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Sustainability for the Nation Resource Connections and Governance Linkages (2013) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

1 The Challenge of Managing Connected Systems
Pages 13-25

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From page 13...
... : "To create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony and that permit fulfilling social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations." Sustainability issues occur at all scales from the global, such as the challenge of meeting the needs of a potential global population of 9 billion, to the national scale, to the regional and local scales. Among many other disciplines, science plays a key role in advancing sustainability.
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From page 14...
... . Feedback loops operate, multiple stable states typically exist, and surprises are inevitable (Kates and Clark, 1996)
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From page 15...
... A healthy natural environment, though not the only component of sustainability, is an essential one; clean air, abundant and clean fresh water, biodiversity of plants, fish, and wildlife, and robust, highly-functioning ecosystems are all desired aspects of a healthy environment. In addition to maintaining a healthy environment, a sustainable society also provides systems to support other important societal values, including strong systems for preventive care and health care, public safety, transportation, energy, education, and housing.
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From page 16...
... . Some select sustainability objectives include: increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy; measuring, reporting, and reducing direct and indirect greenhouse gas emis sions; conserving and protecting water resources; eliminating waste, preventing pollution, and increasing recycling; and designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating high-performance sustainable buildings, among others (NASA, 2012)
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From page 17...
... . EITF serves as the central managing office for the development of large scale Army renewable energy projects.
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From page 18...
... . While market signals drive innovations in energy technologies and can influence the search for energy substitutes, the continued presence of externalities and impacts on environmental goods such as biodiversity, air quality, and so on, associated with energy generation and use suggest the need for a decision framework and policies that incorporate and integrate these multiple considerations.
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From page 19...
... The systems that must be considered in addressing sustainability challenges are referred to in this report as social-ecological systems.2 These complex systems include the natural resource domains (air, fresh water, 2 The term social-ecological systems is an increasingly used research framework. Ostrom E
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From page 20...
... Furthermore, the impacts of indirect connections to supply chains for manufactured and agricultural goods, or the connection to externalities such as the costs of the loss of ecosystem services, might also need to be factored in when addressing sustainability challenges. Some connections are obvious.
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From page 21...
... The Mojave Desert, discussed as another example, is used for recreation, housing, and military training and is a premium location for renewable energy development, as it has some of the highest-quality solar and wind resources in the nation. It is also home to mining, agriculture, and human communities, as well as unique ecosystems and a number of endangered species.
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From page 22...
... . On the other hand, sustainability approaches that optimize a bundle of benefits could help meet energy needs while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sustaining biodiversity, and enhancing food security.
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From page 23...
... Accessed March 26, 2013. Ecologically Sustainable Development Steering Committee Endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments.
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From page 24...
... 2007. OECD Sus tainable Development Studies: Institutionalising Sustainable Development.
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From page 25...
... 2005. Securing the future: delivering UK sustainable development strategy.
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Key Terms

  • resource connections
  • governance linkages
  • managing connected
  • der voet
  • renewable energy

  • sustainability science
  • sustainable development
  • greenhouse gas
  • accessed october
  • gas emissions

  • sustainability issues
  • sustainability challenges
  • fresh water
  • mojave desert
  • future generations

  • energy goals
  • sustainability efforts
  • energy council
  • embraced sustainability
  • energy initiatives

  • energy consumption
  • sustainability goals
  • senior energy
  • national environmental
  • ecologically sustainable

  • reducing greenhouse
  • army senior
  • accessed february
  • accessed march
  • indirect aspects


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