Strategies Towards the New Sustainability Paradigm : Managing the Great Transition to Sustainable Global Democracy

On a historical global turning point, this book offers a thorough exploration of the ℓ́ℓNew Sustainability Paradigmℓ́ℓ, originally developed by the Global Scenario Group (GSG) of the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) as a starting point for analyzing real-life transitions and transformations. 11 contributors from 5 continents present detailed analyses of economic and political transitions in Western and Eastern Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and in Asia, discussing the role of different players in the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm. Part I offers an overview of the six scenarios developed by the GSG and a short discussion of significant papers published by the Great Transition Initiative (GTI) of the Tellus Institute. Next come examples of dramatic historical and current transitions in Western Europe, the USA, Eastern Europe, the Middle East (Arabian Spring), and Asia, as well as an analysis of the potential of humankind to manage a great transition to the new sustainability paradigm. Subsequent chapters highlight the role of culture and education and review the role of different players for the implementation of the new sustainability paradigm. The focus of Part II is on the ecological pillar of Sustainability. The discussion includes urgent ecological problems including climate engineering, eco-criminality, bioterrorism, biodiversity protection, water, energy, and food security. Part III deals with needed innovations in sustainable waste management and sustainable city architecture, especially big cities in developing and threshold countries, where a significant part of the world population is concentrated. The fourth and final section offers an analysis of insights developed throughout the book, and outlines recommendations for the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm by civil society, grass-root movements, scholars, politically neutral NGOs, sincere media players, and by open-minded and enlightened politicians to manage and steer the Great Transition towards sustainable global democracy Dedication 6 Preface 8 References 10 Acknowledgement 12 Contents 14 Contributors 16 About the Editors 18 About the Authors 20 Introduction 26 Part I: Scenarios of Raskin et al.: From Visions to Reality 28 Chapter 1: From Conventional Worlds to a New Sustainability Paradigm (NSP): Raskin’s Model Scenarios in the Light of Current Trends 29 References 33 Chapter 2: Seeking Realistic Pathways to the NSP: A Literature Review of Key Works in the Great Transition Initiative (GTI) Paper Series 34 References 40 Chapter 3: Transitions and Transformations in Western Countries 41 3.1 From Reformation via Counter-Reformation and Thirty Years War to the Peace of Westphalia 41 3.2 From Absolutism via Enlightenment to Revolutions in America and France 43 3.3 Napoleon’s Rise and Fall 45 3.4 The Age of Restoration: The Congress of Vienna, the New European Order, and the Holy Alliance 45 3.5 The Riots and Revolutions in Europe from 1817 to 1848 46 3.6 The Rise and Fall of the Paulskirche Parliament: Suppression of a New Paradigm 47 3.7 Bismarck and the German Empire: The Age of Reforms 48 3.8 WWI and WWII: Breakdown Scenarios, Transitions, and the Rise of Fascism in Europe 50 3.9 The Period After WWII and the Emerging Globalization: A New Paradigm and Its Challenges 53 References 57 Chapter 4: From Neo-Stalinism to Sluggish Markets: Transition in Romania 59 4.1 Early Transitions: The Origins of Social and Economic Development Model in Romania 60 4.2 Romania in the Twentieth Century 61 4.3 Communist Romania 63 4.4 Post-communist Romania: Towards Capitalism 64 4.5 The Rise and Fall of Communism Redux: Sustainability and Social Capital 66 4.6 Transition to Sustainability: The Long-Term 69 References 70 Chapter 5: Transitions in the Middle East: The Arabian Spring with Focus on Libya 73 5.1 Methodology and Participants of the Survey in Libya 74 5.2 Drivers and Consequences of the Arabian Spring 75 5.3 Questions Concerning the Benghazi Attack and Terrorist Organizations 75 5.4 Political and Economic Attitudes 77 5.5 Religious, Social, and Ecological Attitudes 79 5.6 Conclusion 80 References 81 Chapter 6: Sustainable Strategies for Economic Transitions in Malaysia 82 6.1 Introduction 82 6.2 Determinants of Economic Sustainability in Malaysia 86 6.3 The Malaysian Economy Way 88 6.4 Towards a Sustainable Economy for All. Some Preliminary Strategies 90 6.5 Conclusion 91 6.6 Appendix: Figures and Tables 92 References 97 Chapter 7: Lessons Learnt from History: Analysis of Past Transitions and Transformations 98 7.1 Drivers and Consequences of Representative Transformations and Transitions 99 7.1.1 Drivers and Consequences of Reformation and Counter-Reformation 99 7.1.2 Visible and Hidden Drivers and Consequences of the American and the French Revolution 100 7.1.3 Visible and Hidden Drivers and Consequences of the Congress of Vienna and the European Revolutions 102 7.1.4 Nationalism and Imperialism 104 7.1.5 Social Problems and Solving Approaches: Communism as a Theoretical Paradigm vs. Social Reforms 105 7.1.6 Analysis of the Political Situation from 1910 to 1945 106 7.1.7 The Transition from Fascism to Democracy in Western Europe: A Perfect Façade with Stains 108 7.1.8 Silent Transformation of the U.S.: The Rise of a State within the State 110 7.1.9 Key Transformations in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century 112 7.2 Cultural Aspects in Transformations and Transitions 114 References 115 Chapter 8: Performing the New Sustainability Paradigm: The Role of Culture and Education 118 8.1 Introductory Remarks 119 8.2 Towards a Practice of Performing the New Sustainability Paradigm 123 8.3 Conclusion 127 References 127 Chapter 9: The Role of the Different Players for the Great Transition Towards the NSP 129 9.1 The Role of the State 130 9.2 The Role of Private Enterprises 130 9.3 Semi-Public Players (Public Private Partnerships) 130 9.4 Scientists and Inventors (Inside and Outside Universities) 131 9.5 The Role of Multinational Players Including NGOs 131 9.6 The Role of Think Tanks and Round Table