Sustainability Norms Research Articles

The Shifting Context of Sustainability: Growth and the World Ocean Regime

To better understand how regimes select norms and how sustainability concepts are used and change, we conduct a quantitative content analysis of important documents specifically related to a critical Earth system, the “World Ocean.” Using the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture reports from 1995 to 2016, we find that economic norms have always been dominant, and the use of sustainability concepts has become increasingly growth oriented. Discourses of restraint, relevant to principles of sustainability, are virtually absent. Growth is the central driving concern for the World Ocean Regime, a noncodified, economistic regime that governs the oceans. We conclude that the norms of sustainability have been selected for fitness with the neoliberal political–economic order and a totalizing ideology of growth, and that sustainability concepts are used as a mask to legitimize extractivist goals that are actually not sustainable.

True sustainable development of green technology: The influencers and risked moderation of sustainable motivational behavior

AbstractTo explore the essence of sustainable behaviour, a comparison was made between users' and non‐users' attitudes towards bike sharing, a green technological mode of transport. The effects of three concepts on the sustainable motivational behaviour of using a bike‐sharing service were studied: (i) the individual's own sustainable consciousness and self‐ability (the sustainable aptitude of an object and the belief in one's skills); (ii) confidence in the service's health and environmental benefits (a positive anticipation of health and environmental benefits); and (iii) other people's sustainable norms (behaviour based on other people's sustainable attitudes). A multi‐group analysis indicated significant differences in the users' and non‐users' path estimates, and a risked moderator was obvious for non‐users' sustainable consciousness. Other people's sustainable norms have a greater effect, particularly for users, and confidence is also a critical mediating factor for non‐users of the green technology for truly sustainable development.

Modular Frames: Synthesizing Institutional and Stakeholder Perspectives to Understand Field Changes

Through a longitudinal inductive analysis of the emergence of and changes in sustainability norms and practices in the global palm oil industry, our study reveals the change process through which an “exchange field” evolves into an “issue field” (Zietsma, Groenewegen, Logue, & Hinings, 2016). The findings advance theoretical understandings of field-level changes by bringing together insights from institutional and stakeholder perspectives. There is a growing awareness of the complexity and nested nature of fields, and recognition that field-level changes are induced by the interaction of isomorphism and agency. However, we argue that common institutional analysis frameworks might not sufficiently capture the intricacies of social change processes. Instead, based on empirically grounded findings, we develop the concept of a modular frame–defined as the interaction process, either collaboration or contention, among a group of actors in a situated space and time–to theorize field-level change processes. We c...

Positively deviant: Identity work through B Corporation certification

Despite widespread and growing public interest in sustainability certifications, many social entrepreneurs have opted not to obtain such certification. Drawing on recent studies highlighting the salience of both gender and context in shaping differences among social enterprises, we develop an identity-based framework for explaining heterogeneity in the adoption of sustainability certification. We test our ideas using a sample of 1251 U.S. firms obtained from B Lab, the organization responsible for assessing Certified B Corporations. Our results show that woman-owned businesses are twice as likely to qualify for certification and more than three times as likely to certify. Moreover, this propensity to certify is amplified in contexts where sustainability norms are weak, mimetic pressure to obtain sustainability certification is low, and woman-owned businesses are less prevalent. These findings support our central theoretical argument that certification differences are due to actors' efforts to engage in identity work, strengthening their sense of self-coherence and distinctiveness by way of this authentication process. We conclude by highlighting our contributions to existing scholarship on social entrepreneurship, identity work, and certification adoption, as well as strategic implications for B Lab.

