Navigating the complexities of sustainable development can be daunting amidst the urgent need for global action on climate change and social development. Policies, actions, and philosophies must harmonize to meet the ambitious targets the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set. However, the fragmented nature of research and the lack of comprehensive resources hinder progress towards these objectives. Harmonizing Global Efforts in Meeting Sustainable Development Goals offers a timely solution. By dissecting the intricacies of the global movement towards sustainable development, this edited volume serves as an authoritative resource for academics, researchers, and practitioners alike. It critically examines methodologies, strategies, and challenges, shedding light on progress made and proposing innovative solutions to bridge divides.

This book presents an overview of the key debates that took place during the Economic and Social Council meetings at the 2007 High-level Segment, at which ECOSOC organized its first biennial Development Cooperation Forum. The discussions also revolved around the theme of the second Annual Ministerial Review, "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development."--P. 4 of cover.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg 2002 was the latest conference in an international process to manage environment and development issues that can be traced back to the late 1960s. Three milestones mark this 30-year process of social and political interaction: the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (UNCHE), held in Stockholm in 1972, the first international meeting at a high political level convened to address environmental issues; the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro; and the WSSD, which attempted to set policy goals and targets for the global environmental and developmental challenges previously identified.But what did the WSSD achieve? Following the summit there have been various opinions of its significance and its outputs, many of them negative. This book argues that there is a need to place the WSSD in its broader context. Understanding the connections between the WSSD and its precedents as well as those between this overall process and individual environmental decision-making processes (such as on climate change), and how they all contribute to the overall global policy process, adds a critical dimension to the analysis of the WSSD outcomes. This book examines the challenges facing the global policy process for sustainable development as it continues beyond Johannesburg into the future. It combines a forward outlook with a historical perspective in tracing the evolution of selected cross-cutting themes on the agenda of the three conferences, the institutions and formal results of the process, and the actors and their patterns of interaction over time. The focus is on the decision-making dimension – the multilateral negotiations-which can be seen as the development over time of a pattern of interlinked political activities.Global Challenges has four operational objectives: first, to define the ongoing process that formally began with the Stockholm Conference in 1972 and evolved towards its latest major manifestation at the WSSD; second, to present some dynamics of the Stockholm–Rio–Johannesburg (SRJ) process by exploring the themes identified; third, to introduce an approach on how to consider the outcomes of this process as a way of reflecting on what the process has actually accomplished; and, finally, to discuss lessons learned for theory and practice from this exercise. The practical lessons include reflections on how the continued SRJ process should best be organised and supported into the future. The book takes a uniquely broad outlook and interdisciplinary approach in addressing important lessons relating to the emergence of substantive issues as well as to process and institutional dynamics. It is a bridge-building exercise from academic analysis to long-term strategic thinking in environmental regime building. Global Challenges provides a new perspective on the continuing and increasingly complex global environment and development policy process and analyses the interlinkages between the process, trends and cross-cutting issues that set the conditions for the global efforts to achieve sustainable development. It will be essential reading for academics and practitioners interested in seeing the big picture of the global challenges facing people and planet in the 21st century.

Rampant deforestation, rising carbon emissions, and more unprecedented threats are creating chaos and turmoil for the environment. The delicate balance between nature and humanity seems to waver on the brink of collapse. Climate change exacerbates standard occurrences of natural disasters, and endangers countless species. Amid these daunting challenges, the need for comprehensive research and actionable solutions has never been greater. Global Challenges for the Environment and Climate Change draws upon the latest research and empirical findings, and offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of our interconnected world. Exploring topics such as climate change, sustainable consumption, and global governance equips readers with the knowledge and insights needed to effect meaningful change.

In today's global landscape, the need for environmental sustainability is increasing than ever. Organizations find themselves at a crossroads, navigating the intricate web of economic viability, social responsibility, and ecological integrity. The nexus of Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organizational Culture emerges as a critical juncture where transformative change can take root. As businesses grapple with the multifaceted challenges posed by sustainability, a solution-oriented guide is needed to help them reimagine their roles and foster a culture that places environmental well-being at its core. The urgent need for organizations to align HRM practices with environmental sustainability and cultivate a purpose-driven culture is palpable. In this complex terrain, a lack of guidance leaves stakeholders grappling with the intricacies of weaving sustainability into the fabric of their operations. The consequences of overlooking this critical intersection are dire—environmental degradation, disengaged employees, and a missed opportunity for businesses to lead the charge in building a sustainable future. The need for a comprehensive resource that addresses these challenges head-on, providing actionable insights and strategies, is paramount.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal set of seventeen goals and 169 targets, with accompanying indicators, which were agreed by UN member states to frame their policy agendas for the fifteen-year period from 2015 to 2030. Written by three authors who have been engaged in the development of the SDGs from the beginning, this book offers an insider view of the process and a unique entry into what will be seen as one of the most significant negotiations and global policy agendas of the twenty-first century. The book reviews how the SDGs were developed, what happened in key meetings and how this transformational agenda, which took more than three years to negotiate, came together in September 2015. It dissects and analyzes the meetings, organizations and individuals that played key roles in their development. It provides fascinating insights into the subtleties and challenges of high-level negotiation processes of governments and stakeholders, and into how the SDGs were debated, formulated and agreed. It is essential reading for all interested in the UN, sustainable development and the future of the planet and humankind.

This book discusses the impacts of climate change that are already being felt on every continent and provides the scientific basis for a number of modern approaches and state-of-the art methods for monitoring the environment, social behavior and human expectations concerning protection of the environment. The book approaches these issues from the perspectives of various disciplines, from physics to the social sciences, and highlights both current challenges and future prospects. On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – 12 of which involve taking action on climate change – officially came into force. To achieve sustainable development, it is and will remain crucial to harmonize three interconnected core elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.