In spite of our substantive knowledge about global un-sustainability, insufficient progress is being made to halt systematic socio-ecological decline. Much information is readily available on downstream impacts, with limited focus on upstream activities driving such effects. This thesis uses backcasting from socioecological principles for sustainability to identify major upstream human activities violating these principles, the underlying drivers reinforcing such activities, alternative practices already in use with potential for significant expansion, and emerging opportunities for action across different sectors of society. Results show emerging patterns of high magnitude violations across all four socio-ecological principles indicating nexus points in energy, transportation and agriculture…
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Global Systematic Decline
1.2 Insufficient Global Progress
1.3 A “Whole-Systems” Perspective
1.4 The Role of this Research
2 METHODS
2.1 Research Methodology
2.1.1 Backcasting from Scenarios
2.1.2 Backcasting from Sustainability Principles
2.2 Research Process
3 RESULTS
3.1 Step A: Awareness
3.1.1 Understanding the System
3.1.2 Planning Strategically for Success
3.2 Step B: Current Reality
3.2.1 System Condition 1
3.2.1.1 Introduction
3.2.1.2 Overview of Major Human Activities
3.2.1.3 Key Drivers: Structures and Paradigms
3.2.1.4 Potentials to Build On
3.2.1.5 Key Players
3.2.2 System Condition 2
3.2.2.1 Introduction
3.2.2.2 Overview of Major Human Activities
3.2.2.3 Key Drivers: Structures and Paradigms
3.2.2.4 Potentials to Build On
3.2.2.5 Key Players
3.2.2.6 Implications for Global Sustainability
3.2.3 System Condition 3
3.2.3.1 Introduction
3.2.3.2 Overview of Major Human Activities
3.2.3.3 Key Drivers: Structures and Paradigms
3.2.3.4 Potentials to Build On
3.2.3.5 Key Players
3.2.4 System Condition 4
3.2.4.1 Introduction
3.2.4.2 Goal of Society
3.2.4.3 Human Needs
3.2.4.4 Overview of the State of Global Society
3.2.4.5 Key Drivers: Structures and Paradigms
3.2.4.6 Potentials to Build On
3.2.4.7 Key Players
3.3 Step C: Moving Toward the Vision
3.3.1 Global Vision of a Sustainable Society
3.3.2 Guiding Principles
3.3.2.1 Overarching Principles for Sustainability
3.3.2.2 Principles for Key Systems and Activities
3.3.3 Brainstorm of Strategies and Actions
3.3.4 Supporting Change
3.3.4.1 Principles for Societal Structures
3.3.4.2 Paradigms for Sustainability
4 DISCUSSION
5 CONCLUSION
6 REFERENCES
Author: Josephine Brennan, Susan Garrett, Mike Purcell
Source: Blekinge Institute of Technology
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