Actioning the Global Goals for Local Impact

This book contributes to sustainability studies, as it focuses on local operationalization of all 17 Global Goals in an impactful manner. This book is the result of collaborative and interdisciplinary research work by sustainability leaders from all over the world, namely, scientists, researchers, educators and practitioners. Disconnected educational systems and policy practices from global and local sustainability trends create scepticism about the potential of the research institutions in contributing towards policy debates and issues centring on the question of sustainability, which compromise the wellbeing of all. Preliminary investigations identified that a few reasons for this were limited understanding of the context; lack of an overall approach to sustainability, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and inadequacies in the education sector and collaboration processes amongst academics, educators and practitioners to achieve global sustainability targets (Franco et al. 2018; Franco and Tracey 2019).

This chapter proposes the use of the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) as a powerful conceptual approach for research aimed at understanding the interaction between global investment, local livelihoods and poverty reduction in resource regions. The chapter applies the SLF as a tool to develop recommendations for poverty alleviation, showing how it can contribute to SDG 1 No Poverty. The innovative application of the SLF helps us understand the ways in which key areas of research connect and interact as constituent components inherent in the framework. This chapter also argues that this framework helps increase our understanding of the ways communities build capacity to forge sustainable livelihoods in resource regions. It thus presents a justification for the use of the SLF, followed by an examination of the SLF principles, their implications for communities and relevance for empirical research in this field. The chapter also shows the way in which the SLF can be modified for application to local circumstances through case studies conducted in two resource regions of Colombia. Nevertheless, the findings of the research can be applied to other resource locations elsewhere.

The backbone of society and the basis of self-sufficiency is the agricultural advancement of food, fiber, fuel, and industry. However, in many non-industrialized countries, self-sufficiency has been eroded by several factors, including environmental impacts, lack of educational infrastructure, and inequities in resource management and distribution. Additionally, with the rise in human populations and climate pressures, the need to increase food production security and water conservation measures is imminent. By emulating the productivity of natural ecosystems and returning carbon-based materials to the soil, agricultural production may be enhanced with a reduced reliance on potentially water-polluting and often prohibitively expensive synthetic fertilizers. Through various case studies showcasing the effectiveness of educational tools, we work to demonstrate the need for more financial investment in biomass utilization program development in order to cultivate emerging circular economies. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of carbon and ecosystem cycling curriculum in school settings. In situ soil application of organic materials engenders soil carbon sequestration – a climate change mitigation mechanism – and overall soil health and soil water conservation. Compost processing and program development ameliorates potential organic materials pathogen transference while mineralizing nutrients for plant uptake.

Skin cancer incidence is increasing. The WHO reports between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers globally each year, while 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer. Several factors are responsible for skin cancer incidence, and some of them are more easily treated than others. Furthermore, as social and contextual factors within communities can often hinder UV exposure reduction (e.g., the societal promotion of tanning), primary prevention is not always sufficient. Early detection and treatments can be remarkably improved through a better understanding of the molecular events activated after UV radiation reaches human cells. As such, this chapter aims to evidence how basic research regarding the effects of UV radiation on the human genetic material works to improve diagnostic tests and the treatment of skin cancer, thus improving the patient’s quality of life and reducing fatalities.

This chapter provides a contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education (SDG 4), through analysing stakeholder partnerships and collaboration for the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It argues that a better understanding of limiting and fostering factors preventing greater collaboration for ESD is required in order to meet the targets set by SDG 4 which advocates for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education. This chapter provides a multilevel governance analysis (global, national and institutional) on ESD and key stakeholders’ perceptions on limiting and fostering factors in collaborative governance for ESD. This manuscript also increases our understanding of whether ESD policy developed at the international level can be imagined at the national, institutional and local levels and highlights the factors involved in collaboration for ESD. This hopefully helps us understand how to develop rhetoric that can advance from policy to impact. Conclusions drawn from these analyses highlight key inconsistencies and gaps that resulted from incompatible perspectives and motivations for realizing ESD at all levels of governance.

