Development and the Environment: Society, Business, and Social Consensus
The integration of development and environment is an old agenda, but a new one as well. The simultaneous achievement of development and environmental protection is closely related to human development. The fundamental elements are to sustain human develop
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Development and the Environment: Society, Business, and Social Consensus Shiro Hori
Abstract
The integration of development and environment is an old agenda, but a new one as well. The simultaneous achievement of development and environmental protection is closely related to human development. The fundamental elements are to sustain human development, energy, water, and clean air. Universal and clean energy access improves quality of life, water safety improves people’s health, and clean air reduces environmental damage. Concern about the climate is an unavoidable element in any discussion of sustainability for the future, and this requires new social rules. To achieve a sustainable society, the development of social and economic values is key—a development that is founded in social capital, cultivated through appropriate education, and sustained by community. In addition to the community, business sectors play an important role. Business sectors have attached importance to preventing pollution, conducting corporate social responsibility (CSR), and, more recently, implementing sustainable development. Through these efforts, business sectors contribute to sustainable development not only by themselves but also through an international
S. Hori (&) Central Research Institute of Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan e-mail: [email protected]
framework. Throughout these activities, it has become more important for achieving sustainable development to establish social rules and build consensus, since the health of the natural environment is the most basic public good. Keywords
Sustainable development Consensus
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Social norms
Environment, Resources, and Sustainable Development
The deterioration of the natural environment and resources, exacerbated by the global environmental issue of climate change, is the first concern of sustainable development. Environmental conservation is essential to ensuring the quality of life (Fig. 1.1). In 2011, a human development report stressed that sustainability and equality could be achieved most equitably and efficiently by acting to produce energy and conserve ecosystems at the global level. It seems that health, education, income growth, and gender equality are essential elements of these goals. Poor families that depend on natural resources spend much of their time obtaining energy and water. They cannot easily access modern cooking fuel or clean water. These families use women and girls instead of men and boys to collect water and sticks.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020 S. Hori et al. (eds.), International Development and the Environment, Sustainable Development Goals Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3594-5_1
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The elements that ensure the quality of life Energy, water, sanitation, and clean air Development and environment
The future effects on the Earth’s environment Climate change Deterioration of the environment and natural resources Depletion of biodiversity, forests, and fishes
Fig. 1.1 Three elements toward sustainable deve
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