Reflection and Reaction
People, Planet, and Consumption: How Young New Zealanders Are Responding to Their Awareness of Consumption and Ecological Concerns View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jo Bailey
Driven by consumerism, resource depletion directly impacts ecological degradation and contributes to planetary environmental destruction. This study explores how young New Zealander citizens (aged between 22-29 years) developed an awareness of the effects of consumption and response to related ecological concerns. Using a modified grounded theory approach (one-to-one and focus group) to elicit and examine their narratives, the research sought to identify key drivers that shaped these young people’s awareness of ecological degradation and conservation actions. Study implications are relevant for policymakers, educators and parents to understand and develope future generations of ecological citizens. Changing dominant economic, political and social systems to develop individuals holding post-materialistic values and share ecological worldviews will not be easy. This will require dynamic change to parenting approaches and other dominant models, including education. Structural changes initiated with a clear vision of what is needed and shared by trusted leaders across all levels of society, rather than just mandatory legislation changes, could help shift citizens towards more sustainable practices. Parents taking their children into the outdoors and exposing them to free-ranging exploration of nature develops long-lasting connections and environmental awareness. Introducing a new education paradigm, that places sustainability as the central core in thinking, teaching and learning. An education model that promotes a communal approach to teaching ecological citizenship, where social agency rather than individual agency is championed to prevent young people feeling overwhelmed with the complexity of what they are facing in light of environmental and social challenges associated with anthropogenic environmental change.
Featured Local Solutions to Solve Latin American Malnutrition Issues View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Claudia Ribeiro Pereira Nunes
Food availability is characterized by the global consequences of the stark contrast between the developed and the developing world. Although plenty of food is available to feed the world's population, because we are on a biological–industrial revolution, its equal distribution remains the main challenge. Latin America's 'have-nots' are becoming poorer. Malnutrition affects 400 million people in developing countries, an essential contributing factor to half of the deaths of millions of children each year from infectious diseases. In this context, the research core is to understand if it is possible to decentering sustainability to promote access to adequate and safe food. Sustainable agriculture can only be implemented in a sound ecosystem. The methodology approach is a literature review and data analysis of OCDE reports. The outcomes and findings point to concrete initiatives to favor economic growth in developing countries rural communities. Sustainable agriculture and rural development are essential for implementing an integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security and food safety. Therefore, local producers and farmers would be better assisted by guaranteed purchasing their products rather than through financial aid. Such a guarantee would also effectively transfer new agricultural technologies and marketing techniques to small rural farms, enabling farmers to grow and sell other high-quality products.
Improving Inclusion in the Implementation of Sustainability Commitments in Nigeria: Assessing Sustainability Awareness and Knowledge View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Okechukwu Enechi, Philipp Pattberg
Nigeria made historic commitments at COP 26 to attain net zero carbon emissions by 2060 and to end deforestation by 2050. Nigeria has taken steps to meet these commitments by enacting the Climate Change Act 2021, establishing the Climate Change Council, launching an energy transition plan, and establishing an integrated financing framework as part of the implementation mechanism. However, optimism about achieving these commitments is tempered by a lack of clarity concerning the mobilization of multistakeholder participation in the implementation process at all levels, especially at the local level. This is attributed to a perceived knowledge and awareness gap, which constrains a multi-stakeholder approach at all levels to promote inclusion in the implementation process. Climate change awareness is critical for motivating and shaping sustainability actions, including mobilization of inclusion in the implementation process. Despite its significance in enabling inclusive policy implementation, little pedagogical effort has been made to understand the level of climate change awareness in Nigeria, particularly among local stakeholders. The study, therefore, seeks to fill this gap by examining how well stakeholders working on climate change or being affected by climate change in Nigeria know about the problem. Are the stakeholders and the affected aware of Nigeria's climate change commitments, policies, and implementation? Are the stakeholders aware of and knowledgeable about the interaction between Nigeria’s climate commitments and the SDGs? Consequently, this paper explores awareness of climate change through an expert survey eliciting information from local stakeholders on awareness and knowledge of climate change problems and policies.
From Asian Elephant to Sky Tree: The Path to Rainforest Conservation Stardom View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Liminhao Xue, Tao Zuo
The tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna is one of the two tropical rainforests in China. The rich species of plants and animals make it an important scientific investigation site and an important research base. And the protection of tropical rainforest is very important both for biodiversity study and sustainable development. In recent years, Asian elephant living in the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna China has received attention both at home and abroad. The northward migration of Asian elephants living in the rainforest has brought attention to the importance of coexistence and interrelation between humans and wild animals. This paper proposed a stardom path of tropical rainforest conservation based on a seven-day field research and investigation by participatory observation, semi-structure interview, and practical experience on the past, nowadays and future of the Asian elephant, Sky tree and traditional culture of local Dai people. The rainforest protection should obey the natural rules, maintain the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In this way, human civilization can develop sustainably.
UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Data Centre Industry: Interviews with Experts View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Dominika Izabela Ptach
Data centres are the backbone infrastructure of all digital services and are a critical part of the economy, therefore crucial in achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals. Nevertheless, businesses take a selective, superficial approach to embarking on SDGs and do not acknowledge associated trade-offs. The main aim of this research is to explore the multilevel potential of achieving the SDGs in the context of the data centre industry. The study presents problems in the sector, such as a lack of knowledge of sustainability and SDGs and environmental, social, and economic challenges and opportunities. This project will be of value to researchers and industry stakeholders working towards implementing UN SDGs in this unique industry and could inspire other sectors. The study considers the literature available and qualitative data from the stakeholder interviews. Due to the vastness of the industry and time constraints, it is impossible to investigate and exhaust the subject thoroughly; however, twelve representatives were chosen to reflect the real-world scenario most reasonably. Since this is ongoing research, further analysis will define relevant goals and targets, how companies currently address SDGs and determine the ways forward to help data centre industry stakeholders with greener decision-making and progress towards SDGs. The findings emphasise the need for whole-system thinking and bespoke education and guidance for the private sector, a key agent in the global sustainability agenda on the example of the data centre industry.
