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Li K, Gao L, Guo Z, Dong Y, Moallemi EA, Kou G, Chen M, Lin W, Liu Q, Obersteiner M, Pedercini M, Bryan BA. Safeguarding China's long-term sustainability against systemic disruptors. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5338. [PMID: 38914536 PMCID: PMC11196269 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49725-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
China's long-term sustainability faces socioeconomic and environmental uncertainties. We identify five key systemic risk drivers, called disruptors, which could push China into a polycrisis: pandemic disease, ageing and shrinking population, deglobalization, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Using an integrated simulation model, we quantify the effects of these disruptors on the country's long-term sustainability framed by 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here we show that ageing and shrinking population, and climate change would be the two most influential disruptors on China's long-term sustainability. The compound effects of all disruptors could result in up to 2.1 and 7.0 points decline in the China's SDG score by 2030 and 2050, compared to the baseline with no disruptors and no additional sustainability policies. However, an integrated policy portfolio involving investment in education, healthcare, energy transition, water-use efficiency, ecological conservation and restoration could promote resilience against the compound effects and significantly improve China's long-term sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Waite Campus, Adelaide, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Zhaoxia Guo
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yucheng Dong
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
| | - Enayat A Moallemi
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Gang Kou
- Xiangjiang Laboratory, Changsha, 410205, China
- School of Business Administration, Faculty of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 610074, China
| | - Meiqian Chen
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Wenhao Lin
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Michael Obersteiner
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, 2361, Austria
- The Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Brett A Bryan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
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2
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Miranda J, Britz W, Börner J. Impacts of commodity prices and governance on the expansion of tropical agricultural frontiers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9209. [PMID: 38649723 PMCID: PMC11035705 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59446-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Deforestation in the tropics remains a significant global challenge linked to carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Agriculture, forestry, wildfires, and urbanization have been repeatedly identified as main drivers of tropical deforestation. Understanding the underlying mechanisms behind these direct causes is crucial to navigate the multiple tradeoffs between competing forest uses, such as food and biomass production (SDG 2), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). This paper develops and implements a global-scale empirical approach to quantify two key factors affecting land use decisions at tropical forest frontiers: agricultural commodity prices and national governance. It relies on data covering the period 2004-2015 from multiple public sources, aggregated to countries and agro-ecological zones. Our analysis confirms the persistent influence of commodity prices on agricultural land expansion, especially in forest-abundant regions. Economic and environmental governance quality co-determines processes of expansion and contraction of agricultural land in the tropics, yet at much smaller magnitudes than other drivers. We derive land supply elasticities for direct use in standard economic impact assessment models and demonstrate that our results make a difference in a Computable General Equilibrium framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Miranda
- Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 21, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Britz
- Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 21, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Börner
- Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nussallee 21, 53115, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113, Bonn, Germany
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3
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Zhang P, Zhang L, Hao Y, Xu M, Pang M, Wang C, Yang A, Voinov A. Food-energy-water nexus optimization brings substantial reduction of urban resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae028. [PMID: 38725530 PMCID: PMC11079490 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Urban sustainability is a key to achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Secure and efficient provision of food, energy, and water (FEW) resources is a critical strategy for urban sustainability. While there has been extensive discussion on the positive effects of the FEW nexus on resource efficiency and climate impacts, measuring the extent to which such synergy can benefit urban sustainability remains challenging. Here, we have developed a systematic and integrated optimization framework to explore the potential of the FEW nexus in reducing urban resource demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Demonstrated using the Metropolis Beijing, we have identified that the optimized FEW nexus can reduce resource consumption and GHG emissions by 21.0 and 29.1%, respectively. These reductions come with increased costs compared to the siloed FEW management, but it still achieved a 16.8% reduction in economic cost compared to the business-as-usual scenario. These findings underscore the significant potential of FEW nexus management in enhancing urban resource efficiency and addressing climate impacts, while also identifying strategies to address trade-offs and increase synergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengpeng Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- School of Geographical Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Lixiao Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yan Hao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ming Xu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mingyue Pang
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Changbo Wang
- College of Economics and Management and Research Center for Soft Energy Science, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China
| | - Aidong Yang
- Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Alexey Voinov
- Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7522 NB, The Netherlands
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4
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Adamu Ugya Y, Chen H, Sheng Y, Ajibade FO, Wang Q. A review of microalgae biofilm as an eco-friendly approach to bioplastics, promoting environmental sustainability. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116833. [PMID: 37543134 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
In this comprehensive review, we delve into the challenges hindering the large-scale production of microalgae-based bioplastics, primarily focusing on economic feasibility and bioplastic quality. To address these issues, we explore the potential of microalgae biofilm cultivation as a sustainable and highly viable approach for bioplastic production. We present a proposed method for producing bioplastics using microalgae biofilm and evaluate its environmental impact using various tools such as life cycle analysis (LCA), ecological footprint analysis, resource flow analysis, and resource accounting. While pilot-scale and large-scale LCA data are limited, we utilize alternative indicators such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint, materials management, and community acceptance to predict the environmental implications of commercializing microalgae biofilm-based bioplastics. The findings of this study indicate that utilizing microalgae biofilm for bioplastic production offers significant environmental sustainability benefits. The system exhibits low energy requirements and a minimal carbon footprint. Moreover, it has the potential to address the issue of wastewater by utilizing it as a carbon source, thereby mitigating associated problems. However, it is important to acknowledge certain limitations associated with the method proposed in this review. Further research is needed to explore and engineer precise techniques for manipulating microalgae biofilm structure to optimize the accumulation of desired metabolites. This could involve employing chemical triggers, metabolic engineering, and genetic engineering to achieve the intended goals. In conclusion, this review highlights the potential of microalgae biofilm as a viable and sustainable solution for bioplastic production. While acknowledging the advantages, it also emphasizes the need for continued synthetic studies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of this approach. By addressing the identified drawbacks and maximizing the utilization of advanced techniques, we can further harness the potential of microalgae biofilm in contributing to a more environmentally friendly and economically feasible bioplastic industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunusa Adamu Ugya
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Henan University, Kaifeng, China; Department of Environmental Management, Kaduna State University, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yangyang Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Fidelis Odedishemi Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, PMB 704, Nigeria
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.
