Sustainability Books
Berrett-Koehler Making Sustainability Work: Best Practices in Managing and Measuring Corporate Social, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
Book SynopsisMost companies today have some commitment to corporate social responsibility, but implementing these initiatives can be particularly challenging. While a lot has been written on ethical and strategic factors, there is still a dearth of information on the practical nuts and bolts. And whereas with most other organizational initiatives the sole objective is improved financial performance, sustainability broadens the focus to include social and environmental performance, which is much more difficult to measure. Now updated throughout with new examples and new research, this is a complete guide to implementing and measuring the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. It draws on Marc Epstein’s and new coauthor Adriana Rejc Buhovac’s solid academic foundation and extensive consulting work and includes best practices from dozens of companies in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa. This is the ultimate how-to guide for corporate leaders, strategists, academics, sustainability consultants, and anyone else with an interest in actually putting sustainability ideas into practice and making sure they accomplish their goals.
£28.00
Island Press State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still
Book SynopsisEvery day, we are presented with a range of "sustainable" products and activities-from "green" cleaning supplies to carbon offsets - but with so much labelled as "sustainable," the term has become essentially sustainable, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. Is it time to abandon the concept altogether, or can we find an accurate way to measure sustainability? If so, how can we achieve it? And if not, how can we best prepare for the coming ecological decline? In the latest edition of "Worldwatch Institute's State of the World" series, scientists, policy experts, and thought leaders tackle these questions, attempting to restore meaning to sustainability as more than just a marketing tool. In "State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?", experts define clear sustainability metrics and examine various policies and perspectives, including geo-engineering, corporate transformation, and changes in agricultural policy, that could put us on the path to prosperity without diminishing the well-being of future generations. If these approaches fall short, the final chapters explore ways to prepare for drastic environmental change and resource depletion, such as strengthening democracy and societal resilience, protecting cultural heritage, and dealing with increased conflict and migration flows. "State of the World 2013" cuts through the rhetoric surrounding sustainability, offering a broad and realistic look at how close we are to fulfilling it today and which practices and policies will steer us in the right direction.
£46.89
ISTE Ltd and John Wiley & Sons Inc Sustainable Production System: Eco-development
Book SynopsisWealth is no longer just an ability to live well in a world shaped by human activities. It is also an ability to push back or defer the limits of a world in biological and climatic closure. This book examines the theoretical conflicts and the power plays which often oppose the socio-political and technical-financial practices of recognition of what intervenes in the production of this wealth i.e. of what has value. It lays down the principles of a contributory modeling method, allowing debates around the concept of development; the building of scenarios; the negotiation of their implementation; and a cross-sectoral reading of their social, ecological and economic costs. This method, called Dynamic Modeling of Cost Systems, is based on a territorial communication device which articulates political, contractual and accounting innovations using deliberative and normative digital tools. It combines different local representations of value, in order to approach wealth through an integrated analysis of micro-, meso- and macro- issues.Table of ContentsIntroduction vii Chapter 1. Economics and Imbalances 1 1.1. Capturing power 1 1.1.1. From eco-development to sustainable development 2 1.1.2. Interest and limits of the decoupling concept 10 1.2. Systemic approach to the economy 19 1.2.1. Nature and structure of productive capital 21 1.2.2. Spaces and temporalities of productive phenomena 29 1.3. Conclusion 38 Chapter 2. Information Structures Production 41 2.1. The value chain: an outdated representation 41 2.1.1. Toward a functional economy 42 2.1.2. Valuing multifunctional production 50 2.2. Reinventing performance 58 2.2.1. Information socioeconomy 59 2.2.2. Preserving the functional heritage 67 2.3. Conclusion 72 Chapter 3. Communication Renews Rationalities 75 3.1. From agent to actor 75 3.1.1. Decompartmentalizing the economic space 76 3.1.2. Toward a cooperative transaction society 84 3.2. To discuss is to produce 89 3.2.1. Toward a hermeneutical and contributory web 91 3.2.2. A contributory platform for political economy 100 3.3. Conclusion 107 Chapter 4. Accounting: The Figure in Dialogue 109 4.1. Performance systems 109 4.1.1. Coupling between functional ecosystems 111 4.1.2. Multiscalar and cross-sectoral scenarios 123 4.2. Cost systems 133 4.2.1. Internalization and territorialization 134 