pelicanweblogo2010

Mother Pelican
A Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability

Vol. 9, No. 3, March 2013
Luis T. Gutiérrez, Editor
Home Page

motherpelicanlogo2012


Advances in Sustainable Development

SUMMARY & OUTLINE

This supplement attempts to be a radar screen for recent/emerging/forthcoming advances in sustainable development. In selecting items for this supplementary page, priority is given to information about publications and tools with an educational and human-centric focus. This update includes the following reminders that sustainable development has a human face:

1. Suggestions for Prayer, Study, and Action
2. News, Publications, Tools, and Conferences
3. Advances in Sustainable Development
4. Advances in Integral Human Development
5. Advances in Integrated Sustainable Development
6. Sustainability Games, Databases, and Knowledgebases
7. Sustainable Development Measures and Indicators
8. Sustainable Development Modeling and Simulation
9. Fostering Sustainability in the International Community
Note: Items in this page are updated as information is received and as time permits. If the reader knows about new pubs/tools that should be announced in this page, please write to the Editor.

1. Suggestions for Prayer, Study, and Action

PRAYER

PRAYER FOR WISDOM AND COURAGE IN TIMES OF CRISIS

God/ess of wisdom, mercy, and might,
Grant me this day
The courage to change those things I can,
The serenity to accept those things I cannot change –
And above all, the wisdom to know the difference.


Adapted from the Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

STUDY

NEW BOOK ON ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES

IkerdBookCover.jpg
LINK TO THE BOOK WEBSITE
BOOK SUMMARY: "The recent global financial crisis has raised widespread concern for the sustainability of the global economy. Much has been written concerning the negative impacts of economic development on natural ecosystems and civil societies. Unfortunately, few viable alternatives to the prevailing economic paradigms have been suggested for consideration. Those that have been are typically little more than suggestions for fine tuning capitalist or socialist economies. In his new book, John Ikerd addresses the basic principles and concepts essential to economic sustainability. Some of these concepts are capitalist, some are socialistic, and others are general principles validated by philosophy or common sense. What results is a synthesis: something that is neither capitalist nor socialist but fundamentally different; it is sustainable. A special emphasis is placed on the essential, but limited, role of markets in economic sustainability, including the constraints that must be placed on markets to protect nature and society from economic exploitation. Readers of any political and ideological persuasion will find this brief book engaging, informative, optimistic and refreshing. Instead of threats and apocalyptic pronouncements, Ikerd offers possibilities and assurance. Instead of epithets hurled at opponents, Ikerd offers possibilities for reconciliation and a renewed sense of the need to work cooperatively to find solutions to the most urgent problems of our era."

ACTION

TO WORK FOR JUSTICE IS TO WORK FOR PEACE

EarthDay22April2013
LINK TO EARTH DAY 2013
EARTH DAY
22 APRIL 2013
"The Face of Climate Change"

What have I done for Climate Justice?
What am I doing for Climate Justice?
What shall I do for Climate Justice?


2. News, Publications, Tools, and Conferences

NEWS

cooltexticonnews


Energy and Climate News


BURN Energy Journal


Environmental News Network


Planet Ark
World Environmental News


World News Network


Mother Earth News


Climate Action News


World Technology News


Sustainable Development Media


World Pulse


SustainabiliTank


Environmental Science & Technology


AlterNet


EcoWatch


WiserEarth News


New Internationalist


The Global Journal


Trade & Environment Nexus


Yes! Magazine


Human Development News


Science Daily
Earth & Climate News
Sustainability News
Science & Society News


International Institute for
Sustainable Development (IISD)
Reporting Services

Policy-Strategy Coverage

Sustainable Development Policy & Practice
Sustainable Development - Small Islands
Biodiversity Policy & Practice
Climate Change Policy & Practice
Energy Policy Issues
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Earth Negotiations Bulletin