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5
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Nchanji EB, Chagomoka T, Bellwood-Howard I, Drescher A, Schareika N, Schlesinger J. Land tenure, food security, gender and urbanization in Northern Ghana. LAND USE POLICY 2023; 132:106834. [PMID: 37662448 PMCID: PMC10472023 DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Links between land tenure and food and nutritional insecurity are receiving increased attention. Nevertheless, urban and periurban dwellers face challenges in accessing land to produce food for subsistence and sale. An ethnographic study and food and nutrition insecurity survey were conducted between October 2013 and November 2014 in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana, to explore the dynamic and recursive links between land access, food access and the ability to maintain resources to meet long-term needs. Results showed that infrastructural development and agriculture compete for land. The shortage of land for agricultural purposes was pronounced in urban areas (20%) than in periurban areas (1.3%) and rural areas (0%). Food insecure households were more likely to name a lack of land than anything else as the primary reason for their inability to grow crops (Fisher's exact probability = 0.040). Urban and periurban dwellers cope with the constraints posed in the communal tenure system by using strategies such as urban-periurban-rural migrant farming and buffer zone cultivation. The role of women in providing nutritious soups is especially important, and they use various mechanisms to circumvent their lack of access to land and provide food for the household. Political, economic and cultural elements thus interact to constitute the link between land and food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Bogweh Nchanji
- Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Georg-August Universität, Göttingen, Germany
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Takemore Chagomoka
- Seed Co West and Central Africa, Accra, Ghana
- Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Imogen Bellwood-Howard
- Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Georg-August Universität, Göttingen, Germany
- The Institute of Development Studies, UK
| | - Axel Drescher
- Institute of Geography, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Schareika
- Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Georg-August Universität, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Schlesinger
- Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Ren M, Huang C, Wu Y, Deppermann A, Frank S, Havlík P, Zhu Y, Fang C, Ma X, Liu Y, Zhao H, Chang J, Ma L, Bai Z, Xu S, Dai H. Enhanced food system efficiency is the key to China's 2060 carbon neutrality target. NATURE FOOD 2023:10.1038/s43016-023-00790-1. [PMID: 37400718 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00790-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, among other negative-emission technologies, is required for China to achieve carbon neutrality-yet it may hinder land-based Sustainable Development Goals. Using modelling and scenario analysis, we investigate how to mitigate the potential adverse impacts on the food system of ambitious bioenergy deployment in China and its trading partners. We find that producing bioenergy domestically while sticking to the food self-sufficiency ratio redlines would lower China's daily per capita calorie intake by 8% and increase domestic food prices by 23% by 2060. Removing China's food self-sufficiency ratio restrictions could halve the domestic food dilemma but risks transferring environmental burdens to other countries, whereas halving food loss and waste, shifting to healthier diets and narrowing crop yield gaps could effectively mitigate these external effects. Our results show that simultaneously achieving carbon neutrality, food security and global sustainability requires a careful combination of these measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ren
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Chen Huang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Yazhen Wu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Andre Deppermann
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Stefan Frank
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Petr Havlík
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Yuyao Zhu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Chen Fang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaotian Ma
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zhao
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jinfeng Chang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhaohai Bai
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shasha Xu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Hancheng Dai
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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7
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Giger M, Musselli I. Could global norms enable definition of sustainable farming systems in a transformative international trade system? DISCOVER SUSTAINABILITY 2023; 4:18. [PMID: 37008991 PMCID: PMC10042758 DOI: 10.1007/s43621-023-00130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to support differentiation between sustainable and unsustainable agricultural production, with a view to enabling a transformative agricultural trade system by incentivizing sustainable agricultural production. We argue that transformative governance of corresponding global trade flows will need to provide support to the weaker participants in production systems, above all small-scale farmers in the global South, in order to support their food security and a path out of poverty as well as global environmental goals. The present article seeks to provide an overview of internationally agreed norms that can serve as basis for differentiation between sustainable and unsustainable agricultural systems. Such common objectives and benchmarks could then be used in multilateral and binational trade agreements. We propose a list of objectives, criteria, and benchmarks that could contribute to formulation of new trade agreements that strengthen producers who are currently marginalized in international trade flows. While acknowledging that sustainability cannot be easily measured and defined for all site-specific conditions, we posit that it is nevertheless possible to identify such common objectives and benchmarks, based on internationally agreed norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Giger
- Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irene Musselli
- Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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8
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Macassa G, Ribeiro AI, Marttila A, Stål F, Silva JP, Rydback M, Rashid M, Barros H. Public Health Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation in Three Cities: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10292. [PMID: 36011923 PMCID: PMC9408380 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change presents an unprecedented public health challenge as it has a great impact on population health outcomes across the global population. The key to addressing these health challenges is adaptation carried out in cities through collaboration between institutions, including public health ones. Through semi-structured interviews (n = 16), this study investigated experiences and perceptions of what public health aspects are considered by urban and public health planners and researchers when planning climate change adaptation in the coastal cities of Söderhamn (Sweden), Porto (Portugal) and Navotas (the Philippines). Results of the thematic analysis indicated that participating stakeholders were aware of the main climate risks threatening their cities (rising water levels and flooding, extreme temperatures, and air pollution). In addition, the interviewees talked about collaboration with other sectors, including the public health sector, in implementing climate change adaptation plans. However, the inclusion of the public health sector as a partner in the process was identified in only two cities, Navotas and Porto. Furthermore, the study found that there were few aspects pertaining to public health (water and sanitation, prevention of heat-related and water-borne diseases, and prevention of the consequences associated with heat waves in vulnerable groups such as children and elderly persons) in the latest climate change adaptation plans posted on each city's website. Moreover, participants pointed to different difficulties: insufficient financial resources, limited intersectoral collaboration for climate change adaptation, and lack of involvement of the public health sector in the adaptation processes, especially in one of the cities in which climate change adaptation was solely the responsibility of the urban planners. Studies using larger samples of stakeholders in larger cities are needed to better understand why the public health sector is still almost absent in efforts to adapt to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Macassa
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
- EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Ribeiro
- EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anneli Marttila
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
| | - Frida Stål
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
| | - José Pedro Silva
- EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Michelle Rydback
- Department of Business and Economic Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
| | - Henrique Barros
- EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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Jiang Y, Tian S, Xu Z, Gao L, Xiao L, Chen S, Xu K, Chang J, Luo Z, Shi Z. Decoupling environmental impact from economic growth to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 312:114978. [PMID: 35366510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Developing countries, such as China, have achieved unprecedented success in a single Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which usually leads to trade-offs between the three pillars of sustainability, and even destroys sustainability. Quantifying the degrees of coupling among the pillars is essential to support policymakers' systematic actions to minimize trade-offs and maximize co-benefits between the pillars, and simultaneously achieve all SDGs. However, assessing the degrees of coupling among the pillars for the full SDGs is lacking. Here, we evaluate the progress of the pillars towards the SDGs and quantify the degrees of coupling among them at both national and sub-national levels in China from 2000 to 2015. The results indicate that the degrees of coupling among the pillars were almost constant while the degrees of coupling between the pillars and economic growth declined over time. The degrees of coupling between environmental impact and economic growth accounted for 52%-83% of the SDGs' progress. Reducing the degrees of coupling helps achieve simultaneously economic growth and environmental protection. The higher the degrees of coupling, the lower progress. This trend was universal among all provinces (sub-national level) regardless of their development levels. Our study highlights not only the necessity to track the degrees of coupling among the pillars, but also decoupling environmental impact from economic growth to achieve the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yefeng Jiang
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuo Tian
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenci Xu
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Gao
- CSIRO, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, South Australia, Australia
| | - Liujun Xiao
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Songchao Chen
- Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinfeng Chang
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongkui Luo
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhou Shi
- Institute of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology Application, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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10
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Grain Production Space Reconstruction and Its Influencing Factors in the Loess Plateau. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105876. [PMID: 35627412 PMCID: PMC9141899 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Grain production space, ecological service space and urban–rural development space are the classifications of land systems from the perspective of the dominant function of the land system. Grain production space reconstruction concentrates on the principal contradictions of land system changes, and is the key to exploring the transformation of land system. Therefore, the pathways, process and influencing factors of grain production space reconstruction in the Loess Plateau of Chian from 1980 to 2018 was explored from three dimensions of quantity–quality–spatial pattern in this study. Results showed that the quantity of grain production space showed a slight downward trend with a net decrease of 9156 km2 between 1980 and 2018, but its total quality showed a fluctuating growth trend under rain-fed conditions. Due to the intensification of human activities, grain production space was gradually fragmented, and the distribution tended to be decentralized, and the shape gradually became regular. Meanwhile, both the quantity and quality gravity center of grain production space moved to the northwest by 8.32 km and 86.03 km, respectively. The reconstruction of grain production space in the Loess Plateau was mainly realized through four pathways: Grain for Green, Urban Expansion, Deforestation and Reclamation, and Land Consolidation. The grain production space was mainly reconstructed through the pathway of Grain for Green after 2000. The four reconstruction pathways were the result of a combination of natural environment and socio-economic factors, but influencing factors had different strengths and directions for each reconstruction pathway. From the perspective of social economy–land use–ecological environment coupling, in order to maintain the sustainable development of the land systems, it is necessary to reduce the trade-offs of the functions of land systems as much as possible and strive to coordinate the relationship among grain production, ecological protection and high-quality development.