Male-dominated and gender-segregated fields, such as the extractive industry, present key limitations for sustainable leadership opportunities and career growth for women. By identifying these existing barriers and addressing necessary actions to be taken, research findings show that success in this area largely depends on the collaboration of multiple stakeholders, that is, governments, corporations, higher education institutions and civil society organizations. This study will provide a qualitative assessment of current leadership and organizational discourse in order to build knowledge and understanding of the limiting factors and barriers that prevent women from embarking on a sustainable leadership pathway in the early stages of their career. These limiting factors are grouped into three categories, namely, sociocultural, corporate and governance factors. Some specific challenges identified by participants include maternal, family, cultural conceptions of gender roles and norms as well as workplace diversity. These variables all contribute to a gender and culturally normative ecosystem that present competitive barriers for career development for women.

Environmental impacts associated with the use of water and energy resources are among the most significant problems for the mining industry, requiring the implementation of new solutions in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. Currently, the challenge is converting mineral wealth into development opportunities while responding to the needs of future generations. This is specifically regarding the investment of nonrenewable resources in the implementation of strategies to promote the efficient use of both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. This chapter aims to evaluate the cradle-to-gate consumption of renewable (water) and nonrenewable energy sources in both open-pit and alluvial mining systems. Additionally, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed to both estimate and analyze their impact on water resources. This is extended by the presentation of opposing reductive strategies including the optimization of process efficiency and use of circular economies. This research is significant within the Colombian context as water usage is often a determining factor in the attainment of key environmental and social licenses. Furthermore, the results of this investigation clearly show how water usage and the magnitude of its related impacts differ between opposing forms of extraction.

The world has experienced a rapid demand of energy sources, both fossil fuels and renewables. Nevertheless, this scenario has given rise to complexities in resource regions, compromising how women cope with the impacts of unsustainable use of energy sources. Women adjacent to energy resource commonly experience loss of assets, compromising overall sustainability. Comparing two case studies, Japan and Colombia, the research presented in this chapter argues that key stakeholders in the energy sector, both renewables and fossil fuels, need to further engage in the enhancement of women’s assets and capacities toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy. Building the capacity of exceptional women in sustainability can foster overall sustainable development in both cases and contribute to the achievement of SDG 7 and the Agenda 2030. Based on a qualitative methodology, this study also presents a capacity-building approach toward the achievement of SDG 7 in alignment with the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This chapter focuses on the Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The theoretical framework from evolutionary economics is reviewed and used to facilitate the understanding of developing countries’ economic aspects. The relations to sustainable development actions are addressed through case studies centred on fair trade initiatives – a market solution that links developed and developing economies through production and trade relations based on good market practices. In a model that seeks to address inequalities generated by conventional trade, the fair trade standard assures stable prices and income together with decent work conditions for small producers from developing economies. The methodological approach of this qualitative study was a literature review associated with a comparative analysis of case studies published about fair trade certified small-scale producers. Small rice farmers from Thailand and small quinoa farmers from Bolivia are presented to illustrate the potential to produce social benefits within a sustainable development framework proposed by the fair trade model. Drawing from both case studies, the chapter ends with recommendations for multilateral trade agreements and policies design regarding agriculture development.

There is a general concern in the scholarly literature pertaining to sustainable resource governance and the implications for industries such as mining. Yet there are many unanswered questions in this area, and the research reported in this chapter increases our understanding in this regard. Our investigation has shown there are essential capacity-building areas to trace a roadmap for sustainable resource governance in small-scale mining (herein SSM). Improving identified areas seems from this research to be the most effective way to enhance the ability of small-scale miners and stakeholders to cope with pressing sustainability issues over time. This chapter presents a capacity-building roadmap for SSM and pays attention to the nature and importance of these areas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 9 (herein SDG), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. What makes this research essential is its focus on the extent to which these areas are valuable for stakeholders involved in the SSM industry. It does this through a case study in Bolivia. This research is based on a qualitative strategy for data collection and case study methodology.