Theme Coverage

Sustainable Development
Biodiveristy & Wildlife
Chemicals Management
Climate & Atmosphere
Forests - Deserts - Land
Human Development
Intergovernmental Organizations
Trade & Investment
Water - Oceand - Wetlands

Regional Coverage

Africa
Asia
Europe
Lating America & Caribbean
Near East
North America
South West Pacific

Rio+20 Coverage

UNCSDRIOPLUS20
Sustainable Development Conference
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4-6 June 2012


United Nations News Service
Rio+20: Making it Happen
UN Sustainable Development News
UN Gender Equality News


Value News Network


Catholic News Service


Anglican Communion News Service


Ekklesia Christian News Bulletin


Religion News Service


LiveScience News


Inter Press Service (PSI)


Triple Bottom Line
CSR News


The Progress Report


Global Health News


Kosmos Journal


ELDIS NEWSFEEDS

Eldis Development Newsfeeds

General - all subjects

Newsfeeds by Subject

Ageing populations
Agriculture
Aid and debt
Children and young people
Climate Change
Climate adaptation
Conflict
Corporate responsibility
Education
Environment
Finance policy
Food security
Gender
Globalisation
Governance
HIV and AIDS
Health
Health systems
ICT for development
Influencing policy
Jobs
Jobs, Events and Announcements
Livelihoods
MDGs
Manuals and toolkits
Migration
Participation
Poverty
Trade policy

Newsfeeds by Region

Africa
East Asia and Pacific
Latin America and Caribbean
Middle East and North Africa
South Asia

PUBLICATIONS

cooltexticonpubs


The Wealth Report 2013
Knight Frank, March 2013


Environmental Pressures from European
Consumption and Production

EEA, 4 March 2013


Eco-justice Impacts and Opportunities
NCC, 1 March 2013


Environmental Decisions
in the Face of Uncertainty

NAS, 2013


A World Connected:
Globalization in the 21st Century

Nayan Chanda & Susan Froetschel, Editors
YaleGlobal, 1 February 2013


Corruption Perceptions Index 2012
Transparency International, 28 January 2013


USA National Climate Assessment
Executive Summary
Full Report
USGCRP NCADAC, January 2013


Global Risks 2013
World Economic Forum, January 2013


Renewables Global Futures Report
REN21, January 2013


A Framework for Sustainable Development
Draft, UN SDSN, 19 December 2012


Closing the Gender Gap: Act Now
OECD, 17 December 2012


Global Energy Assessment (GEA)
WBGU, Germany, 12 December 2012


Guidebook to the Green Economy:
Common Green Economy Principles

UNDESA, November 2012


Climate & Development Research Review
CKND Global, 13 November 2012


Global Education Digest 2012
UNESCO, November 2012


Global Gender Gap Report 2012
World Economic Forum, November 2012


Back to Our Common Future
UN, SD21 Project, September 2012


Feeding a Thirsty World:
Challenges and Opportunities
for a Water and Food Secure Future

Stockholm International Water Institute, 2012


Climate Action Book 2011-2012
Climate Action/UNEP, 2012


Early Warning Systems
UNEP, 2012


2012 World Population Data Sheet
Population Reference Bureau, 20 July 2012


Trends in Global CO2 Emissions:
2012 Report

PBL Netherlands, 18 July 2012


Pervasive Gloom About the World Economy
Pew Research Center, 12 July 2012


Inside Stories on
Climate Compatible Development

CDKN, July 2012


Inclusive Wealth Report 2012
UN IHDP, June 2012


The Future We Want
UNCSD, 22 June 2012


Renewables 2012 Global Status Report
REN21, 11 June 2012


Beyond 2012:
The Future We Want “To Create”

UN CSD Education Caucus
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 2012


Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5)
UNEP, 6 June 2012


Inclusive Green Growth:
the Pathway to Sustainable Development

World Bank, May 2012


Inclusive Green Growth
in Latin America & the Caribbean

World Bank, May 2012


Ending the Suffering of Millions of Women
UnCUT Voices Press, May 2012


Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices for 2011

US Dept of State, May 2012


International Economic Trends
FRB St. Louis, May 2012


World of Work Report 2012:
Better Jobs for a Better Economy

ILO, May 2012


Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas
IEA, May 2012


Ecosystem Services:
Charting a Path to Sustainability

NAS, May 2012


Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development
ISFD Brochure, ISDB, May 2012


Global Integrity Report 2011
Global Integrity, 7 April 2012


World Development Indicators 2012
World Bank, April 2012


Tracking Clean Energy Progress
IEA, 25 April 2012


Global Monitoring Report 2012:
Food Prices, Nutrition, and the
Millennium Development Goals

Peggy Garvin, World Bank, April 2012


Measuring Financial Inclusion:
The Global Findex Database

Heather Negley, World Bank, April 2012


2012 Global Cities Index
and Emerging Cities Outlook

Peggy Garvin, World Bank, April 2012


GLAAS 2012 Report:
UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment
of Sanitation and Drinking-Water

Adrian Janes, WHO, 15 April 2012


Global Report for Research
on Infectious Diseases of Poverty

TDR WHO, April 2012


A strategy for restoring confidence
and economic growth through green
investment and innovation

Dimitri Zenghelis
Grantham Research Institute
in Climate Change and the Environment
London School of Economics, April 2012.


World Happiness Report 2012
Earth Institute, April 2012


Dimensions:
The human factor in the
global environmental debate

IHDP UNU, Spring 2012


Map of the Global Transition
to a New Economy

GTNE, 17 March 2012


World Atlas of
Gender Equality in Education

UNESCO, 8 March 2012


Electricity from Renewables
ECLAREON, Berlin, 13 March 2012


Themed Edition on
The Geography of Sustainabilty
Journal of Sustainability Education, March 2012


Role of Policy and Institutions
in Local Adaptation to Climate Change

ICIMOD, March 2012


Global Outlook on Sustainable
Consumption and Production (SCP) Policies

UNEP, March 2012


Sustainable Insight:
Expect the Unexpected

KPMG, February 2012


State of the World’s Children 2012:
Children in an Urban World

UNICEF, 27 February 2012


Greening Development:
Enhancing Capacity for Environmental
Management and Governance
,
OECD, 10 February 2012


World Development Report 2012:
Gender Equality and Development
,
The World Bank, 2012


Development without Carbon as Climate Policy,
Elizabeth A. Stanton, Stockholm Environment Institute, January 2012


Sustainable Energy for All:
A Framework for Action
,
The Secretary-General’s High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All, January 2012


Green Energy for a Billion Poor,
Nancy Wimmer, World Council of Renewable Energy, 2012


RESCUE
(Responses to Environmental & Societal
Challenges for our Unstable Earth)
Synthesis Report
,
European Science Foundation,
Brussels, 16 February 2012


Research and Education:
Drivers of Transformation
,
German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), Berlin, February 2012


Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5), UNEP, 6 June 2012"> Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5),
Summary for Policy Makers,
UNEP, 20 February 2012


The State of Renewable Energies in Europe,
Adrian Janes, EurObserv'ER, 20 February 2012


21 Issues for the 21st Century:
UNEP Foresight Report
,
Peggy Garvin, United Nations, 20 February 2012


2012 Environmental Performance Index
EPI, Yale University, 26 January 2012


Resolving the Food Crisis:
Assessing Global Policy Reforms
Since 2007

ITAP, 25 January 2012


Human Rights Watch World Report 2012
HRW, 24 January 2012


Global Employment Trends 2012:
Preventing a deeper jobs crisis

ILO, 24 January 2012


ASEAN in the Global Economy:
An Enhanced Economic and Political Role

ERIA, 23 January 2012


Global Go-To Think Tanks Report 2011
TTCSP, 19 January 2011


Global Economic Prospects 2012
World Bank, 18 January 2012


World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012
United Nations, 18 January 2012


