Download or read book Restoring Sustainability in a Changing Global Environment written by Olivier Basdevant and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2013-02-01 with total page 61 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Kingdom of Swaziland (hereinafter “Swaziland”) is a small, open economy bordering Mozambique and South Africa with a population of 1.1 million people. It is a landlocked country with an economy heavily dependent on concentrates, sugar exports, and tourism, and with more than 80 percent of its imports originating from South Africa. Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and has increasingly relied on SACU transfers in the last few years as a source of fiscal revenue and foreign exchange receipts. Its currency, the lilangeni, is pegged at parity with the South African rand under the Common Monetary Area. The rand is also legal tender in Swaziland. After two difficult fiscal years, Swaziland has regained fiscal space with a sharp increase in transfers from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The deficits accumulated during these two fiscal years (13.4 and 6.0 percent of GDP in 2011/12 and 2012/13, respectively) led to: (i) a significant drawdown of gross official reserves at the central bank, (ii) significant domestic borrowing, and (iii) an accumulation of domestic payment arrears, estimated at E 1.6 billion (5.4 percent of GDP) at end-March 2012. Arrears affected largely pension funds and government suppliers (each account for about 40 percent of the total stock of arrears). As a result, real GDP growth is projected to contract by 1.5 percent in 2012, mostly because of the accumulated arrears, a stagnant credit to the private sector, and weak confidence in Swaziland fiscal and external sustainability. With SACU transfers increasing from about 10 percent of GDP in 2011/12 to 22.5 percent in 2012/13, some fiscal space was regained. The windfall revenue has been used to repay an advance taken by the central bank and to reduce arrears by E 250 million as of end-September 2012. An additional E 720 million in arrears to the public pension fund have been restructured into a three-year loan. Higher SACU transfers have also improved external balances by reducing the current account deficit and increasing central bank reserves. Reserves are broadly adequate at E 6.0 billion (3.1 months of imports) at end-November 2012, a significant improvement from the E 3.7 billion recorded at end-March 2012.

Download or read book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster written by Bill Gates and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2021-02-16 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.

Download or read book Global Environment Outlook GEO 6 Healthy Planet Healthy People written by UN Environment and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-05-31 with total page 744 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published to coincide with the Fourth United Nations Environmental Assembly, UN Environment's sixth Global Environment Outlook calls on decision makers to take bold and urgent action to address pressing environmental issues in order to protect the planet and human health. By bringing together hundreds of scientists, peer reviewers and collaborating institutions and partners, the GEO reports build on sound scientific knowledge to provide governments, local authorities, businesses and individual citizens with the information needed to guide societies to a truly sustainable world by 2050. GEO-6 outlines the current state of the environment, illustrates possible future environmental trends and analyses the effectiveness of policies. This flagship report shows how governments can put us on the path to a truly sustainable future - emphasising that urgent and inclusive action is needed to achieve a healthy planet with healthy people. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Download or read book Our Common Journey written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1999-11-09 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World human population is expected to reach upwards of 9 billion by 2050 and then level off over the next half-century. How can the transition to a stabilizing population also be a transition to sustainability? How can science and technology help to ensure that human needs are met while the planet's environment is nurtured and restored? Our Common Journey examines these momentous questions to draw strategic connections between scientific research, technological development, and societies' efforts to achieve environmentally sustainable improvements in human well being. The book argues that societies should approach sustainable development not as a destination but as an ongoing, adaptive learning process. Speaking to the next two generations, it proposes a strategy for using scientific and technical knowledge to better inform future action in the areas of fertility reduction, urban systems, agricultural production, energy and materials use, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, and suggests an approach for building a new research agenda for sustainability science. Our Common Journey documents large-scale historical currents of social and environmental change and reviews methods for "what if" analysis of possible future development pathways and their implications for sustainability. The book also identifies the greatest threats to sustainabilityâ€"in areas such as human settlements, agriculture, industry, and energyâ€"and explores the most promising opportunities for circumventing or mitigating these threats. It goes on to discuss what indicators of change, from children's birth-weights to atmosphere chemistry, will be most useful in monitoring a transition to sustainability.

