As the bottled water market grows, it is more important than ever to strengthen legislation that regulates the industry and its water quality standards. Such legislation can impact bottled water quality control, groundwater exploitation, land use, plastic waste management, carbon emissions, finance and transparency obligations, to mention a few. Zeineb Bouhlel and Vladimir Smakhtin from … Continue reading “The highly profitable and fast-growing bottled water industry is masking the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all”
Category: SDGs
In an age of climate chaos and economic crisis, the ideas of the father of ecological economics that inspired a movement to live within our means are increasingly essential
Herman Daly became convinced that economics should no longer prioritize the efficiency of this one-way process but instead focus on the “optimal” scale of an economy that the Earth can sustain. Today, the imprint of his career can be found far and wide, including measures of the Genuine Progress Indicator of an economy, new Doughnut … Continue reading In an age of climate chaos and economic crisis, the ideas of the father of ecological economics that inspired a movement to live within our means are increasingly essential
Accelerating SDG7 action
Sustainable Development Goal 7 is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. It aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." It is important to look at the work that is underway through the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy to see what … Continue reading Accelerating SDG7 action
Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks
In an article on The Conversation website, Ben Radley, Lecturer in International Development at the University of Bath provides a thoughtful consideration about risks of financialisation and rising inequality in some models of renewables rollout in Africa. Expanded access to solar power in Africa can stimulate economic development – but there are risks UN … Continue reading Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks
Residents need to be involved in achieving urban sustainability and climate change issues
Establishing measurable goals at the city level needs and will result in the engagement of residents. Everybody wins in the long run — quality of life improves, urban governance is more effective, and businesses develop more efficient models. Professors Sylvie Albert and Manish Pandey at the University of Winnipeg in Canada explain their views in … Continue reading Residents need to be involved in achieving urban sustainability and climate change issues
The UN sustainable development goals have infiltrated the things people say, think and write about global sustainability challenges but nothing has changed where it matters
Sixty-two academics analysed more than 3,000 academic studies that scrutinised aspects of the SDGs. Unfortunately, their findings were “disheartening”. One of the authors, Frank Biermann, Professor of Global Sustainability Governance at Utrecht University discusses their findings in an article on The Conversation website. UN sustainable development goals failing to have meaningful impact, our research … Continue reading The UN sustainable development goals have infiltrated the things people say, think and write about global sustainability challenges but nothing has changed where it matters
Pinning hope on “modern” energy as the solution for Zimbabwe is overly simplistic
Currently, SDG7 as a global agenda for energy development is tinkering on the periphery, according to Ellen Fungisai Chipango, Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg. She explains in an article on The Conversation website. Global energy targets don’t deal with people’s real problems in Zimbabwe Thirty years ago, ending energy poverty wasn’t among … Continue reading Pinning hope on “modern” energy as the solution for Zimbabwe is overly simplistic
New report argues that the only way to offset the socio-economic devastation resulting from the pandemic is to make “smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience”
The SDG Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development discusses a new UN report that underscores role of SDGs in emerging from the pandemic. The report depicts resilience as going hand-in-hand with sustainable development, noting that one cannot exist without the other. World Economic Situation and Prospects Report Underscores Role of SDGs in … Continue reading New report argues that the only way to offset the socio-economic devastation resulting from the pandemic is to make “smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience”
New EEA analysis on Europe’s actions on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
A vast majority of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) 39 member and cooperating countries are putting in action United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those focused on climate action, water and sanitation, and affordable and clean energy, according to a pan-European assessment, published recently, of how the SDGs are being implemented. European countries … Continue reading New EEA analysis on Europe’s actions on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
New report identifies 10 key pillars that are considered essential to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) recently published a news item about a new report related to monitoring implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Progressing National SDGs Implementation: An Independent Assessment of the Voluntary National Review Reports Submitted to the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2019 Key Messages Countries … Continue reading New report identifies 10 key pillars that are considered essential to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 