Ecumenical Women Advocacy Guide
Ecumenical Women, 10 January 2012


Human Rights Report 2011
Odhikar, Bangladesh, 7 January 2012


Global Risks 2012
World Economic Forum, January 2012


Poor People's Energy Outlook 2012:
Energy for earning a living

Practical Action, January 2012


Climate Change and Development Strategy
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), January 2012
One Pager ~ Full Report


TOOLS & DATABASES

cooltexticontools


Renewable Energy Interactive Map
REN21, January 2013


Global Transition to a New Economy
Interactive Map

New Economics Institute, January 2013


Map of Climate Think Tanks
ICCG, January 2013


Sustainability SWOT Analysis Tool
WRI, December 2012


Energy Access Interactive Tool
IIASA, September 2012


Long Range Energy Alternatives
Planning System (LEAP)

SEI Energy Community, July 2012


Industrial Efficiency Policy Database
IETD, July 2012


Technology Cost Database for Renewables
NREL, July 2012


Mapping the Global Transition
to a New Economy

New Economics Institute
July 2012


Open Source Software for
Crowdsourcing for Energy Analysis

UNIDO, June 2012


Planet under Pressure 2012
Debate Graph


Adaptation Support Tool


Nitrogen Footprint Calculator


Terra Populus:
Integrated Data on
Population and Environment

NSF & University of Minnesota
March 2012


2012 Environmental Performance Index
Interactive Map & Database

EPI, Yale University, January 2012


Environmental Data Explorer


Clean Energy Information Portal


Mapping the Impacts of Climate Change


Eye on Earth
Global Mapping

EEA, December 2011


Database of Actions on Adaptation
to Climate Change

UNFCCC, December 2011


Climate Scoreboard
Climate Interactive, 2011


REN21 Renewables Interactive Map
REN21, 2011


Calculator of the
Carbon Footprint of Nations

NTNU, 2011


Geospatial Toolkit (GsT) for
Integrated Resource Assessment

NREL, November 2011


Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL)
Stockholm Environment Institute
November 2011


Global Adaptation Index
Global Adaptation Institute
Fall 2011


Gridded Population of the World
CIESIN, Columbia University, 2011


The New eAtlas of Gender
World Bank, 2011


Statistics and Tools
for Gender Analysis

World Bank, 2011


Gender Statistics Database
World Bank, 2011


Live World Data
The Venus Project, 2011


RETScreen
Clean Energy Analysis Software

RETScreen International, 2011


IGES CDM Methodology Parameter Data
IGES, 2011


IGES Emission Reductions Calculation Sheet
IGES, 2011


OECD Sustainable Manufacturing Toolkit
OECD, 2011


OECD Family Database


OECD Social Expenditure Database


Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services
and Tradeoffs (InVEST)

Version 2.1, Natural Capital Project, 2011
FREE DOWNLOAD


Interactive Map and Rankings for the 2011 Failed States Index
Foreign Policy and Fund for Peace, August 2011


Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
NASA & Columbia University


IGES GHG Database
IGES


Emission Factors Database
Ecometrica


Renewables Interactive Map
REN21


FICAT
Forestry Industry Carbon Assessment Tool
Green Resources, Tanzania


ACEGES
Agent-based Computational Economics
of the Global Energy System


Climate Hot Map
Union of Concerned Scientists


Solar Thermal Barometer
EurObserv-ER


BioCarbonTracker
Ecometrica


FORMA
Forest Monitoring for Action
CGDEV


WEAP
Water Evaluation And Planning System
WEAP21


GLTN
Global Land Tool Network
UN-HABITAT


UN-Energy Knowledge Network
including
Multi-dimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI)
and Energy Development Index (EDI)
UNIDO


Measuring Energy Poverty
Visualization Platform

STATPLANET & UNIDO


United Nations Data
UN Statistics Database
UN MDG Indicators
UN Human Development Index (HDI)