4.2.2. Structuring the micro–macro accounting space 142 4.3. Conclusion 154 Chapter 5. Contractualizing: The Value in Act 157 5.1. Restructuring the transactional space 157 5.1.1. Levels of representation and materiality 159 5.1.2. Intangible assets and performance contract 166 5.2. Taking the measure of the territorial heritage 178 5.2.1. An irreducible interface between performance and profitability 179 5.2.2. Territorial informative and cognitive assessment 186 5.3. Conclusion 194 Chapter 6. Development, Changing the Compass and the Map 197 6.1. Dynamic Modeling of Cost Systems 197 6.1.1. Linking shared representations and activity costs 199 6.1.2. Relative growth and strategic alignment 207 6.2. Social value of acceleration 219 6.2.1. Entropy, wealth and time 221 6.2.2. Turning toward sustainability 229 6.3. Conclusion 241 Conclusion 245 Postface 255 References 259 Index 281
£132.00
ISTE Ltd and John Wiley & Sons Inc Sustainable Development in the USA
Book SynopsisAfter WWII, the United States of America proposed their way of life, based on an unlimited consumption of land, goods, and energy, as a model for the entire world. Nowadays, this expansionist model has reached its limits. This book provides a comprehensive study of the geographical basis of the American settlements, assuming that part of the U.S. overshooting is related to geography because of harsh climates and the continental size of the Nation, but another part is the result of a cultural habits of expansion and segregation. Urban Sprawl, for instance, is the real Achille's heel of America, because it challenges the cultural revolution required by sustainability. From the continental physiography to the New Orleans – Katrina case, this book explores these issues with maps and charts created with the help of a nationwide multiscalar GIS.Table of ContentsIntroduction ix Chapter 1. The American Territory 1 1.1. A continent-nation with a dispersed population 1 1.2. Major geographical areas 5 1.3. Unfavorable climatic factors 9 1.4. Physical geography of the US 17 Chapter 2. Developing the Territory 23 2.1. Agricultural regions 23 2.2. An agriculture which does not influence settlement 29 2.3. The abundance and limits of natural resources 33 2.4. Working towards the sustainable management of the American forest 33 2.5. Fossil resources-abundance and dependence 36 2.6. The case of fossil fuels 37 2.7. Environmental protection 46 Chapter 3. A Rapidly Growing Population 49 3.1. A relatively high fertility rate due to immigration 50 3.2. Life expectancy and aging 51 3.3. Aging – regional disparities 53 3.4. Immigration to the United States of America. 54 3.5. The country’s gateways 58 Chapter 4. A Multi-ethnic Nation 63 4.1. Native peoples 64 4.2. A nation of immigrants 66 4.3. The African-American question 68 4.4. America and Mexico 76 4.5. Geography of the population of Asian origin 82 Chapter 5. Regional Dynamics 85 5.1. Main features of settlement in the US territory 89 5.2. The dynamics of regional settlement between 1930 and 2005 95 Chapter 6. Economic Change and Territories 99 6.1. A changing economy 99 6.2. Economic growth 102 6.3. Industrial change105 6.4. A population on the move 108 6.5. Migration of retired populations 117 Chapter 7. A Suburban Nation 119 7.1. Urban sprawl 121 7.2. Big cities 126 7.3. Consequences of urban sprawl on sustainable development 131 7.4. Urban sprawl is not only a big city phenomenon 133 Chapter 8. Urban Fragmentation and Sprawl 137 8.1. Social divisions find expression in land use patterns 137 8.2. The challenge of governance in fragmented metropolitan areas 171 8.3. The crisis of cities 174 Chapter 9. New Orleans in Dangerous Waters 177 9.1. The physical components of natural hazards 178 9.2. Increased vulnerability from urban sprawl 184 9.3. The consequences of a natural disaster 195 Conclusion 203 Glossary 211 References 239 List of Tables and Figures 245 Index 251
£132.00
American Society of Safety Engineers Workplace Hazard Prevention Management
Book Synopsis
£59.85
Springer International Publishing AG Principles of Agronomy for Sustainable
Book SynopsisThis textbook explains the various aspects of sustainable agricultures to undergraduate and graduate students. The book first quantifies the components of the crop energy balance, i.e. the partitioning of net radiation, and their effect on the thermal environment of the canopy. The soil water balance and the quantification of its main component (evapotranspiration) are studied to determine the availability of water to rain fed crops and to calculate crop water requirements. Then it sets the limitations of crop production in relation to crop phenology, radiation interception and resource availability (e.g. nutrients). With that in mind the different agricultural techniques (sowing, tillage, irrigation, fertilization, harvest, application of pesticides, etc.) are analyzed with special emphasis in quantifying the inputs (sowing rates, fertilizer amounts, irrigation schedules, tillage plans) required for a given target yield under specific environmental conditions (soil & climate). For all techniques strategies are provided for improving the ratio productivity/resource use while ensuring sustainability. The book comes with online practical focusing on the key aspects of management in a crop rotation (collecting weather data, calculating productivity, sowing rates, irrigation programs, fertilizers rates etc). Table of ContentsPART A: CROPS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.