It is well-evidenced that women earn less than men; however, the incessant effects of the gender pay disparity egregiously continue into retirement. Women in Australia retire with approximately half the superannuation balance of men; consequently, this chapter is preoccupied with understanding the reasons for the gender disparity in retirement (superannuation) savings in Australia. Using the framework of the sustainable development goals (SDG), notably SDG 10 (reducing inequalities), this chapter critically engages with how superannuation policy can be ameliorated and reformed to facilitate the diverse career trajectories and primary care responsibilities many women face. In line with SDG sub-target 10.2, the empowerment and promotion of economic inclusion, irrespective of age, sex, race etc., this chapter stresses the integral role that financial education and literacy play in enabling women to better understand the vital function of superannuation savings in preparing for a sustainable retirement. Finally, the latter section of this chapter explores how superannuation policy can be structurally amended to consider the oftentimes broken and disparate career trajectories women face.

Recent global policy discourses orchestrated under the aegis of the United Nations, such as the Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030) and the New Urban Agenda of UN Habitat, stress upon the need for concerted focus at the city and the community scale – not only to achieve long-term developmental objectives but also to make direct tangible benefits to the quality of lives of the people. The world at large is gradually taking an urban turn, as more and more people are moving to the cities. Cities account for 55% of the population, produce 85% of the global GDP but also 75% of the greenhouse gas emissions. The issues of global sustainability cannot be addressed, without strongly addressing sustainability at the urban scale. This chapter focuses on SDG 11 as the analytical framework to explore how the transformative force of urbanization represents opportunity and challenge to meet several other sustainability challenges, such as SDG 1 (poverty reduction), SDG 4 (education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (economic growth) and SDG 13 (climate action). The research highlights research and action points for urban governance systems to mainstream sustainability concerns through their local planning and development mechanism.

This chapter aims to build new theory about the links between sustainable community development, entrepreneurship, community wellbeing and interlinkages between the sustainable development goal 12 (hereafter SDG 12), sustainable consumption and production, and the sustainable development goal 3 (hereafter SDG 3) – good health and wellbeing. New theory is needed because multidimensional wellbeing has not been used as an outcome variable with which to assess relative merits or understand the intricacies of how development approaches achieve synergies or fragmentation between the varying components of wellbeing. The research presented here is based on a case study qualitative methodology strategy. Evidence shows that resource-rich regions of Latin America are sites for sustainable community development and responsible production by international companies. Through a comparative case study of two resource towns in Colombia – Antioquia and Risaralda – we find contrasting approaches with different outcomes. A top-down corporate-based approach to sustainable community development occurred in Antioquia but bound the future of the community to resource extraction (mining) with limited attention to other aspects of community wellbeing. This reduced the overall resilience and wellbeing opportunities for the community. In Risaralda, by contrast, a more responsible, wellbeing-conscious approach was adopted based on local entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship here was not only focused on economic development and the future self-sufficiency of the community apart from mining but was also conscious of producing responsibly and building a greater range of wellbeing components other than just economic. We use these results to articulate a wellbeing-centric approach to development called Entrepreneurship for Community Wellbeing.

There is an increasing consensus that stakeholders at education institutions, specifically educators and students, face enormous challenges in translating climate education into effective action. Therefore, a better understanding of these issues – both within and beyond education institutions – is paramount. This chapter addresses such issues within education institutions, including teachers and students misconceptions regarding climate change, behavioural issues and social considerations such as peer pressure. This investigation worked to critically analyse issues with the current climate education scheme, whilst identifying key areas in which improvements should be made to effectively promote climate action and contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goal related to climate action (SDG 13).