Humanity's Footprint Data
Ecological Footprint
Footprint for Nations
Footprint for Cities
Footprint for Business
Carbon Footprint
Personal Footprint
Footprint & Biodiversity
Footprint & Human Development


Earth Policy Institute Data Sets
Population, Health, and Society
Natural Systems
Climate Change
Energy Resources
Transportation Systems
Food and Agriculture
Economics & Development


World Bank
World Development Indicators (WDI)


ZACAT-GESIS
Data for the Social Sciences


STAR Database Beta-Test Now in Process
Invitation to Participate

Links Government Investment,
Science, Technology,
Firms, and Employment


Sustainable Society Index
Interactive Map


Interactive Mapping of
Population and Climate Change

Population Action International


Global Advocates Toolbox
Population Action International


Teaching and Learning
for a Sustainable Future:
Dissemination and Training Toolbox

UNESCO Education for
Sustainable Development


Economic Input-Output
Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA)

Green Design Institute
Carnegie Mellon University


CONFERENCES & JOURNALS

cooltexticonconf


Conference Alerts
Find Conferences Worldwide
by Topic, Country, or Keywords.



Calls for Papers
Find Calls for Papers Worldwide
by Specialization, Country, or Keywords.



Journal Articles
The latest Tables of Contents
from thousands of scholarly journals
Search by journal title, ISNN, or keywords


Selected Announcements


21st Annual Conference
of Human Dignity
and Humiliation Studies

Cape Town, South Africa
24-28 April 2013


Twelfth North American
Basic income Guarantee Congress

NABIG, 8-10 May 2013


First International Congress
on Energy & Environment

ICEE, Porto, Portugal, 9-11 May 2013


4th International Conference
on Sustainability Transitions

Zurich, Switzerland, 19-21 June 2013


31st International Conference
of the System Dynamics Society">
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 21-25 July 2013


The Earth is the Lord’s:
Renewing the Covenant of Creation

Chester, UK, 15-18 July 2013


European And Latin American Conference
On Climate Change Management

Antigua, Guatemala, Central America
29-30 August 2013


CFP on Gender and Society
SOCREL, 1 september 2013
CONTACT     SUBMISSIONS


EfS 2013:
Sustainable Cities:
Designing for People and the Planet

Coimbra, Portugal, 8-10 September 2013


ESSA 2013:
9th Conference of the
European Social Simulation Association

Warsaw School of Economics,
Warsaw, Poland, 16-20 September 2013

3. Advances in Sustainable Development

ENBIISDHEADER.jpg

"In a lecture delivered at Stanford University, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the current state of the world and "the future we must shape together." He outlined three ways to navigate our way through this "Great Transition," namely by advancing sustainable development, helping people meet their aspirations for democracy and dignity, and empowering women and young people.

On the sustainable development challenge, Ban underscored that he has made sustainable development the leading priority of the UN. He stressed the need to urgently "change course" to build the clean energy, low-carbon

"At the current rate, we will soon need two planet earths. But we have only one planet. There can be no Plan B because there is no planet B. Both science and economics tell us that we need to change course – and soon."

economy of tomorrow that will address the challenge of climate change. Noting the size of the economy of California, he noted that the state has "a special role" to play in spurring the on-going climate negotiations in order to reach a global, legally binding agreement on climate by 2015.

Ban also mentioned his Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4ALL), stressing that California can contribute to efforts made to reach the goals set by the Initiative, namely to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double energy efficiency, and double the renewable energy share in the overall global energy mix. In concluding, Ban stated that "this time of Great Transition is also a period of great opportunity." [UN Secretary-General's Statement] [UN Press Release]

4. Advances in Integral Human Development

HDR2013COVER.png
HDR 2013 ANNOUNCEMENT
2013 Human Development Report

"The next Human Development Report – “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World” – will be published in March 2013. The 2013 Human Development Report will examine the profound shift in global dynamics that is being driven by the fast-rising powers of the developing world - and the implications of this phenomenon for human development.

