This paper examines the connections among sustain- ability, governance and GDP, using the data from 123 countries. Sustainability is found to be related with GDP in two contradic- tory ways. On the one hand, growth in...This paper examines the connections among sustain- ability, governance and GDP, using the data from 123 countries. Sustainability is found to be related with GDP in two contradic- tory ways. On the one hand, growth in GDP strengthens a nation’s ability to maintain favorable environmental conditions into the future. On the other hand, GDP growth is built on more consump- tion of natural resources, and therefore generates a larger “foot- print” on the Earth. Governance plays a key role in sustainable development. However, it is not helping to reduce our footprint on the Earth. In fact, good governance is linked to a larger footprint. This reflects our materialist value and human impulse. When a society prefers the comfort and well-being of human beings to the welfare of its environment, democratic governance might be used as an effective tool against nature.展开更多
This paper shows prospective methodology as a tool to generate strategic knowledge for designing sustainable futures. The strategic prospective is a social science discipline dedicated to explore the future. Based on ...This paper shows prospective methodology as a tool to generate strategic knowledge for designing sustainable futures. The strategic prospective is a social science discipline dedicated to explore the future. Based on qualitative methods with participative experts and stakeholders, the strategic prospective allows designing different future scenarios and planning the transformation of a current situation into a desired future. To design sustainable futures, this paper proposes a four-stage methodology： understanding the context; strategy visualization; design of alternative scenarios and definition of desired future; and planning its construction. This methodology makes evident the possibility of seeking alternative scenarios for a sustainable future in different scopes, particularly, in two prospective applications： biodiversity conservation and water treatment. The outcomes of the application have allowed proposing strategies and policies for the management of environmental goods, such as environmental services and water reuse, with a long-time outlook based on a collective desired future.展开更多
文摘This paper examines the connections among sustain- ability, governance and GDP, using the data from 123 countries. Sustainability is found to be related with GDP in two contradic- tory ways. On the one hand, growth in GDP strengthens a nation’s ability to maintain favorable environmental conditions into the future. On the other hand, GDP growth is built on more consump- tion of natural resources, and therefore generates a larger “foot- print” on the Earth. Governance plays a key role in sustainable development. However, it is not helping to reduce our footprint on the Earth. In fact, good governance is linked to a larger footprint. This reflects our materialist value and human impulse. When a society prefers the comfort and well-being of human beings to the welfare of its environment, democratic governance might be used as an effective tool against nature.
文摘This paper shows prospective methodology as a tool to generate strategic knowledge for designing sustainable futures. The strategic prospective is a social science discipline dedicated to explore the future. Based on qualitative methods with participative experts and stakeholders, the strategic prospective allows designing different future scenarios and planning the transformation of a current situation into a desired future. To design sustainable futures, this paper proposes a four-stage methodology： understanding the context; strategy visualization; design of alternative scenarios and definition of desired future; and planning its construction. This methodology makes evident the possibility of seeking alternative scenarios for a sustainable future in different scopes, particularly, in two prospective applications： biodiversity conservation and water treatment. The outcomes of the application have allowed proposing strategies and policies for the management of environmental goods, such as environmental services and water reuse, with a long-time outlook based on a collective desired future.
