Skip to main content
Top

2019 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Education and Technology as Levers for Sustainable Change

A New Framework of Interaction Between Business and Environment

Authors : Carlo Alberto Amadei, Monica Baraldi Borgida

Published in: Collaborative Innovation Networks

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

In the last decade, researchers have increasingly analyzed the interaction between business and environment under new perspectives. We join this effort focusing on the positive change that can arise from new collaborative opportunities between business and the environment, in order to embrace environmental challenges and pursue reciprocal benefits. We evaluate this synergetic activity using system thinking which identifies pivotal center, has the power to originate connections, and regulates a system’s behavior. In this regard, we believe education and technology are among the most important elements in the system. They play a major role in determining and weighing the interactions between environment and business. The two scenarios presented here are (1) the status quo system and (2) a system in which technology and education are empowered and serve as leverage points to develop a more efficient use of the world resources, thus using a smaller portion of the world’s physical capacity. This last scenario focuses on one environmental sphere (water), but the same tool could be applied to other environmental aspects. We build our analysis balancing the contributions coming from both professional and academic spheres. Progress has been made to integrate sustainability into strategy, such as the adoption of science-based targets by organizations aiming to reduce the effect of climate change. The authors believe that this process explains new ways in which business and society can thrive for generations to come.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Literature
go back to reference Auth, K. (2015). The oceans: Resilience at risk. In The state of the world 2015 (pp. 79–91). Washington: Island Press.CrossRef Auth, K. (2015). The oceans: Resilience at risk. In The state of the world 2015 (pp. 79–91). Washington: Island Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Caradonna, J. (2014). Sustainability. A history. New York: Oxford University Press. Caradonna, J. (2014). Sustainability. A history. New York: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Cohen, S. A., DeFrancia, K. L., & Martinez, H. J. (2016). A positive vision of sustainability. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 6(1), 231–238.CrossRef Cohen, S. A., DeFrancia, K. L., & Martinez, H. J. (2016). A positive vision of sustainability. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 6(1), 231–238.CrossRef
go back to reference Commission, B. (1987). Towards sustainable development. In V. Hauff (Ed.), Report of the world commission on environment and development: Our common future (p. 41). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Commission, B. (1987). Towards sustainable development. In V. Hauff (Ed.), Report of the world commission on environment and development: Our common future (p. 41). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Davidson, C. H., Johnson, C., Lizarralde, G., Dikmen, N., & Sliwinski, A. (2007). Truths and myths about community participation in post-disaster housing projects. Habitat International, 31, 100–115.CrossRef Davidson, C. H., Johnson, C., Lizarralde, G., Dikmen, N., & Sliwinski, A. (2007). Truths and myths about community participation in post-disaster housing projects. Habitat International, 31, 100–115.CrossRef
go back to reference Dowell, G., & Muthulingam, S. (2016). Will firms go green if it pays? The impact of disruption, cost, and external factors on the adoption of environmental initiatives. Strategic Management Journal, 38(6), 1287–1304.CrossRef Dowell, G., & Muthulingam, S. (2016). Will firms go green if it pays? The impact of disruption, cost, and external factors on the adoption of environmental initiatives. Strategic Management Journal, 38(6), 1287–1304.CrossRef
go back to reference Eccles, R. G., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance. Management Science, 60(11), 2835–2857.CrossRef Eccles, R. G., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance. Management Science, 60(11), 2835–2857.CrossRef
go back to reference Hanna-Attisha, M., LaChance, J., Sadler, R. C., & Schnepp, A. C. (2016). Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the flint drinking water crisis: A spatial analysis of risk and public health response. American Journal of Public Health, 106, 283–290.CrossRef Hanna-Attisha, M., LaChance, J., Sadler, R. C., & Schnepp, A. C. (2016). Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the flint drinking water crisis: A spatial analysis of risk and public health response. American Journal of Public Health, 106, 283–290.CrossRef
go back to reference Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown. The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. New York: Penguin Books. Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown. The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. New York: Penguin Books.
go back to reference Henderson, R., Gulati, R., & Tushman, M. (2015). Leading sustainable change. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef Henderson, R., Gulati, R., & Tushman, M. (2015). Leading sustainable change. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Irwin, E. G., et al. (2018). Bridging barriers to advance global sustainability. Nature, 1(July), 324–326. Irwin, E. G., et al. (2018). Bridging barriers to advance global sustainability. Nature, 1(July), 324–326.
go back to reference Jennifer, L., et al. (2017). Reframing the evidence base for policy-relevance to increase impact: A case study on forest fragmentation in the oil palm sector. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54, 731–736.CrossRef Jennifer, L., et al. (2017). Reframing the evidence base for policy-relevance to increase impact: A case study on forest fragmentation in the oil palm sector. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54, 731–736.CrossRef
go back to reference Kolbert, E. (2015). Fields notes from a catastrophe. London: Bloomsbury. Kolbert, E. (2015). Fields notes from a catastrophe. London: Bloomsbury.