"China has already overtaken Japan as the world’s second biggest economy, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty in the process. India is actively reshaping its future with entrepreneurial creativity and social policy innovation. Brazil has become another engine of growth for the South, while reducing inequality at home through antipoverty programs that are emulated worldwide. Turkey, Thailand, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia and other dynamic developing nations are also leading actors on the world stage today, offering important policy lessons and valuable new partnerships for the South as a whole, including today’s least developed countries."

Read more ...

5. Advances in Integrated Sustainable Development

The latest from James Gustave Speth:


The latest from Yale University:

Summer Symposium on
Religion and Environmental Stewardship
5-7 June 2012.

Go to PDF with LARGE IMAGE

GLOBAL GROWTH TRENDS
GlobalGrowthTrends233x296.jpg
Source: Yale Religion & Ecology Forum

RECENT UPDATES ON "LIMITS TO GROWTH"

What was the real message of "Limits to Growth"?

Source: Club of Rome Videos and YouTube

COMPARISON OF "LIMITS TO GROWTH" SCENARIOS WITH FRAGMENTS OF RECENT TRENDS
LTG1972PBL2009.jpg
Source: Growing within Limits: A Report to the Global Assembly 2009 of the Club of Rome
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), 2009

See the webcast of the symposium on
Limits to Growth: Challenges to Building a Sustainable Planet
Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1 March 2012

The Influence of Donella Meadows and the Limits to Growth
Rob Dietz, The Daly News, 30 March 2012

MIT Predicts Half of Humanity to Be Culled in Post-Industrial Crash
Aaron Dykes, Real News Reporter, 10 April 2012

Has Civilization Passed the Environmental Point of No Return?
Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 23 May 2012

2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years
A Report to the Club of Rome
Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of The Limits to Growth
by Jorgen Randers, Chelsea Green, July 2012

6. Sustainability Games, Databases, and Knowledgebases

Land Temperature Anomaly Video
Berkeley Earth

Berkeley Earth video representation of the land surface temperature anomaly, 1800 to the present. The map of the world shows the temperature anomaly by location over time. The chart at the bottom, shows the global land-surface temperature anomaly. The Berkeley Earth analysis shows 0.911 degrees Centigrade of land warming (+/- 0.042 C) since the 1950s.


Source: Berkeley Earth and YouTube

7. Sustainable Development Measures and Indicators

2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
Switzerland Ranks at Top of the 2012 EPI
and Latvia Takes #1 Spot in New Trend EPI Rankings
Ysella Yoder, Yale University, 26 January 2012

EPI2012COVER.jpg

The Summary for Policymakers provides a quick look at the EPI framework and methodology,
and summarizes the overall EPI and Pilot Trend EPI rankings, results, and conclusions.

FORTHCOMING: New Global Green Economy Index, Dual Citizen Inc (September 2012)

8. Sustainable Development Modeling and Simulation

The graph below is a simple simulation of
world population, gross production/consumption, and energy availability trends:

SDSIM2.0.5.8.BAU.jpg
As of EOY 2011, World Population = 7 Billion, World GDP = 61 Trillion PPP Dollars,
World Energy Use = 0.5 Zeta Joules (or approx 82 billion barrels of oil), and
Average Consumption per Capita = 9000 Dollars

The simulation tipping points would seem to approximate current trends. If the supply of usable energy from fossil fuels peaks and declines as shown by the green curve, how much energy would have to be generated from other sources to support the current GDP output? Even for the sake of social solidarity and ecological sustainability, would most people in the "developed" nations be able/willing to "survive" with $9000/year?

