The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development is approaching its end and it is important to investigate the effects of the efforts to implement education for sustainable development (ESD) nationally, before decisions on forthcoming efforts are made. There are few investigations of the effect of ESD implementation that take a broad approach. In order to measure the educational effects of ESD implementation broadly and inclusively, I introduce the concept of sustainability consciousness (SC), which will be operationalized into the research through a Likert scale questionnaire. This licentiate thesis contributes new knowledge on the implementation of ESD in the Swedish school system as reflected in young people’s SC. Two studies have been conducted. In the first study, I investigated the effects of ESD implementation by a comparison of SC between students in schools with an explicit ESD approach and control schools without an explicit approach. In the second study, I investigated whether the perceptual dip among adolescents found in the field of environmental education was also present in the economic and social dimensions of their SC in addition to the environmental one. The total sample included 2 413 students in 6th, 9th and 12th grades of the Swedish schools system. Results of the two studies indicate that the implementation of ESD in the Swedish compulsory school system does not seem to have been particularly successful as there are only small positive effects of an explicit ESD approach in 6th grade and even a small negative effect of an explicit ESD approach in the 9th grade. Furthermore, the dip in adolescent 9th graders’ SC is confirmed. This indicates that different age groups tackle the effects of the prevailing traditional sustainability teaching in different ways, which suggests that ESD in schools need to be adapted to different levels. / Baksidestext: The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development is drawing to an end and it is important to investigate the effects of implementing education for sustainable development (ESD) nationally. This thesis contributes new knowledge on the implementation of ESD in the Swedish school system. The concept of sustainability consciousness (SC) is introduced and operationalized to measure the educational effects of ESD by taking a broad and inclusive approach in two studies with a total of 2 413 students in 6th, 9th, and 12th grades. The first study investigated differences in students’ SC by comparing students in schools with an explicit ESD approach and control schools without an explicit approach. The second study investigated if there is a dip in 9th graders’ SC in comparison with younger and older age groups. Results reveal that the implementation of ESD in the Swedish schools does not seem to have been particularly successful as there are only small effects of an explicit ESD approach. A dip in adolescent 9th graders’ SC is also confirmed. Different age groups respond to the prevailing traditional sustainability teaching in different ways, which suggest that ESD in schools need to be adapted to different levels.

Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att ta reda på hur statligt ägda företag arbetar med hållbarhetsfrågor och hur dessa förhåller sig till affärsverksamheten.  Metod: Vi har i denna uppsats använt oss av en kvalitativ undersökningsstrategi. Vi har vidare genomfört kvalitativa intervjuer där vi har använt oss av en intervjuguide  innehållande fyra ämnesområden som knyter an till uppsatsens frågeställning. Ämnesområdena är företagets mål, tillvägagångssätt och strategier, GRI:s ramverk samt hållbarhetsredovisningens effekter och framtidsutsikter. Empiri: Vi har samlat in vår empiri genom telefonintervjuer och intervjuer på plats hos de deltagande företagen i studien. De deltagande företagen i denna studie är Vattenfall, Teracom, SAS, Samhall, TeliaSonera, Green Cargo och PostNord där vi har träffat ansvariga inom hållbarhetsområden på respektive företag. Slutsats: Samtliga företag i studien har antingen påbörjat eller strävar efter att integrera hållbarhetsfrågorna i affärsverksamheten, vilket de anser är den enda vägen att gå. Det finns däremot skillnader på hur långt de olika företagen kommit med denna integration. Vi anser att om ett företag ska lyckas med detta så krävs tydliga mål och strategier. / Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out of how state-owned companies work with sustainability issues and how they relate to business Methods: We have used a qualitative research approach. We have also conducted qualitative interviews where we have used an interview guide containing for subject areas,    which are linked to the question of the study. The subjects are the goals for the company, practice and strategies, GRI´s framework and the effects and prospects of sustainability reporting Empirics: We have collected our empirical data through both telephone interviews and on-site interviews with the participating companies in the study. Participating companies in the study are Vattenfall, SAS, Samhall, TeliaSonera, Green Cargo and PostNord where we have met managers in sustainability from each company. Conclusion: All companies in the study have either started or strive to integrate sustainability into business operations, which they believe is the future way to go. However, there are differences in how far the different companies have come with this integration. We believe that if a company is to succeed in this, there must be clear goals and strategies.

