The Sustainability Learning Forum

Every drop counts

José Lopez, Nestlé

Water will run short in the future. In 2030 five billion people will not have access to adequate sanitary installations. Major causes for this shortage will be due to a fast-growing global population and the effects of climate change. In this discussion, Dr. Filiz Demirayak (WWF Turkey) and José Lopez (Executive Vice President Nestlé) have different opinions about water politics but are in complete agreement that every drop counts. more[...] login_required

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The Global Food System, Environmental Protection, and Human Rights

Prof. Carmen G. Gonzalez, Seattle University School of Law

The global food system is exceeding ecological limits while failing to meet the nutritional needs of a large segment of the world’s population. While law could play an important role in facilitating the transition to a more just and ecologically sustainable food system, the current legal framework fails to regulate food and agriculture in an integrated manner. more[...] login_required

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United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

United Nations

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) is being organized in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution 64/236 (A/RES/64/236). The Conference will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. It is envisaged as a Conference at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives. The Conference will result in a focused political document. more[...] login_required

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Human Rights Council takes strong action on water, climate change and toxic waste

The United Nations Human Rights Council has taken great strides to ensure national water governance better considers human rights, and has also taken into account national concerns over the effects environmental degradation is having on human rights, according to environmental nongovernmental organizations Green Cross International and WaterLex. more[...] login_required

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Achieving land degradation neutrality no longer an option, claims UN

Members of the UN Decade for Deserts and the fight against Desertification (UNDDD), the International Year of Forests and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) meet in Algeria to discuss the international problem of growing drylands. more[...] login_required

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Achieving land degradation neutrality no longer an option, claims UN

Wagaki Mwangi, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Members of the UN Decade for Deserts and the fight against Desertification (UNDDD), the International Year of Forests and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) meet in Algeria to discuss the international problem of growing drylands. more[...] login_required

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What's On Your Plate?

An illustrated video on the challenges of the dominant food system, and alternatives for creating healthy people and a healthy planet. Commissioned by the University of Vermont. more[...]

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Bangladesh: Climate Change Threatens Livelihood

Climate change continues to threaten food security in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, where rising sea levels and seasonal storms worry farmers. Those living along the country's southern coast fear for their crops and livelihoods. Now the Government of Bangladesh is working with IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development to provide training to farmers with the aim of introducing new techniques to beat the crisis. more[...]

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The world' s challenge - Feeding 9 billion people

Dr. Marion Guillou, INRA (Instut national de la recherche agronomique)

If a global population of 9 billion by 2050 is to be fed adequately, more food must be produced, and this in keeping with increasingly stringent standards of quality and with respect for the environment. Not to mention the land that must be set aside for the production of energy resources, industrial goods, carbon storage and the protection of biodiversity. more[...] login_required

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Global Compact International Yearbook 2009

Dr. Elmer Lenzen

The inaugural issue of the Global Compact International Yearbook , highlighting key sustainability issues on the international agenda and showcasing a wide array of corporate practices, has just been published. more[...] login_required

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Sustainability - A Biological Perspective

Prof. Stephen Morse, University of Surrey - Centre for Environmental Strategy

Encouraging students to engage in the challenges of sustainability, this text focuses not only on theories but more importantly on how they are translated into practice. Models and theories are illustrated with real world examples to help students connect with genuine issues and appreciate the importance of an interdisciplinary perspective. more[...] login_required

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Singapore’s growing Role in Asian Food Security

Yang Razali Kassim, Nanyang Technological University

Singapore’s approach to food security is set to undergo a fundamental rethink — from being a passive food-importer to a more active contributor to the regional and global food system. A mental map of a multi-pronged strategy, spearheaded by research and development, is emerging on Singapore’s food security front that could turn old limitations into new strengths. Certain realities clearly define food security planning: Singapore is not an agricultural country, has little land to grow its own food, and is almost totally dependent on food imports. As a food importer Singapore is perpetually subject to the vagaries of external forces when it comes to feeding its own people. This picture may soon change. more[...] login_required

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Renewable Energy in the Middle East and North Africa

Dr. Franz Trieb, German Aerospace Center - DLR
Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Technische Univeristät Dresden

Until very recently, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region had not indicated any serious interests in the use of renewable energies, as these technologies were considered insufficient, irrelevant, and expensive. Countries with oil or gas became rich by exploiting their fossil fuel reserves, while the other countries claimed to be too poor to be able to afford wind or solar power. This picture changed in 2008 when the price of a barrel of oil climbed to $140. more[...]

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Sustainable Forest Management and Carbon in Tropical Latin America: The Case for REDD+

Dr. Robert Nasi, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

Tropical forests are threatened by the distinctly different processes of deforestation and forest degradation. While deforestation involves the conversion of forests to another land use type, degradation results in forests that have lost some of their ability to provide environmental goods and services. In economic terms, deforestation tends to be associated with investments in other land uses, mainly agriculture, whereas degradation tends to be linked to short-term extraction of forest rents or wildfires. Forest degradation translates into losses of biodiversity, reduced capacity of forests to provide the full spectrum of goods and services, enhanced likelihoods of subsequent deforestation, and reduced resilience and adaptation potential to climate change. more[...] login_required

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Business and Climate Change

Lila Karbassi, UN Global Compact

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called climate change “the defining challenge of our time” – for good reasons. Climate change is the most pressing and disruptive issue the world is facing today. It affects every aspect of society, from energy resources and water sustainability to public health, food security, and even human security. more[...] login_required

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