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11
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Parsons K, Barling D. England’s food policy coordination and the Covid-19 response. Food Secur 2022; 14:1027-1043. [PMID: 35371348 PMCID: PMC8964237 DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01280-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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12
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Orimoloye IR. Agricultural Drought and Its Potential Impacts: Enabling Decision-Support for Food Security in Vulnerable Regions. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.838824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing demand for food and environmental stressors are some of the most challenging problems that human societies face today and these have encouraged new studies to examine drought impacts on food production. Seeking to discuss these important issues in the South African context, this study analyzed the impacts of drought on food security in one of the country's largest commercial agricultural land (Free State Province). Earth observation and crop data were acquired from Application for Extracting and Exploring Analysis Ready Samples (AppEEARS) and GrainSA databases, respectively for years 2011/2012–2020/2021 over Free State Province. Two crops namely, maize and sorghum were obtained from the database and analyzed accordingly to quantify drought impacts on the two crops. The result reveals that the years 2015 and 2018 were affected by extreme drought events (<10%) where the majority of the study area was impacted. Years 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2019 were severely affected by drought (>30%) and impacted the agricultural sector in the study area. Findings further revealed that maize production observed the lowest recorded in the year 2014 and 2015 with about 223,600 and 119,050 tons, respectively. More so, results further showed that sorghum production recorded the lowest production in years 2019, 2016, and 2015 with about 23,600, 24,640, and 24,150 tons, in that order during the period of study. The results confirm the impacts of drought on maize and sorghum productions in the year 2015 and other years that recorded the lowest productions during drought years. This development might have impacted food security in the study area, and this outcome will enable decision-making bodies on food security to enhance improved strategy in vulnerable areas.
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre C Köberle
- The Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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14
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Abstract
Resource nexus approaches have been expanding to include additional sectors beyond standard water, energy, and food approaches. Opportunities exist by re-imagining the resource nexus approach with the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Emerging research and policy themes, such as the circular economy and gender, can provide additional context to traditional nexus arrangements. To illustrate this, we analyze SDG implementation and interaction from 40 unstructured interviews from SMEs participating in Guelph-Wellington’s Seeding Our Food Future (SOFF) program, part of the wider Our Food Future (OFF) initiative led by the City of Guelph and Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. Results show that 16/17 SDGs and associated targets were present on the program. Environmental SDGs were implemented the most, followed by social and economic ones. SDGs 2, 12, and 5 had the most general implementation and direct paired interactions and were associated with the broadest number of SDGs across the project. These findings support the existence of a Food-Circular Economy-Women nexus in Guelph-Wellington’s agri-food sector. Further analysis shows that this nexus is most active in agriculture, and that women are responsible for introducing a social aspect, which addresses food security. Results can inform food system and circular economy researchers and practitioners.
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15
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Singh B, Goutam U, Kukreja S, Sharma J, Sood S, Bhardwaj V. Potato biofortification: an effective way to fight global hidden hunger. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2297-2313. [PMID: 34744367 PMCID: PMC8526655 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-01081-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Hidden hunger is leading to extensive health problems in the developing world. Several strategies could be used to reduce the micronutrient deficiencies by increasing the dietary uptake of essential micronutrients. These include diet diversification, pharmaceutical supplementation, food fortification and crop biofortification. Among all, crop biofortification is the most sustainable and acceptable strategy to overcome the global issue of hidden hunger. Since most of the people suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, have monetary issues and are dependent on staple crops to fulfil their recommended daily requirements of various essential micronutrients. Therefore, increasing the micronutrient concentrations in cost effective staple crops seems to be an effective solution. Potato being the world's most consumed non-grain staple crop with enormous industrial demand appears to be an ideal candidate for biofortification. It can be grown in different climatic conditions, provide high yield, nutrition and dry matter in lesser time. In addition, huge potato germplasm have natural variations related to micronutrient concentrations, which can be utilized for its biofortification. This review discuss the current scenario of micronutrient malnutrition and various strategies that could be used to overcome it. The review also shed a light on the genetic variations present in potato germplasm and suggest effective ways to incorporate them into modern high yielding potato varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baljeet Singh
- Division of Crop Improvement and Seed Technology, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Umesh Goutam
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Sarvjeet Kukreja
- Department of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Jagdev Sharma
- Division of Crop Production, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
| | - Salej Sood
- Division of Crop Improvement and Seed Technology, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
| | - Vinay Bhardwaj
- Division of Crop Improvement and Seed Technology, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
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16
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Aziz N, He J, Raza A, Sui H, Yue W. Elucidating the Macroeconomic Determinants of Undernourishment in South Asian Countries: Building the Framework for Action. Front Public Health 2021; 9:696789. [PMID: 34458224 PMCID: PMC8397478 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.696789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Undernourishment is a big challenge for humanity across the world. Considering the significance of reducing undernourishment, the current study focuses on exploring the macroeconomic determinants of undernourishment in the South Asian panel. The study employed econometric models that are more robust to underpin cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity in a panel data set. The overall findings reveal that an increase in food production increases undernourishment and infer that food availability at the national level is insufficient to reduce undernourishment unless poor people also had economic and physical access to food. In the case of economic growth and governance, the results are negatively significant in some countries. The results infer that GDP and quality of governance are nuanced in declining the rate of undernourishment in some countries, while in other countries where the results are found insignificant, the government should seek other interventions to curtail the prevalence of undernourishment. Unexpectedly, an increase in food prices lessens the undernourishment in developing countries that reflect that food prices might transform the dietary patterns of poor people from nutrient-rich foods to nutrient-poor staples, thus lead to undernourishment reduction but trigger overweight and obesity alongside. In conclusion, the results depict that policymakers should devise strategies keeping in view fundamental aspects of the country to reduce undernourishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noshaba Aziz
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun He
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ali Raza
- OYAGSB, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia
| | - Hongguang Sui
- School of Economics, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wang Yue
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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17
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Abstract
A quantitative assessment of food-water-energy interactions is important to assess pathways and scenarios towards a holistically sustainable regional development. While a range of tools and methods exist that assess energetic demands and potentials on a regional scale, the same is not true for assessments of regional food demand and potential. This work introduces a new food simulation workflow to address local food potential and demand at the regional level, by extending an existing regional energy-water simulation platform. The goal of this work is to develop a GIS-based bottom-up approach to simulate regional food demand that can be linked to similarly GIS-based workflows assessing regional water demands and energetic demands and potentials. This allows us to study food-water-energy issues on a local scale. For this, a CityGML land use data model is extended with a feed and animal potential raster map as well as a soil type map to serve as the main inputs. The workflow simulates: (1) the vegetal and animal product food potentials by taking climate, crop type, soil type, organic farming, and food waste parameters into account; (2) the food demand of vegetal and animal products influenced by population change, body weight, age, human development index, and other indicators. The method is tested and validated in three German counties with various land use coverages. The results show that restricting land used exclusively for energy crop production is the most effective way to increase annual food production potential. Climate change by 2050 is expected to result in annual biomass yield changes between −4% and 2% depending on the region. The amount of animal product consumption is expected to rise by 16% by 2050, while 4% fewer vegetal products are excepted to be consumed.