The current global economic paradigm, centred on growth, is a significant barrier in the transition towards a sustainable society. Business-as-Usual companies operating within this paradigm are perceived to prosper at the expense of society and environment which is not viable on a finite planet. The need to rethink the purpose of business is inevitable as maximising shareholder value, has been deemed insufficient to create asustainable society. This study aimed to explore: how business models can be used to create value that supports Strategic Sustainable Development. Previous research proposed that the concept of Business Models for Sustainability helps business place sustainability at the core of all consideration. A qualitative research was chosen for which we employed the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development and combined a literature review with an investigation of three expert groups to answer our research question. Our findings showed that, compared to other value forms, system value is the most appropriate concept for businesses striving towards sustainable development. Based on our findings, six themes emerged that businesses need to address to accelerate the speed of change towards sustainability. To make a relevant contribution to the intended audience,a prototype has been developed based on our findings.

abstract: Corporations work to reduce their negative impacts on the environment and society by adopting Sustainable business (SB) practices. Businesses create competitive advantages via practices such as waste minimization, green product design, compliance with regulations, and stakeholder relations. Normative models indicate that businesses should adopt similar sustainability practices, however, contingency theory suggests that effectiveness of practices depends on the context of the business. The literature highlights the importance of organizational culture as a moderating variable between SB practices and outcomes, however this link has not been empirically examined. This thesis presents the development and testing of a theoretical model, using configuration theory, that links SB practices, organizational culture, and financial performance. Published frameworks were utilized to identify SB practices in use, and the Competing Values Framework (CVF) to identify dimensions of culture. Data from 1021 Corporate Sustainability Reports from 212 companies worldwide was collected for computerized text analysis, which provided a measure of the occurrence of a specific SB practice and the four dimensions of the CVF. Hypotheses were analyzed using cluster, crosstab, and t-test statistical methods. The findings contribute significant insights to the Business and Sustainability field. Firstly, clustering of SB practice bundles identified organizations at various levels of SB practice awareness. The spectrum runs from a compliance level of awareness, to a set of organizations aware of the importance of culture change for sustainability. Top performing clusters demonstrated different priorities with regards to SB practices; these were in many cases, related to contextual factors, such as location or sector. This implies that these organizations undertook varying sustainability strategies, but all arrived at some successful level of sustainability. Another key finding was the association between the highest performing SB practice clusters and a culture dominated by Adhocracy values, corroborating theories presented in the literature, but were not empirically tested before. The results of this research offer insights into the use of text analysis to study SB practices and organizational culture. Further, this study presents a novel attempt at empirically testing the relationship between SB practices and culture, and tying this to financial performance. The goal is that this work serves as an initial step in redefining the way in which businesses adopt SB practices. A transformation of SB practice adoption will lead to major improvements in sustainability strategies, and subsequently drive change for improved corporate sustainability. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2017

The proliferation of sustainability reporting has been accompanied with stakeholders’ concerns over the credibility of sustainability reports. This worry has resulted in the assurance of sustainability reports and accordingly, professionals have sought to create a new auditable market and academics to understand this phenomenon. Though previous research has shown that assurers and clients jointly decide the terms of the engagement, assurers’ perceptions of sustainability assurance and assurer–client relationships, in which the engagement takes place, have been overlooked. We try to close this gap by conducting an interview-based study which firstly, examines how assurers view and experience sustainability assurance engagements and secondly, investigates how assurers characterize their relationship with clients. We lead 12 interviews with assurers working for either Mazars, BDO, Grant Thornton, or RSM, covering 11 countries worldwide.   The empirical findings indicate that assurers work with sustainability reports that are unbalanced and inaccurate. Particularly, they view the inaccuracy of nonfinancial data as a challenge to the issuance of sustainability assurance statements. We find that inaccuracy is perceived difficult because assurers lack technical expertise and are unpracticed in auditing qualitative information. Further, when assurers cannot verify the disclosed information, they rather terminate the engagement than issue a presumably misleading assurance statement. The termination of an engagement is, however, the ultimate response and until then, assurers collaborate with the client to be able to issue an assurance statement. Hence, collaboration is considered key to the completion of a sustainability assurance engagement. This research contributes to a better understanding of practitioners’ perspectives on sustainability assurance engagements both practice and relationship-wise. We also develop practical implications and future research avenues.

