Toward a Brighter Future (Asynchronous - Online Only)
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Reimagining Alternatives: Latin American Women Novelists Engage Against Environmental Injustices View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Victoria Jara
Since the turn of the millennia, there has been a robust number of publications by Latin American women writers engaged with environmental injustices in their region. However, most of the scholarly publications on Latin American Ecocriticism focus on the canonical work of male writers (French, 2005; Rivera-Barnes and Hoeg, 2009; Taylor Kane, 2010; Anderson and Bora, 2016). In this paper, I outline a panorama of the literary production of contemporary Latin American women novelists that advocate for environmental justice by tracing the main themes and common genres among them. Then I offer an in-depth analysis of one of these novels. One of the main thematic areas is the representation of bad-development (Dumond and Mottin, 1981; Satrustegui, 2009; Svampa and Viale, 2014) and of alternative socio-environmental structures. I analyze the Ecuadorian novel Poso Wells (2007) by Gabriela Alemán in relation to multinational corporations and local governments that infringe indigenous nations´ ways of living with extractive practices. Building on the notion of unsustainable agriculture, I study how Argentinian Samantha Schweblin reimagines the monstrous consequences of agrotoxins on children while at the same time I reflect about motherhood in this context. I study how Dominican Rita Indiana denounces the consequences of eco-tourism in La mucama de Omicunlé [Tentacles] (2015) through the representation of African-Antillean sea deities. Finally, I offer an in-depth analysis of how Uruguayan Fernanda Trías preannounces a plague which causes food scarcity, as she ponders the female role of caretakers in Mugre rosa [Pink Slime] (2020).
Featured Measurement to Support a Just, Equitable, and Green Post-pandemic Recovery: Why Integrative, Holistic Measurement Approaches and Inclusive Data Matter View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Stacey Haugen
The transition towards a green, equitable economic recovery requires attention to three core questions of post-pandemic population surveillance: (1) integration of data across sectors and geophysical spaces; (2) understanding measurement frameworks and methodologies, and (3) inclusive data collection. While the scope, volume and availability of data pertaining to social, ecological and health considerations has increased significantly in recent years, there are barriers to the use of such data, and their linkage to public policy. Some of these barriers include a focus on sector specific considerations, the growing complexity of data provision, and jurisdictional obstacles. These present challenges for integrating data to support post-pandemic sustainability, which must be attentive to the limits of growth. This study asked: How can the data within sustainability indicators and frameworks be best measured, interpreted, and used to both understand the “state” of data and measurement, but also leverage policy action to support a just, green post-pandemic recovery? Utilizing a scoping review method, this project examined the academic, grey and policy literatures nationally (within Canada) and globally to analyze what is being measured, how, where, and why. Despite widespread support for improved integration across data collection and indicator and framework development, few substantive, practice-based and policy-focused approaches that rise to that aspiration are in place. Moving towards a sustainable post-pandemic recovery will require that we: (1) address data gaps from marginalized populations; (2) establish consistency across data collection and the use of national indicators, that complement international goals; and, (3) make explicit linkages across sectors.
To What Extent Are Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals Incorporated into Business Models of Latin American Companies? : An Exploratory Study View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Felipe Perez
This is an exploratory study to understand how present sustainability is in the business models of a sample of Latin American companies. For this, two analytical frameworks are used: the Pentadimensional Model developed by a team of professors from the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and the Epstein and Buchovar Corporate Sustainability Model. The study also aims to explore how involved top management is in engaging its stakeholders and how deep their connection is with society. We also wanted to assess, how present SDGs are in the business models of the sample of companies according to the perceptions of their executives. The findings highlight that there is not only a considerable amount of ignorance about SDGs, but also how these relate to what their companies do. On the other hand, despite the fact that a good part of the companies say they have strategies in which sustainability has been incorporated, only a minority claims to be in the business of sustainability where actual results are reflected in the financial bottom line.
Nature-centered Leadership: Humanity’s “Random Walk” on a Path to a Sustainable Future View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Spencer S Stober
Nature-centered Leaders recognize the possibility that some aspects of social systems are analogous to biological systems. Both systems are complex and adaptive, but the extent to which our understanding of biological systems can (or should) inform the study of human social systems remains an open question. Memes were first described by Richard Dawkins as ideas, symbols, and practices transmitted within and across cultures from generation to generation. The viability of memetic theory remains controversial, but recent studies enhance the concept and explanatory methods to study organizational phylogenesis (the evolution of human organizations that comprise our social systems). This paper begins with a literature review to illustrate the development of “memetics” as a concept and theoretical framework. Complex adaptive systems will be introduced with a focus on the gene-meme analogy to compare and contrast the emergent properties of biological and social systems. Genetic variation in biological systems is a “raw material” upon which natural selection acts in the evolution of organisms. It remains unclear whether memes are the raw material upon which we humans act to construct our social systems. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to be concerned that rapid-fire communications coupled with a cacophony of information challenges our ability to reach consensus on the wicked problems facing our species. Nature-centered Leaders assume this to be the case and leverage their understanding of complex adaptive systems to guide our “random walk” for a sustainable future. To conclude, practical suggestions are offered for aspirant Nature-centered Leaders.
Justifications to the Net Zero Energy Community in Response to the Paris Agreement View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Haleh Moghaddasi, Charles Culp, Jorge Vanegas
With increased efforts toward planning for climate change mitigation and the design of Net Zero (NZ), this research addresses two key barriers in achieving the targets: (1) the lack of consensus in the existing NZ, which creates uncertainties and causes delays in actions; and (2) excluding the community power systems and energy use in transports from NZ with the main focus on the buildings. A model to identify Net Zero Community (NZC) will present the improved energy efficiency strategies and renewable power generations. To clarify NZC, we expand on the outcomes in current NZC developments and deliver requirements that include adaptable codes and standards. A scalable NZC model to estimate the fraction of renewable energy to total energy use is applied to five worldwide precedent cases. The analysis identifies the NZC targets, energy efficiency measures, and power systems in each case. The process compares the energy modeling simulation with monitored data to evaluate their progress on NZC commitment and deliver potential recommendations in achieving their NZC goals. The application process of the NZC model includes: (1) improved energy efficiency measures in buildings; (2) electrification; and (3) existing renewable-based power systems that mainly reduce emissions (solar, wind, and bioenergy). The outcome of this research will help stakeholders, including policymakers and developers in balancing out on-site energy demand with renewable supply with a practical set of energy efficient technologies as a transferable solution in achieving their NZ emission targets.
Resilience and Sustainability in the Islamic World: Climate Resilience in Countries with Majority Muslim Population View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Haris Alibašić
An expanding collection of research emphasizes the significance of the intersection of beliefs, political systems, and economic conditions in evaluating national strategic resilience and sustainability planning. Nevertheless, thus far, little or no research is available on the role of Islamic teachings in predominantly Muslim countries around the globe and the commitment to climate resilience and sustainability by those nations. Islam is the world's second-largest religion, and over fifty countries in the world have the Muslim majority, affected by the changing climate. The research analyzes the existing information and data on resilience and sustainability in the Islamic world, using the annual United Nations' reports on Sustainable Development Goals for individual nations and national development strategies principally. The extent of the Islamic world's contribution to meeting the broader global goals to the Paris Climate Agreement goals is unclear: greenhouse gas emission reductions. There is no available research analyzing the totality of the Islamic world's commitment to resilience and sustainability, the effects of different forces of Islam, political and economic systems, and arrangements in those countries, and their impact on such activities.
The Renewable Energy Revolution: How the Growth of Renewable Energy Is Being Grossly Underestimated View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Adrah Niccolo Parafiniuk
Pundits and energy organizations like the IEA (International Energy Association) have continually underestimated the rate of growth for renewable energy. This trend continues in 2021 and 2022 as estimates for the growth of solar and wind in particular are based on the idea that growth will continue, but that the rate of growth will slow. The IEA estimates that the growth rate of wind power will slow in 2021 and 2022. Looking at historical data, current growth rates, continually lowering prices, and commitments by nations, locales, and businesses, it is clear that estimates for the future of renewable energy should be much higher than they currently are. This paper demonstrates that renewable energy is poised to become the number one source of energy much sooner that most estimates conclude. This portends well for the transition to a greener worldwide economy.
Importance of Participatory Methods when Designing for Inclusivity: Exploring How Covid19 Has Highlighted the Search for Interconnected Needs in Family Life View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Raquel Cañete, María Estela Peralta
Participatory design and interdisciplinarity are essential aspects when designing for children with accentuated needs, however, they have been even more relevant during the pandemic. Covid 19 has established structural and social changes in our society (telework, online education, globalization of work schedules, etc.) making family conciliation a great difficulty for families with children with accentuated needs, and therefore, low self-autonomy. This situation has reinforced, the importance of the interconnected needs and skills of the different agents (i.e., parents, children, therapists, teachers) that are involved in their lives, which, therefore, should be considered when working on these children´s self-autonomy. This work explores how these interconnected experiences should be reflected in product design, and the importance of having participatory design and interdisciplinarity at the core of the process, to create meaningful products to improve these children´s independence. This work is developed by implementing bibliographical research, surveys, and interviews with family members and professionals, which explored the perspectives of different agents on what the pandemic implied and the importance of translating them into design methods. The results showed that the needs of parents, professionals, and children differ from each other, thus, in order to create products that help these children to be more independent, the combination of experiences of the different agents should serve as the basis for the product design. It is a first step towards participatory design and interdisciplinary methods focused on interconnected needs, experiences, and culture for designing social sustainable products.