- Chapter 1. Introduction to agricultural systems.- Chapter 2. The soil. Physical and chemical properties.- Chapter 3. Radiation balance.- Chapter 4. Wind and turbulence.- Chapter 5. Air temperature and humidity.- Chapter 6. Soil temperature.- Chapter 7. The energy balance.- Chapter 8. Water balance: Infiltration, runoff and percolation.- Chapter 9. Evapotranspiration and crop water requirements.- PART B: DETERMINANTS OF CROP PRODUCTIVITY Chapter 10 Crop development and growth.- Chapter 11 Photosynthesis and respiration.- Chapter 12 Density and competition.- Chapter 13. Potential productivity.- Chapter 14 Water-limited productivity.- Chapter 15. Other limitations to crop productivity.- PART C: SOWING, SOIL MANAGEMENT AND SOIL CONSERVATION.- Chapter 16. Planting and sowing.- Chapter 17. Tillage.- Chapter 18. Soil erosion and soil conservation.- PART D: WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF SALINITY.- Chapter 19. Irrigation systems.- Chapter 20. Irrigation scheduling.- Chapter 21. Deficit irrigation.- Chapter 22. Control of salinity.- PART E: FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT.- Chapter 23. Fertilizers.- Chapter 24. N fertilization.- Chapter 25. P, K and other nutrients.- Chapter 26. Fertigation.- PART F: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND OTHER TECHNIQUES.- Chapter 27. Windbreaks, agroforestry.- Chapter 28. Temperature modification.- Chapter 29. Frost control.- Chapter 30. Control of weeds and other biotic factors.- Chapter 31. Application of herbicides and other biotic control agents.- Chapter 32. Harvest and conservation.- Chapter 33. New tools and methods in agronomy: remote sensing, site specific agriculture and simulation modeling applications.- PART G: Cropping systems.- Chapter 34. Cropping and farming systems.- Chapter 35. Farming and the sustainability of food systems.
£208.99
Brill U Schoningh Survival How?: Education, Crisis, Diachronicity
Book Synopsis
£114.00
Franz Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden GmbH Socio-Economic Development of Indawgyi Lake,
Book Synopsis
£65.00
Gerlach Press Sustainable Development Challenges in the Arab
Book Synopsis
£73.00
Springer Verlag, Singapore Technological Progress and the Transformation of China’s Economic Development Mode
Book SynopsisThis book explores how technological progress accelerates the transformation of economic development by adopting a fundamental logical approach to technological progress, intensive inputs, and promotion of productive efficiency to transformation of economic development. It investigates the internal mechanisms and the choice of corresponding modes that initiate technological progress to accelerate the transformation of economic development at three basic research levels: micro-enterprise level, mid-industry level and macro-economy level. Based on the above research, the book summarizes four dimensions facilitating the transformation: agricultural intensification, new industrialization, modernization of the service industry and the advanced manufacturing industry, and linkage of the modern service industry. This book is especially valuable in its hierarchical categorization covering theoretical, empirical, industrial and strategic exploration. On one hand, it analyzes the mechanisms and approaches influencing the transformation of economic development driven by technological progress from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. On the other hand, based on the introduction of advanced international experiences, it probes into the guarantee basis for the strategic implementation and the corresponding mode choices of the transformations. Furthermore, it offers specific policy proposals from both the macro level of how technological progress promotes the transformation of economic development and the micro level covering the agricultural, industrial and service industries.Table of ContentsChapter1 Literature Review of Technological Improvement and Transformation of Economic Development Model.- Chapter2 Theoretical Research: Endogenous Growth Model Embedded with Innovation Heterogeneity.- Chapter3 Mechanical Analysis: Technological Improvement and the Transformation of Industry Development.- Chapter4 An International Comparison: Technological Improvement and the Transformation of Economic Development Model.- Chapter5 Measurement and Analysis of China’s Technological Improvement Comprehensive Capability and its Evolvement.- Chapter6 An Empirical Study of Economic Development Mode Transformation Promoted by Technological Improvement.- Chapter7 Technological Improvement and Agricultural Development Mode Transformation: Agricultural Intensification.- Chapter8 Technological Improvement and Industrial Development Mode Transfor mations: New Industrialization.- Chapter9Technological Improvement and Service Development Mode Transformation: Modernized Service Industry.- Chapter10 A Linkage between Advanced Manufacturing Industry and Modern Service Industry Promoted by Technological Improvement.- Chapter11 Basic Guarantee Foundation for the Implementation of China’s Technological Advance Strategies.- Chapter12 Mode Selections for the Transformation of Economic Development Mode Promoted by Technological Improvement.- Chapter13 Policy Proposals for Economic Development Mode Transformation Promoted by Technological Improvement.
£85.49