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18
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Chen W, Kang JN, Han MS. Global environmental inequality: Evidence from embodied land and virtual water trade. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 783:146992. [PMID: 33865121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The trade-off between economic growth and environmental conservation is the focus of national environmental management. Previous studies have proved that global trade can bring both economic benefits and environmental costs to all countries. However, for different countries, it is not clear whether the environmental costs match their economic benefits in global trade. Also, whether the global trade exacerbates or mitigates the uneven distribution of natural resources among countries need to be further investigated. This study aims to fill these research gaps by providing evidence of global environmental inequality from land and water perspective, thus inspire new thinking on the optimization of global trade patterns. We construct an environmental inequality index based on the world Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) model, and perform a case study for land and water. Results show that most of countries with low per capita land resources are net importers of embodied land, while many countries with extreme water shortages are net exporters of virtual water, such as India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt, indicating that the global trade encourages the optimal distribution of land resources but exacerbates the uneven distribution of water resources. The environmental cost of developed countries is much lower than that of developing countries compared to their economic gains from global trade, and the inequality of virtual water trade is higher than that of embodied land trade. High-income countries mainly export high value-added products with low environmental costs, while developing countries are just the opposite. We suggest that due to the lack of a unified global natural resource market, resource tax may be an effective means to reduce global environmental inequality and resource mismatch, and policies aimed at reducing environmental inequality can help achieve coordinated management of land and water resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Chen
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jia-Ning Kang
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Myat Su Han
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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19
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Pressey RL, Visconti P, McKinnon MC, Gurney GG, Barnes MD, Glew L, Maron M. The mismeasure of conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:808-821. [PMID: 34303527 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
One of the basic purposes of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation interventions is to achieve conservation impact, the sum of avoided biodiversity loss and promoted recovery relative to outcomes without protection. In the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity's negotiations on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, we find that targets for area-based interventions are framed overwhelmingly with measures that fail to inform decision-makers about impact and that risk diverting limited resources away from achieving it. We show that predicting impact in space and time is feasible and can provide the basis for global guidance for jurisdictions to develop targets for conservation impact and shift investment priorities to areas where impact can be most effectively achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
| | - Piero Visconti
- International Institute for Applied System Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | | | - Georgina G Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Megan D Barnes
- Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Martine Maron
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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20
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Zhao D, Liu J, Sun L, Ye B, Hubacek K, Feng K, Varis O. Quantifying economic-social-environmental trade-offs and synergies of water-supply constraints: An application to the capital region of China. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 195:116986. [PMID: 33721677 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable water management is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and is characterized by a high level of interdependencies with other SDGs from regional to global scales. Many water assessment studies are restricted to silo thinking, mostly focusing on water-related consequences, while lacking a quantification of trade-offs and synergies of economic, social, and environmental dimensions. To fill this knowledge gap, we propose a "nexus" approach that integrates a water supply constrained multi-regional input-output (mixed MRIO) model, scenario analysis, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to quantify the trade-offs and synergies at the sectoral level for the capital region of China, i.e. the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. A total of 120 industrial transition scenarios including nine major industries with high water-intensities and water consumption under current development pathways were developed to facilitate the trade-off and synergy analysis between economic loss, social goals (here, the number of jobs) and environmental protection (with grey water footprint representing water pollution) triggered by water conservation measures. Our simulation results show that an imposition of a tolerable water constraint (a necessary water consumption reduction for regional water stress level to move from severe to moderate) in the region would result in an average economic loss of 68.4 (± 16.0) billion Yuan (1 yuan ≈ 0.158 USD$ in 2012), or 1.3 % of regional GDP, a loss of 1.94 (± 0.18) million jobs (i.e. 3.5 % of the work force) and a reduction of 1.27 (± 0.40) billion m3 or about 2.2% of the regional grey water footprint. A tolerable water rationing in water-intensive sectors such as Agriculture, Food and tobacco processing, Electricity and heating power production and Chemicals would result in the lowest economic and job losses and the largest environmental benefits. Based on MCDA, we selected the 10 best scenarios with regard to their economic, social and environmental performances as references for guiding future water management and suggested industrial transition policies. This integrated approach could be a powerful policy support tool for 1) assessing trade-offs and synergies among multiple criteria and across multiple region-sectors under resource constraints; 2) quantifying the short-term supply-chain effects of different containment measures, and 3) facilitating more insightful evaluation of SDGs at the regional level so as to determine priorities for local governments and practitioners to achieve SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhao
- Water & Development Research Group, Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, 00076 Espoo, Finland; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Junguo Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Laixiang Sun
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, USA; School of Finance and Management, SOAS, University of London, London, UK; Institute of Blue and Green Development, Weihai Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Shandong University, Weihai, China.
| | - Bin Ye
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Klaus Hubacek
- Integrated Research of Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kuishuang Feng
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Olli Varis
- Water & Development Research Group, Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, 00076 Espoo, Finland
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21
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Hughes BB, Narayan K. Enhancing integrated analysis of national and global goal pursuit by endogenizing economic productivity. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246797. [PMID: 33630871 PMCID: PMC7906344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis with integrated assessment models (IAMs) and multisector dynamics models (MSDs) of global and national challenges and opportunities, including pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), requires projections of economic growth. In turn, the pursuit of multiple interacting goals affects economic productivity and growth, generating complex feedback loops among actions and objectives. Yet, most analysis uses either exogenous projections of productivity and growth or specifications endogenously enriched with a very small set of drivers. Extending endogenous treatment of productivity to represent two-way interactions with a significant set of goal-related variables can considerably enhance analysis. Among such variables incorporated in this project are aspects of human development (e.g., education, health, poverty reduction), socio-political change (e.g., governance capacity and quality), and infrastructure (e.g. water and sanitation and modern energy access), all in conditional interaction with underlying technological advance and economic convergence among countries. Using extensive datasets across countries and time, this project broadly endogenizes total factor productivity (TFP) within a large-scale, multi-issue IAM, the International Futures (IFs) model system. We demonstrate the utility of the resultant open system via comparison of new TFP projections with those produced for Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios, via integrated analysis of economic growth potential, and via multi-scenario analysis of progress toward the SDGs. We find that the integrated system can reproduce existing SSP projections, help anticipate differential economic progress across countries, and facilitate extended, integrated analysis of trade-offs and synergies in pursuit of the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry B. Hughes
- Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, Joseph Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kanishka Narayan
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Joint Global Change Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
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22
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Zhao Z, Cai M, Wang F, Winkler JA, Connor T, Chung MG, Zhang J, Yang H, Xu Z, Tang Y, Ouyang Z, Zhang H, Liu J. Synergies and tradeoffs among Sustainable Development Goals across boundaries in a metacoupled world. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141749. [PMID: 32890805 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Synergies and tradeoffs among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within specific locations have been widely studied. However, there is little understanding of SDG synergies and tradeoffs across spatial/administrative boundaries although the world is increasingly interconnected and the United Nations aims to achieve SDGs everywhere by 2030. To fill such an important gap, we introduce a new theoretical framework and develop a general procedure of applying the framework to empirically evaluate SDG synergies and tradeoffs within and across boundaries, based on the concept of metacoupling. We work through our framework using the examples of tourism and panda loans between the globally important Wolong Nature Reserve for panda conservation and the rest of the world to evaluate their effects on six SDGs in Wolong and the other 66 panda reserves. Our analyses uncover a total of 17 synergies and two tradeoffs, of which 10 synergies and one tradeoff are internal to Wolong, while seven synergies and one tradeoff occur across reserve boundaries. Given the first empirical evidence about cross-boundary synergies and tradeoffs, it is our hope that this study provides a foundation for further research to reveal more SDG synergies and tradeoffs across boundaries worldwide. The findings will be essential to enhance SDG synergies and reduce tradeoffs across boundaries for achieving SDGs everywhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zhao