Download or read book The Heart of Sustainability written by Andres Edwards and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2015-11-01 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A thriving life and livable future for our planet starts with you. Amidst the doom and gloom that dominates the headlines, a different kind of story about an alternative and sustainable future is unfolding. The players are social activists, visionaries, revolutionaries, and cultural innovators, the backdrop is this Anthropocene: the tipping point of our global and environmental challenges, and the narrative is the molding of a new paradigm to shape our collective future, and make environmental change. The Heart of Sustainability delves into the human dimension of this burgeoning international movement with an aim to become climate activists and build a better world. Author Andrés Edwards frames the conversation about consciousness, activism, innovation, and sustainability by: Explaining how self-development is a key driver for environmental planetary change Describing how the confluence of the consciousness and technological revolutions provide unique opportunities for balance and fulfillment Exploring how we can move forward individually and collectively to create a thriving, livable future from the inside out, during this Anthropocene. This landmark work illustrates the integration of the four Es: ecology, economy, equity, and education—the bedrock of the current sustainability framework-with the four Cs : conscious, creative, compassionate, and connected. Focusing on specific examples and concrete initiatives from social activists around the world, it shows us how to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and nature in order to tackle the climate change challenges we face as a global community. Andrés R. Edwards is the author of the award-winning Thriving Beyond Sustainability and The Sustainability Revolution . He is also the founder and president of EduTracks, a firm specializing education programs and consulting services on sustainable practices for museums, zoos, aquariums, culture and history centers.

Download or read book Role of Green Chemistry in Ecosystem Restoration to Achieve Environmental Sustainability written by Arun Lal Srivastav and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2023-11-24 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Role of Green Chemistry in Ecosystem Restoration to Achieve Environmental Sustainability deals with current challenges of environmental problems along with the approaches of environmental sustainability in alliance with green chemistry. The book shows how to lessen the impact on the environment by maintaining a balance between society, the environment, and the economy, all of which are regarded as fundamental pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, policymakers and scholars will gain insights into how to develop and explore innovative techniques for achieving sustainable development goals. This book is unique in the field of environmental sustainability, as it is based on green chemistry concepts. Addresses root causes of prominent environmental problems, including environmental management, water sustainability and agricultural sustainability Discusses recent knowledge about the concepts of environmental sustainability Highlights various approaches of green chemistry to achieve sustainable development goals

Download or read book Ecological Restoration and Environmental Change written by Stuart K. Allison and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-07-26 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is a natural habitat? Who can define what is natural when species and ecosystems constantly change over time, with or without human intervention? When a polluted river or degraded landscape is restored from its damaged state, what is the appropriate outcome? With climate change now threatening greater disruption to the stability of ecosystems, how should restoration ecologists respond? Ecological Restoration and Environmental Change addresses and challenges some of these issues which question the core values of the science and practice of restoration ecology. It analyzes the paradox arising from the desire to produce ecological restorations that fit within an historical ecological context, produce positive environmental benefits and also result in landscapes with social meaning. Traditionally restorationists often felt that by producing restorations that matched historic ecosystems they were following nature's plans and human agency played only a small part in restoration. But the author shows that in reality the process of restoration has always been defined by human choices. He examines the development of restoration practice, especially in North America, Europe and Australia, in order to describe different models of restoration with respect to balancing ecological benefit and cultural value. He develops ways to balance more actively these differing areas of concern while planning restorations. The book debates in detail how coming global climate change and the development of novel ecosystems will force us to ask new questions about what we mean by good ecological restoration. When the environment is constantly shifting, restoration to maintain biodiversity, local species, and ecosystem functions becomes even more challenging. It is likely that in the future ecological restoration will become a never-ending, continuously evolving process.