The past cannot be changed, and the future is unknown, but there is empirical evidence to the effect that:

1. Fossil fuel resources are high in energy content but are not infinite.
2. Fossil fuel emissions are environmentally detrimental and/or potentially unsafe.
3. Currently known clean energy alternatives offer relatively low energy content.
Given that fossil fuels are being depleted, pollution levels are damaging the environment, and clean energy alternatives may not provide enough energy to sustain industrial economies, is it wise to just continue doing "business as usual" and trusting that some earthshaking technological breakthrough will come to pass soon enough? Is it fair for people in the "developed" nations to keep indulging in energy consumption and waste while approx. one billion people must subsist on $2 per day or less?

9. Fostering Sustainability in the International Community


UN launches
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
to help find solutions to global problems

The scale of the global sustainable development challenge is unprecedented. The fight against extreme poverty has made great progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but more than 1 billion people continue to live in extreme poverty. Inequality and social exclusion are widening within most countries. With the world at 7 billion people and current annual GDP of US$70 trillion, human impacts on the environment have already reached dangerous levels. As the world population is estimated to rise to 9 billion by 2050
SDSN2012BANNER.png
and global GDP to more than US$200 trillion, the world urgently needs a framework for sustainable development that addresses the challenges of ending poverty, increasing social inclusion, and sustaining the planet.

Under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, and in line with the recently launched High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was announced on August 9, 2012 and will provide global, open and inclusive support to sustainable-development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. The SDSN will work together with United Nations agencies, other international organizations, and the multilateral funding institutions including the World Bank and regional development banks, to mobilize scientific and technical expertise to scale up the magnitude and quality of local, national and global problem solving, helping to identify solutions and highlighting best practices in the design of long-term development pathways.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network: Mobilizing scientific and technical expertise for local, national, and global problem solving

Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General on the MDGs, will direct the project with the core aim of creating an open, inclusive, and world-class global network of expertise and problem solving. The network will comprise mainly universities and scientific research institutes, but will also tap technical expertise within technology companies, science foundations and academies of sciences and engineering. Columbia University's Earth Institute will serve as the Secretariat for the Network.

The global network will accelerate joint learning and help to overcome the compartmentalization of technical and policy work by promoting integrated approaches to the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

The network should therefore spawn a new kind of sustained problem solving, in which experts, leaders, and citizens in all parts of the world work together to identify, demonstrate, and implement the most promising paths to sustainable development.

PRESS RELEASE: View the full text of the press release

OPERATIONAL LAUNCH: The SDSN website will launch September 1, 2012.

POINT OF CONTACT: Erin Trowbridge, trowbridge@ei.columbia.edu

UNITED NATIONS
Sustainable Energy for All
INITIATIVE

Three broad objectives to be achieved by 2030:

  • Ensuring universal access to modern energy services
  • Doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency
  • Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
  • Sustainable Energy for All: Actions and Commitments

    UNSEFA2030
    Sustainable Energy for All

    UNITED NATIONS
    Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5)
    Summary Report, UNEP, 20 February 2012
    Full Report, UNEP, 6 June 2012

    Three highest priorities:

  • Aligning governance to the challenges of global sustainability
  • Transforming human capabilities for the 21st century
  • Ensuring food safety and food security for 9 billion people

  • GEO5UNEP2012.jpg
    Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5)


    |Back to SUMMARY & OUTLINE|

    Page 1      Page 2      Page 3      Page 4      Page 5      Page 6      Page 7      Page 8      Page 9

    Supplement 1      Supplement 2      Supplement 3      Supplement 4      Supplement 5      Supplement 6

    PelicanWeb Home Page

    Bookmark and Share

    "If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred."

    Walt Whitman – The Children of Adam (1872)

    GROUP COMMANDS AND WEBSITES

    Write to the Editor
    Send email to Subscribe
    Send email to Unsubscribe
    Link to the Google Groups Website
    Link to the PelicanWeb Home Page

    CREATIVE
    COMMONS
    LICENSE
    Creative Commons License
    ISSN 2165-9672

    Supplement 1      

    FREE SUBSCRIPTION

    [groups_small]

    Subscribe to the
    Mother Pelican Journal
    via the Solidarity-Sustainability Group

    Enter your email address: