commitment and skill to avert the twin threats of nuclear holocaust and environmental destruction? This book employs comparative, creative philosophical inquiry to analyze and offer alternatives to the modern Western worldview which was the foundation of the Western technological revolution. It describes an emerging alternative ecophilosophy that is inclusive enough to serve as a cross-cultural ground for synthesis of new visions of technological and social practices that promote ecological harmony, wisdom, and democratic values. It exemplifies appropriate philosophizing as an art that creatively uses shifting paradigms as a transformative discipline leading to the creation of new practices of appropriate design, for diverse lifestyles which promote preservation of the Earth's wild places, while sustaining its ecological communities. Comparative, creative, ecophilosophical inquiry facilitates participatory activity, which becomes an applied philosophy of life that is a way to ecosophy (wisdom and harmony based on ecocentric values). The way to ecosophy leads beyond environmental crises. To illustrate this transformation two philosophies are described, along with their ideals of progress, persons, community and Nature: The technocratic representing the dominant industrial paradigm, the planetary person (pernetarian) representing an ecosophic alternative.

This book documents and promotes the experiences from the 2nd Conference on Integrative Approaches Towards Sustainability (SHARING), held in Jurmala, Latvia, on May 11th to 24th, 2005. Attended by over 200 delegates from across the Baltic Sea region and beyond, the event provided an important contribution towards strengthening the integration of the region's RTD community and the sharing of knowledge and expertise in the Baltic, across Europe (including the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions) and elsewhere. The first part of this book contains some introductory remarks on sustainable development as a whole and on integratives approaches in particular. Furthermore, issues related to cleaner production and the moves towards zero emissions are outlined. Part two of the book focuses on developments in the Baltic Sea Region, with a special emphasis on policy, implementation technologies and technologies for sustainable development. In the next part of the book, readers will find a special section on science for sustainable development. One special feature of this section is that papers are predominantly written by young researchers, some of whom will find in this volume, for the first time, the chance to publish results from their works. The final section of the book deals with social corporate responsibility and the environment, focusing on sustainable community development, corporate responsibility at an international level and concepts for education for sustainable development. This publication provides a very good overview of sustainability issues in the Baltic and beyond, illustrating the number of excellent works being performed by municipalities, universities, research agencies and NGOs, also showing the various ways. via which sustainability can be delivered.