Download or read book SUSTAINABLE in a CIRCULAR WORLD written by Peggy Smedley and published by Specialty Publishing. This book was released on 2020-12-19 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable in a Circular World: design and restore natural ecosystems through innovationThe world needs to move from grey to green, fueled by design techniques that are sustainable in a circular economy. Sustainability intentionally maximizes the environmental, social, governance, and digital actions to fully engage its potential around a long-term motivational direction. These three components environmental, social, and financial come together to build up the digital age and lead to transformation, creating real change in society. Understanding the generational differences will help close the gap that exists when discussing rebuilding the damage that has occurred to the Earth's natural environmental since the Industrial Revolution. Communicating and getting everyone on the same pages requires a deep understanding of all the players and helping each individual, company, and country, be heard while having their objectives met.This book takes a deep dive into: -The forces shaping sustainability including generational differences, social connections, and circularity.-A historical look at the technological revolution including the Amazon Effect, Prime, showrooming, ship it my way, among others.-The basics of sustainability including sustainability 101, governance, ESG three pillars, stewardship across generations, the supply chain, the Paris Agreement, generative families, giving back to the community, the Microsoft Way, and going global.-Case studies in industries such as mining, construction, services, smart cities, and agriculture.

Download or read book Reclaiming Nature written by James K. Boyce and published by Anthem Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores the relationship between the environment, human activity and social justice.

Download or read book Ecological Restoration in International Environmental Law written by Anastasia Telesetsky and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2016-12-01 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Human activities are depleting ecosystems at an unprecedented rate. In spite of nature conservation efforts worldwide, many ecosystems including those critical for human well-being have been damaged or destroyed. States and citizens need a new vision of how humans can reconnect with the natural environment. With its focus on the long-term holistic recovery of ecosystems, ecological restoration has received increasing attention in the past decade from both scientists and policymakers. Research on the implications of ecological restoration for the law and law for ecological restoration has been largely overlooked. This is the first published book to examine comprehensively the relationship between international environmental law and ecological restoration. While international environmental law (IEL) has developed significantly as a discipline over the past four decades, this book enquires whether IEL can now assist states in making a strategic transition from not just protecting and maintaining the natural environment but also actively restoring it. Arguing that states have international duties to restore, this book offers reflections on the philosophical context of ecological restoration and the legal content of a duty to restore from an international law, European Union law and national law perspective. The book concludes with a discussion of several contemporary themes of interest to both lawyers and ecologists including the role of private actors, protected areas and climate change in ecological restoration.

Download or read book Our Once and Future Planet written by Paddy Woodworth and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paddy Woodworth has spent years traveling the globe and talking with people--scientists, politicians, and ordinary citizens--who are working on the front lines of the battle against environmental degradation. At sites ranging from Mexico to New Zealand and Chicago to Cape Town, Woodworth shows us the striking successes (and a few humbling failures) of groups that are attempting to use cutting-edge science to restore blighted, polluted, and otherwise troubled landscapes to states of ecological health--and, in some of the most controversial cases, to particular moments in historical time, before widespread human intervention. His firsthand field reports and interviews with participants reveal the promise, power, and limitations of restoration. --from publisher description.

Download or read book Implementing Ecological Integrity written by Philippe Crabbé and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 494 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contains some of the papers which were presented at the NATO Science, Environmental Security, Advanced Research Workshop on "Implementing Ecological Integrity: Restoring Regional and Global Environmental and Human Health" held in Budapest from June 26 to July 1, 1999. All papers presented are summarized in the Introduction and, in some cases, shorter versions are published. A mUltidisciplinary core of American and Western European participants had met over the preceeding years to discuss the concept of ecological integrity. The term "ecological integrity" is found in environmental policy documents but, generally, is not defined. It competes with other recent terms, or environmental narratives, such as "ecosystem health" and "sustainable development" and also with older ones such as "conservation". Therefore, it is deemed important not only to sort out the definitions of these concepts but also to find out whether their practical implications differ. Moreover, it was interesting to find out whether participants from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and, more generally, from NATO partner countries would be, first, responsive to this concept and, second, would hold different views of it. This explains the broad, albeit not always consistent, range oftopics which are covered in this book. The core group learned that CEEC and other NATO partners participants were responsive to the concept but that they were less exclusive of human influence.