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, Xining 810016, China
| | - Meng Cai
- School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Fang Wang
- School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Julie A Winkler
- Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Thomas Connor
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Min Gon Chung
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Jindong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan Province 637009, China
| | - Hongbo Yang
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Zhenci Xu
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Ying Tang
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Zhiyun Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hemin Zhang
- Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan 623006, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
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23
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Herrero M, Thornton PK, Mason-D'Croz D, Palmer J, Bodirsky BL, Pradhan P, Barrett CB, Benton TG, Hall A, Pikaar I, Bogard JR, Bonnett GD, Bryan BA, Campbell BM, Christensen S, Clark M, Fanzo J, Godde CM, Jarvis A, Loboguerrero AM, Mathys A, McIntyre CL, Naylor RL, Nelson R, Obersteiner M, Parodi A, Popp A, Ricketts K, Smith P, Valin H, Vermeulen SJ, Vervoort J, van Wijk M, van Zanten HH, West PC, Wood SA, Rockström J. Articulating the effect of food systems innovation on the Sustainable Development Goals. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e50-e62. [PMID: 33306994 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30277-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Food system innovations will be instrumental to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, major innovation breakthroughs can trigger profound and disruptive changes, leading to simultaneous and interlinked reconfigurations of multiple parts of the global food system. The emergence of new technologies or social solutions, therefore, have very different impact profiles, with favourable consequences for some SDGs and unintended adverse side-effects for others. Stand-alone innovations seldom achieve positive outcomes over multiple sustainability dimensions. Instead, they should be embedded as part of systemic changes that facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. Emerging trade-offs need to be intentionally addressed to achieve true sustainability, particularly those involving social aspects like inequality in its many forms, social justice, and strong institutions, which remain challenging. Trade-offs with undesirable consequences are manageable through the development of well planned transition pathways, careful monitoring of key indicators, and through the implementation of transparent science targets at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Herrero
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Philip K Thornton
- CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Mason-D'Croz
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jeda Palmer
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Prajal Pradhan
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christopher B Barrett
- Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tim G Benton
- The Royal Institute for International Affairs, Chatham House, London, UK
| | - Andrew Hall
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Ilje Pikaar
- The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jessica R Bogard
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Graham D Bonnett
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett A Bryan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - Bruce M Campbell
- CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Valle del Cauca, Colombia; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Svend Christensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Clark
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jessica Fanzo
- School of Advanced International Studies, Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Cecile M Godde
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andy Jarvis
- CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Ana Maria Loboguerrero
- CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Alexander Mathys
- Sustainable Food Processing Laboratory, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C Lynne McIntyre
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rosamond L Naylor
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Nelson
- Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Obersteiner
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria; Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alejandro Parodi
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Popp
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katie Ricketts
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Hugo Valin
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | | | - Joost Vervoort
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mark van Wijk
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Hannah He van Zanten
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Paul C West
- Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stephen A Wood
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, USA; Yale School of the Environment, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Johan Rockström
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany; Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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Metacoupled Tourism and Wildlife Translocations Affect Synergies and Trade-Offs among Sustainable Development Goals across Spillover Systems. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12187677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Synergies and trade-offs among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been hotly debated. Although the world is increasingly metacoupled (socioeconomic-environmental interactions within and across adjacent or distant systems), there is little understanding of the impacts of globally widespread and important flows on enhancing or compromising sustainability in different systems. Here, we used a new integrated framework to guide SDG synergy and trade-off analysis within and across systems, as influenced by cross-boundary tourism and wildlife translocations. The world’s terrestrial protected areas alone receive approximately 8 billion visits per year, generating a direct economic impact of US $600 billion. Globally, more than 5000 animal species and 29,000 plant species are traded across country borders, and the wildlife trade has arguably contributed to zoonotic disease worldwide, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We synthesized 22 cases of tourism and wildlife translocations across six continents and found 33 synergies and 14 trade-offs among 10 SDGs within focal systems and across spillover systems. Our study provides an empirical demonstration of SDG interactions across spillover systems and insights for holistic sustainability governance, contributing to fostering synergies and reducing trade-offs to achieve global sustainable development in the metacoupled Anthropocene.
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Philippidis G, Shutes L, M'Barek R, Ronzon T, Tabeau A, van Meijl H. Snakes and ladders: World development pathways' synergies and trade-offs through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2020; 267:122147. [PMID: 32921933 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This paper takes three global visions of world development to 2050 and quantifies their implications for sustainable progress employing the metrics of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG outcomes are structured through the interconnectivities of the three 'wedding cake' layers of 'economy', 'society' and 'biosphere', as posited by the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The key policy contribution is to quantify the resulting SDG synergies and trade-offs, whilst also decomposing and calculating the part-worth of the market drivers which contribute to these outcomes. The paper employs a global economic simulation model that combines rational market behaviour with environmental constraints (MAGNET) and is further extended with an SDG metrics module. A 'non-sustainable' world reveals trade-offs between economy and biosphere SDGs, with population growth of particular concern to a safe planetary operating space in the world's poorest regions. Sustainable visions could reduce natural resource pressures and emissions and meet energy requirements at potentially limited economic cost. Notwithstanding, these futures do not address income inequalities and potentially increase food security concerns for the most vulnerable members of society. Consequently, developed region led international cooperation and in-kind income transfers to developing countries, constitutes a necessary prerequisite to help remedy the SDG trade-offs exhibited within the more sustainable global pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Philippidis
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Seville, Spain
- Aragonese Agency for Research and Development (ARAID), Centre for Agro-Food Research and, Technology (CITA), Agrifood Institute of Aragón (IA2), Government of Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Lindsay Shutes
- Wageningen Economic Research, The Hague, the Netherlands
- Consulting Economist, Sandylands, Main Street, Shawell, LE17 6AG, United Kingdom
| | - Robert M'Barek
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Seville, Spain
| | - Tévécia Ronzon
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Seville, Spain
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Andrzej Tabeau
- Wageningen Economic Research, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Hans van Meijl
- Wageningen Economic Research, The Hague, the Netherlands
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Stakeholder Perceptions of Policy Tools in Support of Sustainable Food Consumption in Europe: Policy Implications. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12177161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Transitioning agri-food systems towards increased sustainability and resilience requires that attention be paid to sustainable food consumption policies. Policy-making processes often require the engagement and acceptance of key stakeholders. This study analyses stakeholders’ solutions for creating sustainable agri-food systems, through interviews with a broad range of stakeholders including food value chain actors, non-governmental organizations, governmental institutions, research institutions and academic experts. The study draws on 38 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in four European countries: France, Iceland, Italy and the UK, as well as three interviews with high-level EU experts. The interviewees’ solutions were analysed according to a five-category typology of policy tools, encompassing direct activity regulations, and market-based, knowledge-based, governance and strategic policy tools. Most of the identified solutions were located in the strategic tools category, reflecting shared recognition of the need to integrate food policy to achieve long-term goals. Emerging solutions—those which were most commonly identified among the different national contexts—were then used to derive empirically-grounded and more universally applicable recommendations for the advancement of sustainable food consumption policies.