go back to reference Lovelock, J. (2009). The vanishing face of Gaia. New York: Basic Books. Lovelock, J. (2009). The vanishing face of Gaia. New York: Basic Books.
go back to reference Matson, P., Clark, W. C., & Andersson, K. (2016). Pursuing sustainability. Princeton, NJ: Princeton. Matson, P., Clark, W. C., & Andersson, K. (2016). Pursuing sustainability. Princeton, NJ: Princeton.
go back to reference Mattei, U. (2013). Protecting the commons: Water, culture, and nature: The commons movement in the Italian struggle against neoliberal governance. South Atlantic Quarterly, 112(2), 366–376.CrossRef Mattei, U. (2013). Protecting the commons: Water, culture, and nature: The commons movement in the Italian struggle against neoliberal governance. South Atlantic Quarterly, 112(2), 366–376.CrossRef
go back to reference Mullainathan, S., & Shafir, E. (2014). Scarcity: The new science of having less and how it defines our lives. New York: Picador. Mullainathan, S., & Shafir, E. (2014). Scarcity: The new science of having less and how it defines our lives. New York: Picador.
go back to reference Paredis, C. J. J., Bishop, C., & Bodner, D. (2013). Using system dynamics for sustainable water resources management in Singapore. Procedia Computer Science, 16, 157–166.CrossRef Paredis, C. J. J., Bishop, C., & Bodner, D. (2013). Using system dynamics for sustainable water resources management in Singapore. Procedia Computer Science, 16, 157–166.CrossRef
go back to reference Porter, M., & Kramer, M. K. (2011). Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 89(1), 62–77. Porter, M., & Kramer, M. K. (2011). Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 89(1), 62–77.
go back to reference Sachs, D. (2014). The age of sustainable development. New York: Columbia University Press. Sachs, D. (2014). The age of sustainable development. New York: Columbia University Press.
go back to reference Sachs, J. (2015). The age of sustainable development. New York: Columbia University Press.CrossRef Sachs, J. (2015). The age of sustainable development. New York: Columbia University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Sadler, R. G., & Evans, J. (2008). Methods and technologies to improve efficiency of water use. Water Resources Research, 44(7), W00E04. Sadler, R. G., & Evans, J. (2008). Methods and technologies to improve efficiency of water use. Water Resources Research, 44(7), W00E04.
go back to reference Sheffi, Y. (2018). Balancing green. When to embrace sustainability in a business (and when not to). Cambridge: MIT Press.CrossRef Sheffi, Y. (2018). Balancing green. When to embrace sustainability in a business (and when not to). Cambridge: MIT Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Sterman, J. (2000). Business dynamics: System thinking and modeling for a complex world. New York: McGraw-Hill. Sterman, J. (2000). Business dynamics: System thinking and modeling for a complex world. New York: McGraw-Hill.
go back to reference Tirole, J. (2017). Economics for the common good. Princeton: Princeton University Press.CrossRef Tirole, J. (2017). Economics for the common good. Princeton: Princeton University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Tubiana, C. H. A. L. (2018). Earth at risk. New York: Columbia University Press. Tubiana, C. H. A. L. (2018). Earth at risk. New York: Columbia University Press.
go back to reference Wang, Z., Song, H., Watkins, D. W., Ong, K. G., et al. (2015). Cyber-physical systems for water sustainability: challenges and opportunities. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(5), 216–222.CrossRef Wang, Z., Song, H., Watkins, D. W., Ong, K. G., et al. (2015). Cyber-physical systems for water sustainability: challenges and opportunities. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(5), 216–222.CrossRef
go back to reference Warburton, K. (2003). Deep learning and education for sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 4(1), 44–56.CrossRef Warburton, K. (2003). Deep learning and education for sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 4(1), 44–56.CrossRef
go back to reference Weeks, C., Delalonde, C., & Preist, C. (2016). Power law of engagement. In CHI conference on human factors in computing systems, Santa Clara, CA. Weeks, C., Delalonde, C., & Preist, C. (2016). Power law of engagement. In CHI conference on human factors in computing systems, Santa Clara, CA.
go back to reference Werber, J. R., Osuji, C. O., & Elimelech, M. (2016). Materials for next-generation desalination and water purification membranes. Nature Reviews Material, 1, 44–56.CrossRef Werber, J. R., Osuji, C. O., & Elimelech, M. (2016). Materials for next-generation desalination and water purification membranes. Nature Reviews Material, 1, 44–56.CrossRef
go back to reference Winz, I., Brierley, G., & Trowsdale, S. (2009). The use of system dynamics simulation in water resources management. Water Resources Management, 23(7), 1301–1323.CrossRef Winz, I., Brierley, G., & Trowsdale, S. (2009). The use of system dynamics simulation in water resources management. Water Resources Management, 23(7), 1301–1323.CrossRef
go back to reference Woo, Y., et al. (2016). Effect of powdered activated carbon on integrated submerged membrane bioreactor–nanofiltration process for wastewater reclamation. Bioresource Technology, 210, 18–25.CrossRef Woo, Y., et al. (2016). Effect of powdered activated carbon on integrated submerged membrane bioreactor–nanofiltration process for wastewater reclamation. Bioresource Technology, 210, 18–25.CrossRef
go back to reference Yarime, M., et al. (2012). Establishing sustainability science in higher education institutions: Towards an integration of academic development, institutionalization, and stakeholder collaborations. Sustainability Science, 7, 101–113.CrossRef Yarime, M., et al. (2012). Establishing sustainability science in higher education institutions: Towards an integration of academic development, institutionalization, and stakeholder collaborations. Sustainability Science, 7, 101–113.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Education and Technology as Levers for Sustainable Change
Authors
Carlo Alberto Amadei
Monica Baraldi Borgida
Copyright Year
2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17238-1_3