The No TAV Entrepreneurs’ Transition towards a Sustainable Solidarity Economy: Pragmatic Analysis of a Social Innovation Process

Whilst a global transition towards sustainability appears to be a pressing challenge, several surveys have shown that sustainable principles and values seem to emerge on a global scale. Various social movements have laid claim to such a transition. An example of these movements is the No TAV movement in the lower part of the Susa Valley in Italy. Since the 1990s, this area has been the scene of a territorial conflict pitting the local inhabitants against the Italian state on a 54km long railway tunnel project under the Alps. By strongly rejecting this project and collective participation in numerous resistance movements, the Low-Valsusans have gradually become a territorialized community whose members seem to share a set of sustainable principles and values. In our research, we have questioned the impact of this very peculiar context on the local small and medium entrepreneurs, trying to find out if they are sharing the sustainable norms of their community, and whether it influences their activities. Are the Low-Valsusan entrepreneurs currently in transition towards a sustainable solidarity economy? We have been able to portray an ongoing social innovation process in the lower part of the Susa Valley through which these entrepreneurs are gradually getting involved in the implementation of the sustainable principles and values of their community. After the introduction of our transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological framework, this paper will describe this peculiar social innovation process that seems to be currently transforming the Low-Valsusan entrepreneurs’ activities.

Delayed behavioural shifts undermine the sustainability of social-ecological systems.

Natural habitat destruction and fragmentation generate a time-delayed loss of species and associated ecosystem services. As social-ecological systems (SESs) depend on a range of ecosystem services, lagged ecological dynamics may affect their long-term sustainability. Here, we investigate the role of consumption changes for sustainability, under a time-delayed ecological feedback on agricultural production. We use a stylized model that couples the dynamics of biodiversity, technology, human demography and compliance with a social norm prescribing sustainable consumption. Compliance with the sustainable norm reduces both the consumption footprint and the vulnerability of SESs to transient overshoot-and-collapse population crises. We show that the timing and interaction between social, demographic and ecological feedbacks govern the transient and long-term dynamics of the system. A sufficient level of social pressure (e.g. disapproval) applied on the unsustainable consumers leads to the stable coexistence of unsustainable and sustainable or mixed equilibria, where both defectors and conformers coexist. Under bistability conditions, increasing extinction debts reduces the resilience of the system, thus favouring abrupt regime shifts towards unsustainable pathways. Given recent evidence of large extinction debts, such results call for farsightedness and a better understanding of time delays when studying the sustainability of coupled SESs.

The Effect of Values on the Perception of Sustainable Efforts Towards Event Greening

Values are general guides to behaviour from the principles and fundamental convictions which are the standards by which particular good or desirable actions are judged. Every facet of human existence such as health, diet, leisure, quality of life, every day practices; production, consumption, education, research, politics, and societal values are touched by global environmental change. The flourishing of life on earth can be enjoyed when human goods—life, love, liberty, the freedom to pursue a meaningful existence is aligned with the environment around us. Efforts to save the planet remains to be seen from a societal paradigm shift that is taking place. However, it cannot be determined whether the transformation is comprehensive or fast enough. A socially shared cognitive-normative framework in values, norms, beliefs, and strategies typically entails new principles of social organization in the paradigm shift. A significant impact on everyday thinking and practices in substantial parts of the world is a result from sustainability ideas, norms, and values that permeate an ever-increasing part of modern life. This is occurring not only in developed countries but also in developing ones such as Malaysia. The emerging sustainability paradigm is being established by a process of multiple initiatives facilitated by collective learning of new values, ideas, and practices through associations, communities, business, and political networks. There are not only values and beliefs shifting, some reordering of priorities such as governance reforms and innovations, and changes in many daily practices as well. The higher values indicate greater image transfer on the state of the environment. As such, higher values indicate stronger intentions towards environmental issues. The aim of this study is the attendees’ perception on efforts from event organizers to implement sustainable practices in event management and to explore event attendees’ perception of sustainable efforts towards event greening. The focus of this research is to investigate the relationships between the proposed psychological components of values and the influences on perception of attendees on sustainable efforts towards event greening.