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Cooper MW, Brown ME, Niles MT, ElQadi MM. Text mining the food security literature reveals substantial spatial bias and thematic broadening over time. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Bennich T, Weitz N, Carlsen H. Deciphering the scientific literature on SDG interactions: A review and reading guide. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 728:138405. [PMID: 32388023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The 2030 Agenda includes 17 overarching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are integrated in nature, and a principle of indivisibility should guide their implementation. Yet, the 2030 Agenda itself does not provide guidance on what indivisibility means in practice, how the SDGs interact, or on how to assess these interactions. The fast-emerging field of what could be referred to as SDG interaction studies seeks to provide such guidance, but as of yet there is no general agreement on what it means to take an integrated approach to the SDGs. Hence, navigating the diverse research landscape on SDG interactions might prove challenging. This paper aims to decipher the literature on SDG interactions by providing an overview of the current research, based on a sample of 70 peer-reviewed articles. The review explores four themes in SDG interaction research by mapping: (i) policy challenges typically addressed, (ii) ways in which SDG 'interactions' have been conceptualized, (iii) data sources used, and (iv) methods of analysis frequently employed. Research gaps are identified, where perspectives largely missing include policy innovation, and integrated monitoring and evaluation. Further, few studies consider actor interactions, account for geographic spill-overs, analyze SDG indicator interactions, employ participatory methods, or take a whole-systems approach to the 2030 Agenda. Failing to address these gaps could lead to inefficient SDG implementation and delay goal attainment. Another contribution of the paper is a reading guide, proposing a way to decipher the literature along the themes emerging from the review, and offering a structure to code future papers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese Bennich
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Nina Weitz
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Box 24218, 104 51 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik Carlsen
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Box 24218, 104 51 Stockholm, Sweden
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29
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Quality Education as a Sustainable Development Goal in the Context of 2030 Agenda: Bibliometric Approach. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12155884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Quality education is understood as one of the most powerful and proven drivers for ensuring sustainable development, which can be applied in various educational contexts, formal and non-formal, and which can generate multiple benefits for the general public. Given its relevance, this article presents a bibliometric approach of the scientific production generated around Sustainable Development Goal (SPG) 4 that seeks to “Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning” as a priority objective of 2030 Agenda. To develop this research, a literature search was conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The final sample was 240 publications. The data were analyzed around ten variables: year of publication, type of document, area of indexation, periodical publications, most productive authors, institutions, countries, languages, most cited articles, and key words. The findings of this study indicate that quality education, within the Sustainable Development Goals, is gaining relevance, with 2019 being the year with the highest scientific production. This is a growing theme that is transmitted mainly through articles and papers in English, and there are no institutions, research groups or authors with a broad scientific background and production. The conclusion is that this bibliometric approach is important and necessary to know the reality of scientific production on this subject and to be able to make proposals and lines of research for its development.
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Thorn JPR, Thornton TF, Helfgott A, Willis KJ. Indigenous uses of wild and tended plant biodiversity maintain ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes of the Terai Plains of Nepal. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2020; 16:33. [PMID: 32513199 PMCID: PMC7278186 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-020-00382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a rapidly accumulating evidence base quantifying ecosystem services, the role of biodiversity in the maintenance of ecosystem services in shared human-nature environments is still understudied, as is how indigenous and agriculturally dependent communities perceive, use, and manage biodiversity. The present study aims to document traditional ethnobotanical knowledge of the ecosystem service benefits derived from wild and tended plants in rice-cultivated agroecosystems, compare this to botanical surveys, and analyze the extent to which ecosystem services contribute social-ecological resilience in the Terai Plains of Nepal. METHOD Sampling was carried out in four landscapes, 22 Village District Committees, and 40 wards in the monsoon season. Data collection was based on transects walks to collect plant specimens, structured and semi-structured interviews, and participatory fieldwork in and around home gardens, farms, and production landscapes. We asked 180 farmers to free-list vernacular names and describe use-value of wild and tended plants in rice-cultivated agroecosystems. Uses were categorized into eight broad groupings, and 61 biomedical ailment classifications. We assessed if knowledge of plant species diversity and abundance differed with regard to caste, age, and gender. RESULTS Nepalese farmers have a deep knowledge of the use and management of the 391 vascular plant specimens identified, which provide key provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. Altogether, plants belong to 76 distinct plant species from 49 phylogenetic families: 56 are used to cure 61 ailments, 27 for rituals, 25 for food, 20 for timber, 17 for fuel, 17 for fodder, 11 for soil enhancement, and eight for pesticides. Four caste groups have statistically different knowledge, and younger informants report a lower average number of useful plants. CONCLUSION Agricultural landscapes in Nepal are reservoirs of biodiversity. The knowledge of the use of wild and tended plant species in and around these farms differs by the caste and age group of land manager. Conducting research on agroecosystems will contribute to a deeper understanding of how nature is perceived by locals, to more efficient management and conservation of the breadbasket of Nepal, and to the conservation of valuable, but disappearing traditional knowledge and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica P. R. Thorn
- Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Institute, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG UK
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute of Tropical Ecology, University of York, 290 Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO1 5NG UK
- African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Upper Campus, Geological Sciences Building Level 6, 13 Library Road, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa
| | - Thomas F. Thornton
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, S Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QY UK
- School of Arts and Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK 99801 USA
| | - Ariella Helfgott
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, S Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QY UK
| | - Kathy J. Willis
- Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Institute, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG UK
- Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, Richmond, TW9 3AB UK
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Postboks 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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Geissler B, Mew MC, Matschullat J, Steiner G. Innovation potential along the phosphorus supply chain: A micro and macro perspective on the mining phase. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 714:136701. [PMID: 31982746 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus is unique, given its characteristic of being essential for all life on Earth. The element is non-substitutable and finite in the form of highly concentrated phosphate-rock deposits. Thus, humankind should strive to utilize this resource in the most-efficient and sustainable manner. Losses, as well as overlooked opportunities, can be found all along the supply chain in various forms and to distinct extents. Avoiding these by closing the loops all along the supply chain is a key approach for keeping phosphorus flows available for economic use while reducing negative environmental impacts such as eutrophication. Changes to the current, mostly linear approach require multidimensional innovations that address products, processes, structures, and decision-makers along the supply chain as well as societal stakeholders. Our work focuses on the mining phase, covering extraction and beneficiation, whereby we discuss innovation potential in the contexts of i) improving P2O5 recovery, ii) utilizing waste, and iii) recovering by-products within the boundaries of sustainable development as generalized strategies on the macro level. Furthermore, we show that there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to overcome current and future challenges within phosphate-rock mining, as the geological composition and processing of ores differs fundamentally among global deposits. Therefore, we perform, based on previously unpublished primary data, an economic breakdown of production-cost structures covering 85 active phosphate-rock mines and show significant differences between the two main deposit types (i.e., igneous and sedimentary), underground and open-pit mining as well as within each type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Geissler
- Danube University Krems, Department of Knowledge and Communication Management, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria; Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Michael C Mew
- Danube University Krems, Department of Knowledge and Communication Management, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria; Fosfor Consulting Limited, 5 West Street, Okehampton, Devon, United Kingdom, EX20 1HQ
| | - Jörg Matschullat
- Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Gerald Steiner
- Danube University Krems, Department of Knowledge and Communication Management, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria; Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Josefstaedter Straße 39, 1080 Vienna, Austria.
