A Better Planet

A Better Planet PDF Author: Daniel C. Esty
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 030024889X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
A practical, bipartisan call to action from the world’s leading thinkers on the environment and sustainability Sustainability has emerged as a global priority over the past several years. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and the adoption of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals through the United Nations have highlighted the need to address critical challenges such as the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, water shortages, and air pollution. But in the United States, partisan divides, regional disputes, and deep disagreements over core principles have made it nearly impossible to chart a course toward a sustainable future. This timely new book, edited by celebrated scholar Daniel C. Esty, offers fresh thinking and forward-looking solutions from environmental thought leaders across the political spectrum. The book’s forty essays cover such subjects as ecology, environmental justice, Big Data, public health, and climate change, all with an emphasis on sustainability. The book focuses on moving toward sustainability through actionable, bipartisan approaches based on rigorous analytical research.

Transition Engineering

Transition Engineering PDF Author: Susan Krumdieck
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000692213
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Transition Engineering: Building a Sustainable Future examines new strategies emerging in response to the mega-issues of global climate change, decline in world oil supply, scarcity of key industrial minerals, and local environmental constraints. These issues pose challenges for organizations, businesses, and communities, and engineers will need to begin developing ideas and projects to implement the transition of engineered systems. This work presents a methodology for shifting away from unsustainable activities. Teaching the Transition Engineering approach and methodology is the focus of the text, and the concept is presented in a way that engineers can begin applying it in their work.

Pathways to Our Sustainable Future

Pathways to Our Sustainable Future PDF Author: Patricia DeMarco
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
ISBN: 0822983001
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Pittsburgh has a rich history of social consciousness in calls for justice and equity. Today, the movement for more sustainable practices is rising in Pittsburgh. Against a backdrop of Marcellus shale gas development, initiatives emerge for a sustainable and resilient response to the climate change and pollution challenges of the twenty-first century. People, institutions, communities, and corporations in Pittsburgh are leading the way to a more sustainable future. Examining the experience of a single city, with vast social and political complexities and a long industrial history, allows a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in adapting to change throughout the world. The case studies in this book respond to ethical challenges and give specific examples of successful ways forward. Choices include transforming the energy system, restoring infertile ground, and preventing pollution through green chemistry. Inspired by the pioneering voice of Rachel Carson, this is a book about empowerment and hope.

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018 PDF Author: Glenn-Marie Lange
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464810478
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 293

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Book Description
Countries regularly track gross domestic product (GDP) as an indicator of their economicprogress, but not wealth—the assets such as infrastructure, forests, minerals, and humancapital that produce GDP. In contrast, corporations routinely report on both their income andassets to assess their economic health and prospects for the future. Wealth accounts allowcountries to take stock of their assets to monitor the sustainability of development, an urgentconcern today for all countries.The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future covers national wealthfor 141 countries over 20 years (1995–2014) as the sum of produced capital, 19 types ofnatural capital, net foreign assets, and human capital overall as well as by gender and type ofemployment. Great progress has been made in estimating wealth since the fi rst volume, WhereIs the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century, was published in 2006. Newdata substantially improve estimates of natural capital, and, for the fi rst time, human capital ismeasured by using household surveys to estimate lifetime earnings.The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018 begins with a review of global and regional trends inwealth over the past two decades and provides examples of how wealth accounts can be usedfor the analysis of development patterns. Several chapters discuss the new work on humancapital and its application in development policy. The book then tackles elements of naturalcapital that are not yet fully incorporated in the wealth accounts: air pollution, marine fi sheries,and ecosystems.This book targets policy makers but will engage anyone committed to building a sustainablefuture for the planet.

Sustainable Brownfield Development

Sustainable Brownfield Development PDF Author: Christopher De Sousa
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000401480
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 291

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Book Description
While industrial and chemical innovations have contributed extensively to human advancement, the darker part of their legacy has been the hundreds of thousands of polluted sites left behind. Governments at all levels have rallied to support the remediation and reuse of these land resources and put many of the nation’s brownfields back into productive use. This book presents two dozen brownfield projects in the United States that have incorporated sustainability, highlighting project features, best management practices, and lessons from the field regarding the underlying policies and practices that enabled these projects to be completed or, in some cases, stalled, altered or abandoned. The case studies represent an array of brownfield projects that aimed to go beyond conventional practice and include a range and variety of end uses (e.g., corner gas stations, industrial, office, residential, brightfields, green space, mixed-use, and transit-oriented developments). The cases investigate site histories, planning and development and examine sustainability characteristics to understand how projects overcame the barriers to brownfield reuse and the implementation of sustainability features and derive a series of lessons learned, including innovative policies, programs, and/or funding mechanisms that helped make these projects work. Sustainable Brownfield Development will be of interest to developers, planners, consultants and community representatives interested in environmental policy, urban planning, community development, ecological restoration, economic development, and parks planning by providing direction and inspiration for those eager to erase the blight of the past and build a more sustainable future.

Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050

Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050 PDF Author: Tim Dixon
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119063817
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 409

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Book Description
Brings together leading thinking on issues of new professional practice and on the future of a sustainable built environment This book focuses on both construction and development issues, and examines how we can transition to a sustainable future by the year 2050—bringing together leading research and practice at building, neighbourhood, and city levels. It deftly analyses how emerging socio-economic, technological, and environmental trends will influence the built environment of the future. The book covers a broad spectrum of interests across the scales of buildings, communities and cities, including how professional practice will need to adapt to these trends. The broader context is provided by an analysis of emergent business models and the changing requirements for expert advice from clients. Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050: A Foresight Approach to Construction and Development features chapters covering: data and trends, including historical data and UK and international case studies; policies and practice related to the field; current state of scientific understanding; key challenges; key technological advances (including disruptive and systemic technological innovations); change issues and critical uncertainties; and future visions. It provides: A strong conceptual framework based on a ‘Foresight' approach Discussion of the key data and trends that underpin each chapter Coverage of both construction and property development Specially commissioned chapters by academics and practitioners A synthesis of the main findings in the book and key insights for the future to 2050 Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050: A Foresight Approach to Construction and Development is an important book for postgraduate students and researchers, construction, real estate and property development specialists, engineers, planners, architects, foresight and futures studies specialists, and anyone involved in sustainable buildings.

Creating A Sustainable And Desirable Future: Insights From 45 Global Thought Leaders

Creating A Sustainable And Desirable Future: Insights From 45 Global Thought Leaders PDF Author: Robert Costanza
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814546909
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 397

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Book Description
The major challenge for the current generation of mankind is to develop a shared vision of a future that is both desirable to the vast majority of humanity and ecologically sustainable. Creating a Sustainable and Desirable Future offers a broad, critical discussion on what such a future should or can be, with global perspectives written by some of the world's leading thinkers, including: Wendell Berry, Van Jones, Frances Moore Lappe, Peggy Liu, Hunter Lovins, Gus Speth, Bill McKibben, and many more.

Materials for a Sustainable Future

Materials for a Sustainable Future PDF Author: Trevor M. Letcher
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
ISBN: 1849734070
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 829

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Book Description
Aimed at students, lecturers, researchers, and policy makers, this work describes current developments and points the way forward for new developments regarding materials in our society and how they relate to sustainability.

Traditional Construction for a Sustainable Future

Traditional Construction for a Sustainable Future PDF Author: Carole Ryan
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113403461X
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 644

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Book Description
Since the spread of classical design and construction amongst the upper echolons of British society in the late seventeenth century, traditional construction methods have largely fallen by the wayside. Centuries later, as the construction industry faces up to its environmental responsibilities, this book explores its rich and ancient tradition to provide tried and trusted solutions to modern day construction problems. By way of introduction, the ancient and historical lifestyles that dictated the nature of traditional construction are explored, before focussing on its health and ecological benefits. As well as cultural background, this book includes a detailed scientific description of traditional building materials and their constituents which draws a sharp contrast with modern petrochemical-based materials. The studies of traditional buildings included reveal the sustainability of features such as natural ventilation and breathing walls, and comparisons with modern construction methods show how they could prevent 'sick building syndrome'. The author argues that maintenance for long life, by contrast with the modern concept of life-cycle costing, is at the nub of sustainability and underlies the contribution traditional building construction can make to tackling climate change. Over 250 original photos, and over fifty bespoke diagrams illustrate the features, techniques, and characteristics of traditional construction that could make such a valuable contribution to the industry today. The inclusion of a close study of how these methods relate to British building regulations makes this book a practical guide for construction professionals, as well as an authoritative resource for students and policy-makers.

The Philosophy of Sustainable Design

The Philosophy of Sustainable Design PDF Author: Jason F. McLennan
Publisher: Ecotone Publishing
ISBN: 9780974903309
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The author outlines the major ideas and issues that have emerged in the growing movement of green architecture and sustainable design over the last thirty years. The book asks individuals to understand how the philosophy of sustainable design can affect their own work.