In recent years there has been a growing interest in fish skin – a by-product of the food industry – as an alternative sustainable raw material for fashion. Global production of fish has steadily increased over the last decade, and more than 50% of the total remaining material from fish capture results in 32 million tonnes of waste. A substantial amount of this waste is the skin of the fish; only a small percentage of this skin is processed into leather. While, to date, the European Environment Agency allows seafood processors to dispose of fish skins in marine waters, this is expected to change as the decomposing organic waste can suck up available oxygen from marine species and introduce disease into the local ecosystem. Fish skin leather processing could prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution and sustainably protect marine ecosystems in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. This paper describes the conditions necessary for the development of fish skin craftsmanship within a Fashion Higher Education sustainable curriculum. In order to enhance the innovation and sustainable design of fish leather products, the author has developed an impactful capacity-building approach connecting fashion students with the Icelandic fish leather industry, which is renowned for sustainable sourcing from Nordic fish farms, promoting the sustainable use of ocean-based resources.

The fashion industry has had a significant impact on the environment and overall global sustainability. Evidence shows it is the most polluting industry and the largest consumer of water, accounting for 20% of global water wastage detrimentally affecting both life on land and underwater. As such a few key stakeholders in the fashion industry have begun undertaking key preventative measures. These include but are not limited to the use of organic cotton crops, reduction of water use throughout the production chain, the implementation of a zero-waste patternmaking technique, second-hand shops, recycling of production materials, recycling discarded fishing nets into nylon fibre and increasing the use of biodegradable fibres, crop’s waste fibres, bio-based fibres and bio-textile processes and renewable sources like bamboo and hemp. The review presented in this chapter examines the fashion production cycle, the use of alternative organic materials and recycling processes for the sustainable production of yarns whilst exploring the connections between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 Life on Land and 14 Life below Water.

This chapter makes a strong contribution to SDG 16 as it examines the role of women and livelihood options in fostering sustainable peace. Research was conducted in rural communities in the vicinity of Risaralda, Colombia, a resource-rich region. The results obtained are important as they provide insights into the heterogeneous composition of communities, particularly women and their identities, which explains contrasting perceptions towards project development. Secondly, outcomes entail a practical dimension which suggests that in the process of assessment, development and management of resources, differences related to community identity, religion and context-based factors must be recognized and taken into account to foster sustainable peace and overall regional sustainability.

Corporate accountability has expanded rapidly in recent years as a tool that business can employ to respond for corporate performance. Nevertheless, the exercise of corporate accountability is challenging as it requires stronger corporate capacity and commitment to respond to external stakeholders in alignment with voluntary regulatory norms. In response, corporate agendas are being significantly shaped by internal and external stakeholders that are employees, suppliers, and customers. Yet, an examination of the current status of accountability both as a historical trend and in current corporate agendas in selected cases shows an increasing gap between policy and impact. Based on a case study method and theory building, the research reported in this article shows the status of corporate accountability of companies operating in Asia-Pacific and adhered to the Global Compact Network. It also provides some conceptual and practical tools toward enhanced accountability, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17) and its targets Multi-stakeholder partnerships (17.16 and 17.17) and Data, monitoring, and accountability.

This book deconstructed and re-evaluated the key issues that sustainability leaders, namely, educators, scientists, governments, practitioners and policymakers, face when achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The overarching aims of this book were to provide a coverage of results of research conducted in accordance with the sustainable development goals and to better understand the integration of the SDGs as an integral part of impact research, curriculum and community capacity-building for sustainability. The impacts of climate change, unsustainable resource development, widening of gaps between socioeconomic groups and social conflict are pressuring sustainability leaders to collaborate and reconstruct normative approaches to developing more consistent and impactful sustainability agendas. This stems from an inability to turn knowledge and theory into impactful outcomes. However, quantified targets do not always mean quantified solutions, and these outcomes are often impeded by homogenized interpretations of globalized targets. Thus, these 18 chapters broke down these traditional approaches and presented innovative and agile strategies to action the SDG targets.