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Requejo-Castro D, Giné-Garriga R, Pérez-Foguet A. Data-driven Bayesian network modelling to explore the relationships between SDG 6 and the 2030 Agenda. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 710:136014. [PMID: 32050357 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are presented as integrated and indivisible. Therefore, for monitoring purposes, conventional indicator-based frameworks need to be combined with approaches that capture and describe the links and interdependencies between the Goals and their targets. In this study, we propose a data-driven Bayesian network (BN) approach to identify and interpret SDGs interlinkages. We focus our analysis on the interlinkages of SDG 6, related to water and sanitation, across the whole 2030 Agenda, using SDG global available data corresponding to 179 countries, 16 goals, 28 targets and 44 indicators. To analyze and validate the BN results, we first demonstrate the robustness of the BN approach in identifying indicator relationships (i.e. consistent results throughout different country sample sizes). Second, we show the coherency of the results by comparing them with an exhaustive study developed by UN-Water. As an added value, our data-driven approach provides further interlinkages, which are contrasted against the existing literature. We conclude that the approach adopted is useful to accommodate a thorough analysis and interpretation of the complexities and interdependencies of the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Requejo-Castro
- Engineering Sciences and Global Development (EScGD), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC), Jordi Girona, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ricard Giné-Garriga
- Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Linnégatan 87A, 100 55 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Agustí Pérez-Foguet
- Engineering Sciences and Global Development (EScGD), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC), Jordi Girona, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Mehrabi Z, Gill M, Wijk MV, Herrero M, Ramankutty N. Livestock policy for sustainable development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1038/s43016-020-0042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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34
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van Zanten JA, van Tulder R. Beyond COVID-19: Applying “SDG logics” for resilient transformations. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS POLICY 2020. [PMCID: PMC7565227 DOI: 10.1057/s42214-020-00076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a realistic approach to navigate societies through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the SDG agenda is not without flaws. Even before the pandemic, progress towards achieving the SDGs has been too slow. COVID-19 presents a stress test for the SDG approach. The SDG agenda provides three ‘logics’ that could help transform towards sustainable societies: (1) a governance logic that sets goals, adopts policies, and tracks progress to steer impacts; (2) a systems (nexus) logic that manages SDG interactions; and (3) a strategic logic that enables (micro-level) companies to develop strategies that impact (macro-level) policy goals. We discuss key hurdles that each of these SDG logics face. Transforming towards sustainable societies beyond COVID-19 requires that multinational enterprises and policymakers (better) apply these logics, and that they address operational challenges to overcome flaws in the present approach to the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Anton van Zanten
- Robeco Institutional Asset Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- RSM Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Johnson JA, Jones SK, Wood SLR, Chaplin-Kramer R, Hawthorne PL, Mulligan M, Pennington D, DeClerck FA. Mapping Ecosystem Services to Human Well-being: a toolkit to support integrated landscape management for the SDGs. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01985. [PMID: 31348562 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the global and multi-dimensional nature of sustainability and thus require improving our capacity to articulate and trace the impact of ecosystem change to measures of human well-being. Yet, the integrated nature of these goals is challenging to assess without similarly integrated assessment tools. We present a new modeling toolkit, "Mapping Ecosystem Services to Human well-being" (MESH), that integrates commonly used, stand-alone ecosystem services (ES) models from the InVEST suite of models to quantify and illustrate the trade-offs and synergies across five ecosystem services and up to 10 associated SDGs. Development of the software and its functionality were informed by a broad stakeholder consultation with ministries, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups in West Africa to identify common barriers to uptake and application of modeling tools in developing countries. In light of this process, key features included in MESH are (1) integration of multiple ecosystem service (ES) models into a common modeling framework supported by a curated base data set, (2) built-in scenario generation capacity to support policy analysis, (3) visualization of outcomes and trade-offs, and (4) mapping of ecosystem service change to SDG targets and goals. We illustrate the use of MESH in a case study in the Volta basin of West Africa comparing the effectiveness of three alternative conservation prioritization approaches: (1) land cover-based, (2) topographic-based, and (3) an ecosystem service-based approach to minimize the impact of agricultural expansion. We evaluate these approaches by linking changes in service supply to potential impacts on achievement of specific SDG goals and targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Johnson
- Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Sarah K Jones
- Bioversity International, CGIAR, Parc scientifique Agropolis II, 1990 Boulevard de la Lironde, Montpellier, 34397, France
- Department of Geography, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2B 4BG, UK
| | - Sylvia L R Wood
- Bioversity International, CGIAR, Parc scientifique Agropolis II, 1990 Boulevard de la Lironde, Montpellier, 34397, France
- Département des Sciences Naturelles, Université de Québec en Outaouais, Ripon, Quebec, J0V 1V0, Canada
| | | | - Peter L Hawthorne
- Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Mark Mulligan
- Department of Geography, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2B 4BG, UK
| | - Derric Pennington
- Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Fabrice A DeClerck
- Bioversity International, CGIAR, Parc scientifique Agropolis II, 1990 Boulevard de la Lironde, Montpellier, 34397, France
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Abstract
The exploitation of potential societal benefits of Earth observations is hampered by users having to engage in often tedious processes to discover data and extract information and knowledge. A concept is introduced for a transition from the current perception of data as passive objects (DPO) to a new perception of data as active subjects (DAS). This transition would greatly increase data usage and exploitation, and support the extraction of knowledge from data products. Enabling the data subjects to actively reach out to potential users would revolutionize data dissemination and sharing and facilitate collaboration in user communities. The three core elements of the transformative DAS concept are: (1) “intelligent semantic data agents” (ISDAs) that have the capabilities to communicate with their human and digital environment. Each ISDA provides a voice to the data product it represents. It has comprehensive knowledge of the represented product including quality, uncertainties, access conditions, previous uses, user feedbacks, etc., and it can engage in transactions with users. (2) A knowledge base that constructs extensive graphs presenting a comprehensive picture of communities of people, applications, models, tools, and resources and provides tools for the analysis of these graphs. (3) An interaction platform that links the ISDAs to the human environment and facilitates transaction including discovery of products, access to products and derived knowledge, modifications and use of products, and the exchange of feedback on the usage. This platform documents the transactions in a secure way maintaining full provenance.
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Lu Y, Zhang Y, Cao X, Wang C, Wang Y, Zhang M, Ferrier RC, Jenkins A, Yuan J, Bailey MJ, Chen D, Tian H, Li H, von Weizsäcker EU, Zhang Z. Forty years of reform and opening up: China's progress toward a sustainable path. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau9413. [PMID: 31457075 PMCID: PMC6685713 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau9413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
After 40 years of reform and "opening up," China has made remarkable economic progress. Such economic prosperity, however, has been coupled with environmental degradation. We analyze diverse long-term data to determine whether China is experiencing a decoupling of economic growth and environmental impacts, and where China stands with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in terms of reducing regional division, urban-rural gap, social inequality, and land-based impacts on oceans. The results highlight that China's desire to achieve "ecological civilization" has resulted in a decoupling trend for major pollutants since 2015, while strong coupling remains with CO2 emissions. Progress has been made in health care provision, poverty reduction, and gender equity in education, while income disparity continues between regions and with rural-urban populations. There is a considerable way to go toward achieving delivery of the SDGs; however, China's progress toward economic prosperity and concomitant sustainability provides important insights for other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonglong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yueqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xianghui Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yichao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | | | - Alan Jenkins
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK
| | - Jingjing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mark J. Bailey
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK
| | - Deliang Chen
- Regional Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hanqin Tian
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, and School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Hong Li
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK
- Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA14YQ, UK
| | | | - Zhongxiang Zhang
- Ma Yinchu School of Economics, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
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Hunger and Obesity as Symptoms of Non-Sustainable Food Systems and Malnutrition. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9061062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Among the great challenges the world faces are how to ensure food security for its growing population—projected to rise to around 10 billion by 2050—so it can meet their nutritional needs for a healthy life. Current regulations and literature on food security mainly focus on food quantity (i.e., portion sizes), daily calorie intake and methods for increasing food production and too little on food and diet quality and the holistic effects of (mal)nutrition. From a systems perspective, in order to promote innovation policies for more sustainable food systems, food security cannot be viewed independently; rather, it is characterized by the interplay of an extensive network of economic, environmental and social dimensions that should all be taken into account in a comprehensive resilient and sustainable global food system. Here, we highlight one aspect of this vast network that we consider a particular challenge—yet also a great opportunity—for innovative policies geared toward more sustainable food systems: the interplay of hunger and obesity, including resulting policy strategies beyond potential efficiency improvements in farming practices. Future studies need to emphasize the importance of an in-depth understanding of the interdependencies within the global food system and its interrelatedness with societal and natural systems as part of coupled human-environment systems and in the face of continuing population growth and food demand globally. Recommended strategies for achieving sustainable food security systems include innovative educational approaches and stakeholder-driven innovation policies based on mutual learning processes between society, science, industry and policymakers, as well as fostering increased responsibility of all members of society along the agriculture and food value chain.
