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Environ Dev Sustain (2012) 14:6783 DOI 10.1007/s10668-011-9309-5
Waseem Ahmad Colin L. Soskolne Tanvir Ahmed
Received: 8 March 2011 / Accepted: 26 May 2011 / Published online: 10 June 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
Abstract This paper focuses on identied challenges for sustainable development across various sectors and the actions needed by different institutions and individuals for the achievement of a sustainable path. For nding solutions that impede sustainable development, emphasis is given to collaborative, inter- and trans-disciplinary problem-solving approaches. The ecological modernization view is based on the belief that science and technology will result in continuous improvement in human welfare, while the emerging postmodern ecological paradigm also emphasizes harmony with nature and other actors. Global societies are in the midst of a number of challenges: (1) implementation of existing and new hard- and soft-law instruments, (2) the degradation of natural resources, (3) an inadequate global mechanism for handling environmental and social responsibilities by the international community, (4) an unbalanced distribution of wealth, locally and internationally, (5) unethical and unsustainable business practices, (6) consequent unethical and unsustainable consumer practices, (7) selective application of ethical principles by rich countries and (8) the absence of norms of good conduct by powerful and wealthy peoples pertaining to sustainable development. Governments, civil societies, academicians, indigenous peoples, communities, businesses and international organizations need to become engaged in the formulation and enforcement of environmentally and ecologically
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W. Ahmad (&)
Department of Rural Economy, University of Alberta, 515 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canadae-mail: [email protected]
C. L. Soskolne
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-12 University Terrace, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4, Canadae-mail: [email protected]
T. Ahmed
Department of Economics, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan e-mail: [email protected]
Strategic thinking on sustainability: challenges and sectoral roles
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sound development policies along with relevant research, education, training, awareness and a change in social values as provided in the Earth Charter to support actions for sustainable development.
Keywords Sustainable development Challenges Strategies Actions Values
1 Introduction: the scope of the challenges before us
The integration of environmental conservation with human progress has become one of the...