Anti-friction and wetting behavior of a new polymer composite coating towards aluminium and dry machining of AA2024 alloy by coated end mills

Soft coating materials now find increasing scopes of applications in environment friendly dry machining of difficult materials like aluminium and its alloys. A composite solid lubricant coating (Gr-X), having graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as principal constituents, has been proposed to serve the purpose of arresting Built UP Edge (BUE) and Built Up Layer (BUL) in dry machining of aluminium. Its performance has been evaluated in depth in comparison to that of MoS2, which is a well-known solid lubricant. The chemical inertness and coefficient of friction of Gr-X were investigated in wettability and pin on disc test respectively. Compared to MoS2, Gr-X exhibited its less chemical affinity and coefficient of friction (especially at humid atmosphere) with aluminium. Further Gr-X was evaluated in end milling of AA2024 under dry environment, which promises green machining. BUE and BUL were completely eliminated by Gr-X coated tool, resulting in good surface finish and lower magnitude of cutting force. Summarily the proposed Gr-X coating can be a good and feasible economic solution in low Material Removal Rate (MRR) regime machining at low to medium range speeds, which also conforms to the norms of sustainability.

Thinking about the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Can a China‐Led Development Bank Improve Sustainability in Asia?

AbstractThis article offers three arguments outlining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's significance and to help policy planners navigate the complex relationship between China, the Bank and themes of sustainability. First, there is little uncertainty that China is serious about development and sustainability. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is but one extension of China's increasing commitment to sustainability and should therefore be embraced by development stakeholders. Second, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's commitment to infrastructure development complements other multilateral development banks and should not be considered a challenger to the existing order of development lending practices. Rather, China's interest in establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank points to competitive pluralism and poses no threat to the existing international order. Finally, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's sustainability guidelines are not unique and fall in line with similar policy of other large development banks. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank therefore reinforces sustainability norms while posturing itself as a partner for development.

SOFIA’S choices: Discourses, values, and norms of the World Ocean Regime

Some scholars have thought the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea would transform marine politics and policy by incorporating social values of equity and justice via the Common Heritage of Mankind and authentic conservation of an essential part of the biosphere, displacing the dominant commodification of the ocean. Likewise, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization has claimed that the “productivity paradigm” of growth in fishery catch has been replaced by balanced norms of sustainability. This article tests these claims by asking “What is the ‘generative grammar’, or value-based blueprints, of governance for the World Ocean?” using a quantitative content analysis of all extant State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) reports (1995–2016). Not only does the analysis disprove the FAO’s assertions, this research reveals an otherwise invisible, non-codified economistic regime governing the World Ocean that is guided by the norms of sheer volume production, named here simply the “World Ocean Regime.” This partially explains why the marine world is experiencing structural ecological changes, including massive biodiversity loss partly driven by overfishing. The analysis finds that overfishing, ecological life support, moral aesthetic values, social equity, and science are very minor concerns for the World Ocean Regime. Governance is the second-most important set of discourses, but this governance is clearly driven by economic values and norms. The World Ocean Regime has critical implications not only for the sustainability of the World Ocean, but the planetary system that depends on the World Ocean.

Brazil: (Future) green energy power and strategic partner for the EU?

This article explores and compares self- and xeno-visions of Brazil’s energy policy in relation to the European Union (EU) and the other BRICS countries. Brazil’s competence as ‘green’ or ‘environmental power’ is often highlighted in view of its ascending role in international relations. Yet, its diverse and green domestic energy matrix of around 45 per cent renewables is a mixed blessing. The EU and Brazil seem natural partners in their normative orientation towards sustainability, but empirical evidence from our media analysis of the two leadings dailies – Folha de Sao Paulo and Valor Economico – and expert interviews in Brasilia and Brussels suggest a picture of normative discrepancies in interpreting the guiding norms of sustainability, competitiveness and security.

