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17.181 / 17.182 Sustainable Development: Theory and Policy
Spring 2009
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2. -
1
Sustainable Development:
Theory & Policy
Week 8
From Sustainability Problems to
Solution Strategies
Professor Nazli Choucri
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri MIT

3. -
Contextualization
Introducing GSSD
From Problems to Solutions
The Transformation Problem
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri MIT
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4. 1. Contextualization
• Globalization & World-wide eConnectivity
• Increased Knowledge Intensity
• New Technologies for Knowledge Networking
• Dow Jones Indices of Corporate Sustainability
• Sustainability Measures for Decision
• Persistent Gaps Local-Global Gaps
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
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5. The Argument
Convergence of global trends is transforming
traditional knowledge practices, creating new
research modes & accelerating ‘new knowledge’.
Such transformations may reduce bias in
international research and knowledge-gaps world-
wide.
But research designs must reflect fundamentals of
diversity, complexity, globalization & localization.
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
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6. • Knowledge of Sustainability
• Knowledge for Sustainability
Global knowledge meta-networking
Structured knowledge on sustainability
System for using “state-of-the-art” knowledge
Decision support collaborative platform
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
8.2 Introducing the Global System
for Sustainable Development
(GSSD)
management
5

7. Knowledge About What?
• Human activities & conditions
• Sustainability problems
• Scientific & technological solutions
• Economic, political & social solutions
• International actions & responses
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
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8. 7
Conceptual Framework - Rings
Activities
Problems
Technical Solutions
Social Solutions
Social Solutions
Technical Solutions
Problems
Activities
International Responses
International Responses
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT

9. 8 17.181-17.182
y y p pm
Land Use
Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
Copyright © 2000 MIT
Global S stem for Sustainabilit Develo ment Center for Innovation in Product Development
N. Choucri
Copyright © 1999 GSSD ™
MIT
Conceptual Framework - Slices
Mobility
Agriculture
Water
Governance
Conflicts
Urbanization
Consumption
Unmet Needs
Population
Migration
Energy
Trade
Industry

10. 9
Population
Trade & Finance
Governance &
Institutions
Migration &
Dislocation
Energy Use
& Sources
Industry
Conceptual Framework
Conceptual Framework
Mobility Agriculture
Forest &
Land Use
Water Use &
Sources
Conflicts &
Wars
Urbanization
Unmet Basic Consumption
Needs
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT

11. 10
SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEMS
l i l
finance
& sources
Environmental
impacts
R
S
E
O
U
institutions
Constraints on
i i li i
Migration &
dislocation
Environmental
impacts of trade;
Impacts of trade
competitiveness
& pattern;
Distribution tensions;
Political shifts
FROM ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS TO
Depletion of non-
renewable resources;
Pollution, wastes,
eco og ca ef fects
Trade &
Energy use
Hazardous wastes
Land , air & water pollution;
Ozone depletion
Governance &
peace-keeping;
Physical destruction;
Soc al marg na zat on
Social & resource
constraints relative to demand;
Gender & age-specific problems
Stresses related to changes in
group composition; Changes in density
Environmentall
Unmet
basic needs
Conflicts
Water sources
& uses
use
i l
;
A
H
C
R
C
E S
L
Y
G
O
L
O
N
E
T
& impacts;
Joint human &
Population
Disease
Resource use
l i
Social stress;
ic
; l
emissions
Casualties;
;
l
Conflicts over
resources
Mobili
Soil erosion &
degradation;
y-
polluting fertilizers land overuse;
Forest destruction
Industry
ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS
& wars
Forest & Land
A gr cu ture
ACTIVITIES & CONDITIONS
SU STAI N ABI L I T Y PR O BL E M S
SU STAI N ABI L I T Y PR O BL E M S
Human impacts on
sources & needs;
Natural causes
natural causes
Consumption
Urbanization
Poor quality of life;
Food shortages;
Health hazards;
& depletion;
Waste accum u at on
Poverty expansion;
Environment & health
effects; Socioeconom
dislocations Globa
change & GHG
Weapons trade & use
Damage to natura
environments;
Transport &
ty
Urban pollution & natural
resource shortages;
Spatial dynamics
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT