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Abstract
The United Nations adopted the Agenda 2030 with its core element, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in September 2015. In order to achieve these goals within the coming years, intense efforts are required by all political and societal actors. Although the first definitions of sustainable development referred to the forest sector, the question remains: what contribution can forestry make to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? Therefore, the direct positive and negative effects of forestry itself on sustainability are analyzed, and it is discussed how sustainable forest management could contribute to achieving other Sustainable Development Goals in addition to SDG 15. This analysis reveals that forestry plays a dual role, i.e., forestry can achieve positive sustainability effects but can also have negative impacts. It is thus recommended to use integrated assessment approaches to analyze whether a specific forest-related policy or strategy is contributing to sustainable development. Beside quantitative integrated assessments, the use of qualitative frameworks like the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is proposed. It is also suggested to operationalize the concept of second-order sustainability performance for the forest sector in future research.
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Happer C, Wellesley L. Meat consumption, behaviour and the media environment: a focus group analysis across four countries. Food Secur 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0877-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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KC KB, Dias GM, Veeramani A, Swanton CJ, Fraser D, Steinke D, Lee E, Wittman H, Farber JM, Dunfield K, McCann K, Anand M, Campbell M, Rooney N, Raine NE, Acker RV, Hanner R, Pascoal S, Sharif S, Benton TG, Fraser EDG. When too much isn't enough: Does current food production meet global nutritional needs? PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205683. [PMID: 30352069 PMCID: PMC6198966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainably feeding the next generation is often described as one of the most pressing “grand challenges” facing the 21st century. Generally, scholars propose addressing this problem by increasing agricultural production, investing in technology to boost yields, changing diets, or reducing food waste. In this paper, we explore whether global food production is nutritionally balanced by comparing the diet that nutritionists recommend versus global agricultural production statistics. Results show that the global agricultural system currently overproduces grains, fats, and sugars while production of fruits and vegetables and protein is not sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the current population. Correcting this imbalance could reduce the amount of arable land used by agriculture by 51 million ha globally but would increase total land used for agriculture by 407 million ha and increase greenhouse gas emissions. For a growing population, our calculations suggest that the only way to eat a nutritionally balanced diet, save land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to consume and produce more fruits and vegetables as well as transition to diets higher in plant-based protein. Such a move will help protect habitats and help meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Bahadur KC
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Goretty M. Dias
- School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Anastasia Veeramani
- School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | | | - David Fraser
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dirk Steinke
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Lee
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Hannah Wittman
- Centre for Sustainable Food System, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M. Farber
- Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Kari Dunfield
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Kevin McCann
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Madhur Anand
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Malcolm Campbell
- Office of Research, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Neil Rooney
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Nigel E. Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Rene Van Acker
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Robert Hanner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Samantha Pascoal
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Shayan Sharif
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Tim G. Benton
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Evan D. G. Fraser
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
- Arrell Food Institute, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
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It’s a Hit! Mapping Austrian Research Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10093295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present a global agenda addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in a holistic approach. Universities can contribute to the implementation of the SDGs by providing know-how and best-practice examples to support implementation and by integrating issues of sustainability into their operations, research, education, and science-society interactions. In most of the signatory countries of the Agenda 2030, an overview of the extent to which universities have already addressed the SDGs in research is not available. Using the example of universities in Austria, this study presents a tool to map research that addresses sustainability topics as defined by the SDGs. The results of an analysis of scientific projects and publications show current focus areas of SDG related research. Research on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) is well represented by universities in Austria, while other SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty) or SDG 14 (Life Below Water), are under-represented research fields. We anticipate the results will support universities in identifying the thematic orientation of their research in the framework of the SDGs. This information can facilitate inter-university cooperation to address the challenge of implementing the SDGs.
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Abstract
Abstract
Strategies and action plans for sustainable food provisioning and urban food security are in progress in many urban regions both in the global North and South. A number of urgent challenges need to be confronted such as increasing uncertainty and unpredictability related to stronger dependence on a global market for food import, ongoing political unrest and environmental conflicts, increasing resource scarcity and climate warming making food production hazardous. There is an increased vulnerability with respect to food security for human societies, both in developing and developed countries. The food security dimension of access to healthy food is related to equality and poverty and is relevant for cities in the North via the segregation challenges. The food system issue is well-suited for assessing sustainable development since food provisioning is both a multiscale and cross-sectorial issue and thus addresses more than the three dimensions of social, economic and environmental sustainability. How is the planning for sustainable food strategies in urban regions in Europe concordant with the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals and with the transition towards sustainable futures? This paper deliberates on using the food system issues for sustainability transition, drawing on the forthcoming 2018 IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) work on pathways for sustainable futures and a recent survey of existing urban food system strategies. Against this background, some reflections are given relevant for the ongoing work on a local urban food strategy for the city of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Gödecke T, Stein AJ, Qaim M. The global burden of chronic and hidden hunger: Trends and determinants. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Gao L, Bryan BA. Finding pathways to national-scale land-sector sustainability. Nature 2017; 544:217-222. [DOI: 10.1038/nature21694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Walsh B, Ciais P, Janssens IA, Peñuelas J, Riahi K, Rydzak F, van Vuuren DP, Obersteiner M. Pathways for balancing CO 2 emissions and sinks. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14856. [PMID: 28406154 PMCID: PMC5399292 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In December 2015 in Paris, leaders committed to achieve global, net decarbonization of human activities before 2100. This achievement would halt and even reverse anthropogenic climate change through the net removal of carbon from the atmosphere. However, the Paris documents contain few specific prescriptions for emissions mitigation, leaving various countries to pursue their own agendas. In this analysis, we project energy and land-use emissions mitigation pathways through 2100, subject to best-available parameterization of carbon-climate feedbacks and interdependencies. We find that, barring unforeseen and transformative technological advancement, anthropogenic emissions need to peak within the next 10 years, to maintain realistic pathways to meeting the COP21 emissions and warming targets. Fossil fuel consumption will probably need to be reduced below a quarter of primary energy supply by 2100 and the allowable consumption rate drops even further if negative emissions technologies remain technologically or economically unfeasible at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Walsh
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Philippe Ciais
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de L'Environnement, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France
| | | | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Cerdanyola del Valles 08193, (Catalonia), Spain.,CREAF, Cerdanyola del Valles 08193 (Catalonia), Spain
| | - Keywan Riahi
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Felicjan Rydzak
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Detlef P van Vuuren
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 2594 AV The Hague, The Netherlands.,Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Obersteiner
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
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