Self-Organization and the Bypass: Re-Imagining Institutions for More Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food

In exploring the social dynamics of agrofood movements in Ecuador as examples of self-organization (i.e., locally distributed and resolved development), this article departs from a preoccupation with innovation by means of design and the use of scaling as a metaphor for describing research contributions in agriculture and food. The case material highlights that much development is contingent, unpredictable, and unmanageable as well as unbound to fixed spaces or places. In their study of people’s daily practice, the authors do not find clear boundaries between dichotomies of internal–external, lay–expert, traditional–modern, or local–global organization, but heterogeneous blends of each. For the purposes of sustainable development, this highlights the need for attention to be paid to relationships (social, material, and biological), adaptation (the capacity to innovate), and responsibility (adherence to norms of sustainability). Far from romanticizing self-organization, the authors acknowledge that people and their institutions share varying degrees of complicity for the goods as well as the bads of their economic activity, such as mass soil degradation, agrobiodiversity loss, and poisoning by pesticides. Nevertheless, even under highly difficult conditions, certain actors effectively bypass the limitations of formal institutions in forging a socio-technical course of action (i.e., policy) for relatively healthy living and being. As such, the authors have come to appreciate self-organization as a neglected, if paradoxical, resource for policy transition towards more sustainable agriculture and food.

Boulevard to broken dreams, Part 1: the Polonoroeste road project in the Brazilian Amazon, and the World Bank's environmental and indigenous peoples' norms

ABSTRACT Before the mid 1980s the World Bank conceived "nature" as something to be "conquered" and "environment" as a source of resources for "development". By the late 1980s the Bank incorporated norms of environmental sustainability and indigenous peoples' protection into its mandate, and other development-oriented IOs followed. This two-part paper describes how a fight over the Polonoroeste road project in the Brazilian Amazon - inside the Bank, between the Bank and NGOs supported by the US Congress, and between the Bank and the government of Brazil -helped to generate the far-reaching change of policy norms. The first part describes how the project was designed as an innovation in sustainable development in rainforests; and how it provoked a firestorm inside the Bank as it moved towards project approval.

Energy diplomacy in the context of multistakeholder diplomacy: The EU and BICS

This paper examines a supranational actor, the European Union (EU), as a producer of energy diplomacy. This study uses a comparative analytical framework of state-centred vs. multistakeholder diplomacies to explore EU energy diplomacy towards the ‘emerging’ powers of Brazil, India, China and South Africa (BICS). It also elaborates the multistakeholder model by advocating the inclusion of a new element – a consumer of diplomatic actions – into its conceptualization. In this way the paper suggests a new synthesis of the concepts of multistakeholder and public diplomacies. Advancing the notion of energy diplomacy, our analysis suggests that this type of diplomacy goes beyond state actors as producers of diplomatic outcomes, and is no longer confined to the norms of security of supply and competitiveness; EU energy diplomacy is a complex blend of multistakeholder and state-centred diplomacies, participants (producers and consumers) and communication modes. This comprehensive approach to diplomacy – led in the EU’s case by norms of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply – is a response to the challenges of global governance, multipolarity and multinational cross-sectoral networks.

Chinese investments in Africa: corporate responsibility and sustainability norms

For its development, Africa unquestionably needs foreign investments. Consequently, developing global partnerships for economic and social development is high on the agenda of African Governments across the continent. New partnerships with emerging economies have formed alongside traditional ones, and through its investments in African countries, China has become one of Africa's major economic partners. Even though progressively diversifying, Chinese investments have concentrated in the resources and the infrastructure development sectors which are environmentally sensitive. This paper explores Chinese investments in African states from a perspective of norms ('sustainability') and institutions aimed at including the environmental dimension of sustainability. The environmental sustainability of Chinese engagement is discussed with regard to its inclusion or otherwise in incentives and regulations concerning Chinese enterprises and financial lending institutions activities abroad.