abstract: One of the key infrastructures of any community or facility is the energy system which consists of utility power plants, distributed generation technologies, and building heating and cooling systems. In general, there are two dimensions to “sustainability” as it applies to an engineered system. It needs to be designed, operated, and managed such that its environmental impacts and costs are minimal (energy efficient design and operation), and also be designed and configured in a way that it is resilient in confronting disruptions posed by natural, manmade, or random events. In this regard, development of quantitative sustainability metrics in support of decision-making relevant to design, future growth planning, and day-to-day operation of such systems would be of great value. In this study, a pragmatic performance-based sustainability assessment framework and quantitative indices are developed towards this end whereby sustainability goals and concepts can be translated and integrated into engineering practices. New quantitative sustainability indices are proposed to capture the energy system environmental impacts, economic performance, and resilience attributes, characterized by normalized environmental/health externalities, energy costs, and penalty costs respectively. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment is proposed which includes externalities due to emissions from different supply and demand-side energy systems specific to the regional power generation energy portfolio mix. An approach based on external costs, i.e. the monetized health and environmental impacts, was used to quantify adverse consequences associated with different energy system components. Further, this thesis also proposes a new performance-based method for characterizing and assessing resilience of multi-functional demand-side engineered systems. Through modeling of system response to potential internal and external failures during different operational temporal periods reflective of diurnal variation in loads and services, the proposed methodology quantifies resilience of the system based on imposed penalty costs to the system stakeholders due to undelivered or interrupted services and/or non-optimal system performance. A conceptual diagram called “Sustainability Compass” is also proposed which facilitates communicating the assessment results and allow better decision-analysis through illustration of different system attributes and trade-offs between different alternatives. The proposed methodologies have been illustrated using end-use monitored data for whole year operation of a university campus energy system. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2018

abstract: Teamwork and project management (TPM) tools are important components of sustainability science curricula designed using problem- and project-base learning (PPBL). Tools are additional materials, beyond lectures, readings, and assignments, that structure and facilitate students' learning; they can enhance student teams' ability to complete projects and achieve learning outcomes and, if instructors can find appropriate existing tools, can reduce time needed for class design and preparation. This research uses a case study approach to evaluate the effectiveness of five TPM tools in two Arizona State University (ASU) sustainability classes: an introductory (100-level) and a capstone (400-level) class. Data was collected from student evaluations and instructor observations in both classes during Spring 2013 and qualitatively analyzed to identify patterns in tool use and effectiveness. Results suggest how instructors might improve tool effectiveness in other sustainability classes. Work plans and meeting agendas were the most effective TPM tools in the 100-level class, while work plans and codes of collaboration were most effective at the 400 level. Common factors in tool effectiveness include active use and integration of tools into class activities. Suggestions for improving tool effectiveness at both levels include introducing tools earlier in the course, incorporating tools into activities, and helping students link a tool's value to sustainability problem-solving competence. Polling students on prior use and incorporating tool use into project assignments may increase 100 level tool effectiveness; and at the 400 level, improvements may be achieved by introducing tools earlier and coaching students to select, find, and develop relevant tools. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Sustainability 2013

Sustainable Development was conceived as a visionary idea to have society meet the needs of the today while also considering those of future generations. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development was developed to provide an operational planning methodology to move society towards ecological and social sustainability. While abundant scientific research and project work have been completed in the ecological issues area - a significant gap remains regarding Social Sustainability. This research project sought to identify leading Actions of Social Sustainability that might strategically remove the systemic conditions (barriers) to Social Sustainability. Reducing the complexity of Social Sustainability for sustainability practitioners can be helpful for working within Strategic Sustainable Development. Using an assessment tool based on Social Sustainability Actions Criteria, leading Actions of Strategic Sustainable Development emerged from case studies and interviews research with social sustainability practitioners and experts. Although this research process was successful, the study of Social Sustainability Actions also resulted in two aspects of proposed discovery: a means to identify systems barriers within a Social Sustainability Actions Criteria Tool and a model of Core Characteristics of Social Sustainability Actions. Additionally proposed, 3 potential Universal Categories of Social Sustainability Actions. / Actions speak louder than words - It means a lot more if we act on our beliefs than if we just talk about them. In this research project, the Action Level of The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is researched with regards to possible leading actions, a strategic planning model for grass roots sustainability work, and 3 potential universal categories for Social Sustainability actions.