Groups 131 9.7 Media 132 9.8 Cultural Players (Writers, Actors, Dancers, Musicians, Painters, etc.) 133 9.9 Religion 133 References 135 Part II: Ecological Challenges for the New Sustainability Paradigm 136 Chapter 10: Ecological Pillar of Sustainability and Its Significance for the NSP: Major Problems 137 References 139 Chapter 11: Urgent Ecological Problems for the NSP 140 11.1 Protection of the Atmosphere: Anthropogenic Influence and Counter-Measures 140 11.2 Water Security 145 11.3 Energy Security 147 11.4 Biodiversity 150 11.5 Bioterrorism 152 References 155 Chapter 12: The Myth of Sustainable Food Supply and the Urgent Need for Radical Change from Competitive Corporatism to Sustainable Stewardship 160 12.1 Prologue – Tragedy of the Fertile Crescent 161 12.2 Future World Food Demand 161 12.3 Flawed and Failing World Food Supply Systems 162 12.4 Shades of Green 166 12.5 Certified Sustainable Food Supply – No Such Thing 167 12.6 Global Transition of World Food Business from Competitive Corporates to Sustainable Stewards 169 12.7 Authenticating Sustainable Food Supply Chains 171 References 172 Part III: Challenges in Developing and Threshold Countries to Facilitate the NSP 174 Chapter 13: Innovative Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Nigeria 175 13.1 Introduction 175 13.2 Government Initiatives and Milestones 177 13.3 Solid Waste Generation 178 13.4 The Composition of Solid Waste 179 13.5 Solid Waste Collection and Transportation 180 13.6 Solid Waste Recycling 180 13.7 Solid Waste Disposal 181 13.8 Community Participation in Solid Waste Management 182 13.9 Solid Waste Recycling Activities by the Informal Sector 182 13.9.1 Cart Pushers 184 13.9.2 Scavengers 184 13.9.3 Resource Merchants 185 13.9.4 Recyclers 185 13.10 Conclusion 186 References 186 Chapter 14: On Innovative Sustainable City Architecture Models for Sustainable Cities in Asia or in Europe 188 14.1 Introduction 189 14.2 Importance of Green Spaces and Green Buildings 189 14.3 Reasons for the Absolute Necessity of Green Buildings 190 14.4 Sustainable City Architecture Models 191 14.5 Examples of Sustainability Models in Asia and Europe 193 14.6 Current and Future Practices 197 14.7 Conclusion 197 References 198 Part IV: Summary of Problems and Strategies for the NSP 201 Chapter 15: Summary of Problems and the Current State of Play 202 References 204 Chapter 16: Implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm: List of Recommendations 205 References 211 On a historical global turning point, this book offers a thorough exploration of the ĺlNew Sustainability Paradigmĺl, originally developed by the Global Scenario Group (GSG) of the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) as a starting point for analyzing real-life transitions and transformations. 11 contributors from 5 continents present detailed analyses of economic and political transitions in Western and Eastern Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and in Asia, discussing the role of different players in the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm. Part I offers an overview of the six scenarios developed by the GSG and a short discussion of significant papers published by the Great Transition Initiative (GTI) of the Tellus Institute. Next come examples of dramatic historical and current transitions in Western Europe, the USA, Eastern Europe, the Middle East (Arabian Spring), and Asia, as well as an analysis of the potential of humankind to manage a great transition to the new sustainability paradigm. Subsequent chapters highlight the role of culture and education and review the role of different players for the implementation of the new sustainability paradigm. The focus of Part II is on the ecological pillar of Sustainability. The discussion includes urgent ecological problems including climate engineering, eco-criminality, bioterrorism, biodiversity protection, water, energy, and food security. Part III deals with needed innovations in sustainable waste management and sustainable city architecture, especially big cities in developing and threshold countries, where a significant part of the world population is concentrated. The fourth and final section offers an analysis of insights developed throughout the book, and outlines recommendations for the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm by civil society, grass-root movements, scholars, politically neutral NGOs, sincere media players, and by open-minded and enlightened politicians to manage and steer the Great Transition towards sustainable global democracy Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 From Conventional Worlds to a New Sustainability Paradigm (NSP): Raskin’s Model Scenarios in the Light of Current Trends....Pages 3-7 Seeking Realistic Pathways to the NSP: A Literature Review of Key Works in the Great Transition Initiative (GTI) Paper Series....Pages 9-15 Transitions and Transformations in Western Countries....Pages 17-34 From Neo-Stalinism to Sluggish Markets: Transition in Romania....Pages 35-48 Transitions in the Middle East: The Arabian Spring with Focus on Libya....Pages 49-57 Sustainable Strategies for Economic Transitions in Malaysia....Pages 59-74 Lessons Learnt from History: Analysis of Past Transitions and Transformations....Pages 75-94 Performing the New Sustainability Paradigm: The Role of Culture and Education....Pages 95-105 The Role of the Different Players for the Great Transition Towards the NSP....Pages 107-113 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 Ecological Pillar of Sustainability and Its Significance for the NSP: Major Problems....Pages 117-119 Urgent Ecological Problems for the NSP....Pages 121-140 The Myth of Sustainable Food Supply and the Urgent Need for Radical Change from Competitive Corporatism to Sustainable Stewardship....Pages 141-154 Front Matter....Pages 155-155 Innovative Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Nigeria....Pages 157-169 On Innovative Sustainable City Architecture Models for Sustainable Cities in Asia or in Europe....Pages 171-183 Front Matter....Pages 185-185 Summary of Problems and the Current State of Play....Pages 187-189 Implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm: List of Recommendations....Pages 191-197