“All My Means are Sane, My Motive and My Object Mad”

Neoliberal economic globalization is motivated by the quest for ever-increasing profits and endless economic growth. Both the motive and means of economic globalization prove to be irrational in the context of the ecological limits of the planet. Rising rates of social and economic inequality coupled with growing ecological breakdown and climate change demonstrate that this economic model is neither socially just nor environmentally sustainable. Ethical analysis of different models of globalization provides alternatives rooted in moral norms of justice, equity, democratic participation and environmental sustainability. Studies of human happiness demonstrate that once basic needs are met, there is little to no correlation between increasing levels of per capita consumption and human wellbeing and happiness (Diener et al., 2009; Helliwell, Layard & Sachs, 2012). Hence affluent nations can and must decrease rates of per capita consumption, which can be accomplished while enhancing happiness and wellbeing. While economic growth for poor nations remains a priority to meet basic needs, affluent nations such as the United States need to shift away from neoliberal economics based on endless growth to more localized and sustainable ways of living.

Exploring a Sustainable Social Norm in Korean Wedding Culture

Exploring a Sustainable Social Norm in Korean Wedding Culture

From pronouncing to implementing business sustainability norms in the South - the UN Global Compact and World Bank Group engagement

With increased occurrence of financial and economic crises across the globe, international organisations have pressed for and issued basic governance rules. From OECD's 'Principles of Corporate Governance' to the UN proclamation of the 'Global Compact', those recommendations can only become effective if implemented at the national, local and individual firm level. The World Bank Group has attempted to translate those concepts into practice by engaging developing countries' governments to establish reliable regulatory frameworks, and supporting business to make more comprehensive investments. This essay focuses on the Bank's efforts of getting firms and governments in the South involved in pursuing governance and foster sustainable and inclusive growth. Progress is forthcoming, however, global norm building in business and finance is still in process and will only succeed if efforts on both fronts understand the non-enforceable character of global governance rules in a world of nation states.

‘Glocal’ discussion as leverage. Debating urban sustainability in Bogotá

Based on a joint project of IASS and the Botanical Garden of Bogota, the research note discusses the outlook for global sustainability norms, objectives or standards to become meaningful at city level. The action research project comprised four conference and dialogue events, ex-ante expert interviews, and questionnaires to the general public of the events, which were evaluated mainly qualitatively with quantitative elements. The paper presents a few very first results of the case study. References to the global level can fulfill a legitimating function for certain local actors and programs and can work as a dialogue enabler; their applicability depends on the specific cultural contexts for sustainability topics; political polarization regarding these topics is risky, but also promising for transformational ambitions. The thesis that ‘think locally, act locally’ might be the better recipe for integrating global considerations into local action is therefore refuted. In the case of Bogota, a city politically at odds with the nation it heads, sustainability transformations will definitely benefit from transdisciplinary contributions which involve international expertise.

Global Sustainable Development Governance

Effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may be dependent upon domestic configurations of institutions and political will, but the irreducible nature of the challenge demands a global governance component. Myriad developmental issues are transboundary in character, from forest stewardship, to soil fertility, desertification and air pollution. Solutions to other goals first proposed in the agreement of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio in 2012 (Rio 20), such as poverty eradication, non-communicable disease control, health system reform and educational provision, are conventionally regarded as embedded principally in domestic (read: sovereign) political and institutional processes. But they also have a crucial global dimension – especially as policy space for transformative thinking on public goods delivery is increasingly circumscribed by prescriptive economic models and expansive transnational trade regulation. The massive scope of the SDGs poses a significant global governance dilemma, risking a potential retreat into silo particularisms and policy prescriptions which do not account for the cross-cutting nature of many of the goals, or, equally problematic, an overambitious governance frame which identifies all of these issues as facets of the same problem, but offers little in the way of concrete solutions. This paper provides an overview of a long history of goal-setting in global governance for sustainable development and highlights a number of pending challenges, including: a lack of normative clarity regarding the sustainable development norm; a stagnation in international law; profusion of private rule-systems; fragmentation in the UN sustainable development complex; and the challenge of rightful authority in the absence of an apex coordinating organisation.