Society is facing a crisis of un-sustainability. The sector of higher education is well poised to support transition to a sustainable society. This thesis assesses the efforts of the Campus Sustainability Movement (CSM) in the US and Canada relative to a Strategic Sustainable Development Framework. Key findings indicate that the CSM is utilizing tools and engaging in a variety of actions towards sustainability. However, it is largely failing to use systems thinking to understand the complex interrelationships of its actions. Most efforts lack a strategy, and when strategy is present, it follows more from barriers than from a long-term goal. Current efforts mostly focus on environmental sustainability. The authors present a backcasting from principles of sustainability approach as one means to improve the strategy of the CSM. They also propose a vision for higher education that incorporates sustainability principles and fundamental human needs in an attempt to bring some concreteness to both the environmental and social aspects of sustainability in higher education.

Som invånare i en alltmer global värld, är det kanske inte konstigt att man ibland känner sig liten. Städer växer och därmed kan känslan av att tillhöra ett grannskap lätt försvinna. En känsla av rastlöshet kan göra att det är svårt att hitta något att knyta an till. Man kan argumentera om människans natur, men att människor är sociala varelser som har ett behov av att interagera med varandra, kan nog de flesta av oss skriva under på. Publika platser bör därför fylla behovet av en plats där gemenskap kan växa, men trender inom stadsplanering verkar gå i motsatt riktning. Vi behöver platser, stigar och vägar som är ämnade för oss, där det finns utrymme för möten och samspel. Vi behöver en urban miljö som stöttar vårt vardagsliv och tillåter oss att bara vara. Cultural planning är ett tillvägagångssätt och koncept som har potentialen att sammanfoga glappet mellan stadsplanering och invånarnas behov. I vår studie identifierar och utforskar vi ett nätverk av personer och grupper som är involverade i cultural planning. I nätverket är terminologin omdiskuterad och anses problematisk, vilket ledde oss till våra frågor: Vad är cultural planning? Hur kan cultural planning som koncept bli mer etablerat? Hur kan nätverket inom cultural planning stärkas? Våra mål är att definiera konceptet genom att hitta dess karaktäristiska språk. Detta för att hitta ett gemensamt språkbruk som nätverket kan använda. Vi kallar detta för unboxing cultural planning. Huvudfokus i denna studie är konceptet cultural planning. Då konceptet är så pass omfattande och mångsidigt, kommer vi att undersöka det genom olika teoretiska perspektiv baserade på olika professioner, utifrån tre utgångspunkter; cultural planning som en term, som ett tillvägagångssätt och dess värdegrund. Genom att konstruera fallstudier och analysera dem genom fyra relevanta teorier, kommer vi göra ett förslag på hur konceptet och nätverket kan bli mer etablerat. / As citizens in an increasingly global and digitalized world, everyone feels small from time to time. Cities expand and at the same time the sense of belonging to a neighbourhood decrease. It is hard to find a way to root ourselves. While arguments occur over human nature, it is safe to assert that humans are social beings, and we have a need to interact with each other. Public spaces should fill the need of physical space were communities and neighbourhoods can meet, but trends in city planning move in different directions. We need places, paths and roads that are built for us, where there is room for interaction and encounters. We need an urban everyday life that allows us being human. Cultural planning is an approach and concept that has the potential to fill the void between city planning and citizens’ needs. When talking about tools in the field of cultural planning, we must ask what tools exist and how do we use them? In this thesis we identify and explore a network of people and groups involved with cultural planning, as well as the different tools associated with it. Within the network, the term cultural planning is discussed as problematic. This led us to our questions: How is cultural planning conceptualized? How can cultural planning become more established and recognized? And how can the cultural planning network be strengthened?Our goals are to unbox the concept of cultural planning by finding its language, and during our process help the network in their future work of communicating cultural planning. We call this unboxing cultural planning. The central focus of this study is the concept of cultural planning. Since the concept is complex and not yet established, we will examine cultural planning from three starting points. Using perspectives from different professions and practitioners, we explore cultural planning as a term, as an approach, and as a collection of core values. By constructing case studies and analysing them through four relevant terms, we suggest on how to widen the concept and network of cultural planning.