The Natural Edge Project Cents and Sustainability Whole System Design The Natural Advantage of Nations


"We have learned a lot of lessons since Natural Capitalism came out in 1999, that I think will make the next explications of this subject even more powerful and effective."
Amory Lovins, Co-Author of 'Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution', CEO Rocky Mountain Institute





 

Adaptive Governance and Knowledge Strategies for Operationalising Sustainable Development

 
TNEP Secretariat member Charlie Hargroves has been accepted to start his PhD in 2006 at Murdoch University, Perth under the supervision of TNEP mentor Professor Peter Newman.
 
 

Thesis Title

Adaptive Governance and Knowledge Strategies for Operationalising Sustainable Development.


Research aims
The research seeks to investigate the range of proven and emerging mechanisms and methodologies for Adaptive Governance and Knowledge Strategies for Operationalising Sustainable Development. The research will focus on the research and development of industry policy mechanisms to achieve a decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressures.

Thesis Questions
What purposeful policy settings are needed to achieve decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressures?


1. Is the environmental Kruznet’s curve hypothesis (EKC) correct?


2. What is the right policy mix to drive the decoupling process?


3. What are the most effective policies to internalize externalities without harming business competitiveness?


- Product Responsibility legislation,


- Cap and Trade Mechanisms,


- Feebates, rebates, grants,


Looking at leading case studies such as;


- Germany’s Best Available Technology Regulation,


- Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Toxic Use Reduction Act,


- Oregon and California’s Energy Regulation
.


4. What are the most effective policies and reforms to encourage investment in sustainable development?


5. What are the most effective institutional arrangements to achieve sustainable development?


6. What educational reforms are needed?


7. What indicators should be used to measure the process of decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures?


8. What are the leading efforts globally to measure well being and sustainable development?

Possible Outcomes
The possible outcomes of the research as follows;


- A number of papers and articles covering the main areas of research as indicated above.


- Development of material suitable for inclusion in to a policy development handbook for policy makers working in the area of sustainable technology policy.


- Contribution of chapters to the publication, ‘Our Common Future – A 20 Year Response’ currently under development by myself and my research partner Michael Smith (co-editors and co-authors of the book ‘The Natural Advantage of Nations.)


- Contribution of chapters to the publication, ‘The Natural Advantage of Nations (Vol II): Exceeding the Millennium Goals through Sustainable Development’ to be developed in 2007-087 by myself and my research partner Michael Smith (co-editors and co-authors of the book ‘The Natural Advantage of Nations.) along with our team mates at The Natural Edge Project, Cheryl Paten and Nick Palousis.