Download or read book Research to Protect Restore and Manage the Environment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1993-02-01 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book assesses the strengths and weaknesses of current environmental research programs, describes the desirable characteristics of an effective program, and recommends cultural and organizational changes to improve the performance of environmental research. Research areas in need of greater emphasis are identified, and overall directions for environmental research are recommended. The book also comments on the proposal to establish a National Institute for the Environment and on the elevation of the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet status.

Download or read book Corruption and Governance in Africa written by Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr. and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-01-25 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume analyzes the corruption phenomenon in Africa and how to combat it from a governance perspective with illustrated case studies from three of the most corrupt of those nations covering, respectively, the Southern Africa region (Swaziland); the Eastern Africa region (Kenya); and the Western Africa region (Nigeria). Drawing on the available data, research literature, and field practice experience, the nature and extent of corruption are identified; the factors influencing the causes and determining the consequences of corruption are delineated; measures that have been put in place to control corruption are outlined and discussed; and new policy solutions are proposed and advocated to more effectively control the corruption menace in Africa.

Download or read book Routledge Handbook of Ecological and Environmental Restoration written by Stuart K. Allison and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-05-18 with total page 604 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecological restoration is a rapidly evolving discipline that is engaged with developing both methodologies and strategies for repairing damaged and polluted ecosystems and environments. During the last decade the rapid pace of climate change coupled with continuing habitat destruction and the spread of non-native species to new habitats has forced restoration ecologists to re-evaluate their goals and the methods they use. This comprehensive handbook brings together an internationally respected group of established and rising experts in the field. The book begins with a description of current practices and the state of knowledge in particular areas of restoration, and then identifies new directions that will help the field achieve increasing levels of future success. Part I provides basic background about ecological and environmental restoration. Part II systematically reviews restoration in key ecosystem types located throughout the world. In Part III, management and policy issues are examined in detail, offering the first comprehensive treatment of policy relevance in the field, while Part IV looks to the future. Ultimately, good ecological restoration depends upon a combination of good science, policy, planning and outreach – all issues that are addressed in this unrivalled volume.

Download or read book Regional Economic Outlook October 2016 Sub Saharan Africa written by International Monetary Fund. African Dept. and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2016-10-25 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa this year is set to drop to its lowest level in more than 20 years, reflecting the adverse external environment, and a lackluster policy response in many countries. However, the aggregate picture is one of multispeed growth: while most of non-resource-intensive countries—half of the countries in the region—continue to perform well, as they benefit from lower oil prices, an improved business environment, and continued strong infrastructure investment, most commodity exporters are under severe economic strains. This is particularly the case for oil exporters whose near-term prospects have worsened significantly in recent months. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a region of immense economic potential, but policy adjustment in the hardest-hit countries needs to be enacted promptly to allow for a growth rebound.

Download or read book Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration written by Dave Egan and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2012-09-26 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to implementing successful ecological restoration projects, the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions are often as important as-and sometimes more important than-technical or biophysical knowledge. Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration takes an interdisciplinary look at the myriad human aspects of ecological restoration. In twenty-six chapters written by experts from around the world, it provides practical and theoretical information, analysis, models, and guidelines for optimizing human involvement in restoration projects. Six categories of social activities are examined: collaboration between land manager and stakeholders ecological economics volunteerism and community-based restoration environmental education ecocultural and artistic practices policy and politics For each category, the book offers an introductory theoretical chapter followed by multiple case studies, each of which focuses on a particular aspect of the category and provides a perspective from within a unique social/political/cultural setting. Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration delves into the often-neglected aspects of ecological restoration that ultimately make the difference between projects that are successfully executed and maintained with the support of informed, engaged citizens, and those that are unable to advance past the conceptual stage due to misunderstandings or apathy. The lessons contained will be valuable to restoration veterans and greenhorns alike, scholars and students in a range of fields, and individuals who care about restoring their local lands and waters.