12. -
From Problems to Solutions
8.3
Nested System
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri MIT
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13. 12
Education;
f women’s
opportunities & skills;
ific support programs
Safety nets
Safeguards to human &
itats;
Facilitate security &
economic cooperation;
Improve political
participation;
Strengthen
peace-k
Direct regulat
control;
Market based
strategies;
Government R&D
Improved toxic release
inventories; Standards &
codes; Market based
incentives; Best Practices
;
Market strategy;
unting &
nts;
Provisio
SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICA
Improvement o
;
ive
t
polic
natural hab
port
Improved technologies
& methods for
maintaining peace
eeping
on technologies;
on
control; Renewable
non-polluting sources
ory
ustrial
bstitution of
&
n;
Trade measures & policies;
Improved acco
measureme
resolution
ing & shipment;
Energy
Age-spec
Respons
infrastructure s rategies;
Resettlement
Migration
Migrant sup
programs
producti
Efficient use; Polluti
ecology; Su
Cleaner productio
Eco-efficiency
products &
roved
packag
Governance
& institutions
strategies
ies & strategies;
Alternative
production; Ind
measures
ns for dispute
Improved
process; Imp
Mobility
Agriculture
Land &
Forests
Water
Conflicts & wars
Urbanization
Consumption
Unmet
basic needs
Population
Migration
& dislocation
Trade &
Finance
Industry
CFC substitutes;
Structural economic
changes;
Efficient mobility
systems
Eco-efficiency & safet
measures; Markets &
mechanisms
for cleaner mobility;
Emission standards
& audits
Sustainable
agricultural practices;
Agriculture finance systems;
Improved food distribution
& finance methods
Limiting
hazardous chemicals
& fertilizers; Advances
in agriculture methods
Improved storage
& transport
Improved legislation;
Agroforestry forms;
Forest management
programs
New
techniques
for forest use
& reforestation;
Sustainable logging practices
Information
technologies
Planning &
management;
Supply-side alternatives;
New technological
approaches for damage
response; Use of
technological options for
peace-making &
peace-keeping
Effective
arms control;
War insurance;
Contingency plans
against violence;
Meeting international
codes
Waste management;
Urban services;
Strengthen urban
communities
Improve urban
infrastructure;
Reduce population
concentrations
Waste
management &
minimization; Improve
production processes
Changes in
consumer behavior;
Mechanisms for
consumption change
Access to
effective
technology;
Strengthen
business support
Poverty alleviation
assistance;
Enhanced capacity building;
Responsive legal systems
Fertility
management;
Strengthen
health services
Cleaner
functions; Waste
minimization
L
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC,
POLITICAL, & REGULATORY
TYPES of SOLUTION STRATEGIES
TYPES of SOLUTION STRATEGIES
Demand-side
management
Market strategies
& mechanisms;
Public & private
interactions;
Improved
information systems
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT

14. 13
GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES
Hazardous Activities
Partnership
Economic
& Strategies
Institutional
i
Strategies
Joint
& Agreements
Formal Constraints on
Private/Public
Adjustment Targets
Population Ass
Management of Migration
International Pollution
Control Agreements
Sustainabil ty
Implementation
Voluntary
Agreements
Trade Regimes
Accords &
Institutions
f
Di i
International
Monitoring of
Hazardous
iti
& Resettlement
International
Codes of
Fi
Innovative
International
Investment Strategies
Strategies
istance &
International
Benchmarki
Global
AGENDA 21
New Global
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES
and GLOBAL ACCORDS
Conventions
Agreements
or Technology
ffus on, Advance
& Access
Activ es
Coordination for
Reconstruction
nancial &
Investment Conduct
Dispute Resolution
Procedures
Conflict Management
ng Systems
Conferences
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT

15. -
Methodological & Strategic Issues
Concept & Theories
Indicators & Measures
Models & Case Studies
Agreements & Organizations
Policy, Strategy & Responses
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri MIT
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16. 8.4 The Transformation
Problem
Assets vs. Liabilities
Sustainability or Sustainable ‘Growth”
Paths, Options, Trajectories
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
15

17. Valuing all assets: human,
1. The problem is how to deploy national assets and
manage national liabilities toward sustainability
2. This involves financial and non-financial assets all
forms of resources (human, natural, & economic)
can be used to serve national goals
Diversity: in empirical manifestation regarding
4. Sustainability as a generic problem for industrial
17.181-17.182 Spring 2006 © NChoucri - MIT
capital, natural, environmental
3.
transformation problem
and developing countries
16