Sustainable development: climate change and energy

Posted on: 4 April 2014
By: mackene
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This article provides an overview of statistical data on sustainable development in the areas of climate change and energy. They are based on the set of sustainable development indicators the European Union agreed upon for monitoring its sustainable development strategy.

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Engaging for Change: IIED Strategy 2014-2019

Posted on: 1 April 2014
By: mackene
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The International Institute for Environment and Development has announced its new strategy for the period 2014-2019. Over the next five years, IIED will build on its landmark work with partners on each of four research themes: climate change, natural resources, human settlements and sustainable markets.

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It’s not only city design: We need to integrate sustainability across the rural-urban continuum

Posted on: 28 March 2014
By: mackene
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This blog considers whether we can really separate urban from rural sustainability.

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Sustainable Human(e) Settlements: The urban challenge. Johannesburg, 17-21 September 2012

Posted on: 27 March 2014
By: mackene
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This conference provided an international forum for researchers and practitioners from developed and developing countries to address fundamental problems, solutions and constraints that affect Sustainable Human(e) Settlements. Proceedings are available online.

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Environment, Technology and Sustainable Development: Promises and challenges in the 21st century. Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2-4 March 2014

Posted on: 26 March 2014
By: mackene
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The conference aimed to provide a venue for academics, researchers, scholars, and students, as well as representatives from the NGO and government sectors, to exchange research findings and new ideas on the shifting roles in the 21st century of environment and technology in pursuit of sustainable development. A video of the event is available online.

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Sweden: The role of public transport in sustainable social development

Posted on: 26 March 2014
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This roadmap, edited by the Swedish Public Transport Association, aims to identify critical key areas for action and concrete measures required by the industry, society and research in Sweden in order to in the short term, break current trends and rapidly increase public transport market share and reduce carbon emissions, and in the long run, achieve climate goals and other important societal goals as well as the long-term goal of the sector to double the market share held by public transport.

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2 billion strong: A regenerative solution to building sustainable African cities

Posted on: 13 March 2014
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This document is a collaborative contribution of insights, expertise and experience made by the individuals who comprise the communiTgrow team. The title makes reference to the projected population of Africa by 2050. It offers valuable insight into communiTgrow’s mission to build new regenerative cities throughout Africa. This document was published in 2012.

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Sustainable energy for whom? Governing pro-poor, low carbon pathways to development: Lessons from solar PV in Kenya

Posted on: 7 March 2014
By: mackene
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This paper analyses the evolution of the Kenyan photovoltaics (PV) market. Considered by many to be an exemplar of private sector led development, the Kenyan PV market has witnessed the adoption of more than 300,000 solar home systems and over 100,000 solar portable lights. The notion of an entrepreneurially driven unsubsidised solar market has proved to be a powerful narrative amongst development actors who, paradoxically, have provided millions of dollars of funding to encourage the market’s development. This analysis gives important clues for designing climate and development policies, with implications for the governance of energy access pathways that are inclusive of poor and marginalised groups in low income countries.

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Towards a definition of global sustainable land use? A discussion on theory, concepts and implications for governance

Posted on: 5 March 2014
By: mackene
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This discussion paper attempts to frame a definition of a ‘sustainable land use’ in a pragmatic way, contributing to the concept of sustainable land use governance currently developed in the GLOBALANDS project. The paper starts with a short overview on prevalent sustainability theories, outlining the conflict between a strong and a weak concept of sustainability and explaining the role of “natural capital” and “reproduction” in the context of land use. Concepts on sustainable land use are then presented and discussed in the context of their applicability for the purpose of a wider governance framework on sustainable land use. The paper attempts to reveal whether these concepts could be subordinated either under the strong or weak sustainability concept. The paper concludes with a discussion around the key components of sustainable land use at a global scale and offers a brief definition for further discussion.

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The city we need

Posted on: 5 March 2014
By: mackene
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This booklet presents nine principles that can be implemented in order to achieve sustainable urban development. It is conceived, designed and written by the members of the World Urban Campaign. The World Urban campaign is a platform of more than 70 institutions and networks coordinated by UN Habitat, and created in 2010 to define the direction that urban development must take in the coming decades.

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