Sustainable development includes environmental, social and economic dimension, which has become an accepted concept at all levels of society. There is also a need for these dimensions to integrate with each other. To attain a sustainable development it has to be seen as a whole. The environmental objectives were established by Swedish parliament in 1999; however these objectives are only one of the steps in achieving a sustainable society. Swedish municipality are forced to use the environmental objectives for guidance in planning society. Municipalities have a responsibility to integrate environmental issues into political processes and at the same time contribute to an increase of the awareness about these issues. There is no guidance in the work with the environmental objectives and municipality have to work on the basis of their own environment and conditions. The aim of this essay was to study the work of implementing environmental objectives in one municipality, with the focus on the objectives four and fifteen; towards an ecological sustainable development with support of the environmental work of another municipality. The focus of the work lays on the formulation of environmental objectives four and fifteen in order for them to be achieved without difficulty. One conclusion is that none of the chosen environmental objectives are reached. The theoretical discussion highlights the importance of a communicative work between different participants and also information about the environmental issues on the individual level.       This work was considered to contribute to future research concerning municipalities work with environmental objectives.

När en designer tar fram en kampanj finns en underförstådd önskan att mottagaren kommer förändra sina åsikter eller beteenden när hen ser materialet. Men om vi ska använda oss av påverkansstrategier som metod, måste vi undersöka potentiella risker och om det är alls är möjligt att styra mottagare på ett ansvarsfullt sätt. Ett område där det är särskilt intressant att diskutera detta är design kring miljöfrågor. I en fallstudie av en kampanj från Naturskyddsföreningen om bidöden undersöker jag hur design använts för att förmedla insektsdöden som problem och för att uppmuntra till handling, med utgångspunkt i en beteendevetenskaplig teori kallad ”nudge theory”. Jag diskuterar även hur teorins upphovsmän Thaler & Sunstein (2008) applicerar nudge theory på klimatfrågor och granskar kritiskt anammandet av teorin som en del av designprocesser, med anledning av den inneboende risken för paternalism i Thaler & Sunsteins ramverk av påverkansstrategier. Resultatet av analysen är att Thaler & Sunsteins teori om påverkansstrategier innehåller vissa aspekter som kan vara användbara i syfte att uppmuntra miljövänligt beteende, men att teorins liberalistiska teoribas innebär begränsningar som förminskar dess förmåga att låta människors sociala natur inspirera samarbete. De största risker jag identifierat med användandet av påverkansstrategier är att de stjäl vår redan knappa uppmärksamhet, de kan klassificeras som starkare än bara mjuk övertalning och framförallt så finns inte demokratiskt lika förutsättningar för alla aktörer i samhället att producera påverkansstrategier.

<p>This thesis examines how pupils in the upper level of compulsory school learn about environmental issues and related theoretical concepts in an instruction employing an investigative approach and thematically organised content. The results of the study give reason to question some central arguments supporting these designs of instruction. Additionally, and primarily, these results contribute to research on concept formation. An understanding of pupils’ difficulties in learning theoretical concepts as a problem of contextualization is derived, representing an alternative to the influential view in which pupils’ difficulties are seen as a problem of conceptual change.</p><p>Three case studies carried out within the pupils’ regular instruction are presented. The empirical material consists of recorded conversations, observational notes and the pupils’ own written material.</p><p>The first study shows that the pupils experience difficulty in distinguishing among the different meanings attached to individual concepts in various conceptual contexts. This implies that pupils are often unable to identify the meaning relevant to the specific environmental problem on which they are working. The second study shows that the pupils do not make the connection between theoretical concepts and practical activities, as intended in instruction. Instead, they interpret the concepts within separate practical contexts, i.e. interpretative contexts other than the theoretical contexts. Finally, the third study demonstrates that the context for a pupil’s investigation changes as the pupil’s values concerning the environmental issues are brought to the fore. Thus, the outcome indicates that contextualization is a main factor in pupils’ learning of theoretical concepts. It is shown that the pupils’ understanding of theoretical concepts is dependent on their contextualizations of these concepts, both with regard to different conceptual contexts and with regard to different levels within a context. It is also demonstrated that emotions play a part in pupils’ learning by determining into which context pupils choose to enter.</p>

Student Number : 0215507F - PhD thesis - School of Mining Engineering - Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment / The minerals sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is considered to be the basis of economic reconstruction and development. After several decades of mineral extraction, SADC member States are still grappling with how the sector can contribute to the broader economy and achieve sustainable development. The sector has the potential to fulfill these national aspirations if appropriate policies are developed. In the context of the SADC, the thesis argues that since most of the population is rural-based, strategies for meaningful mineral development must take into account the concerns of these people. Policy defines a vision and aspiration, and articulates what a nation wishes to do with its mineral resources. The process of policy development is therefore crucial to ensure that the concerns of several stakeholders are considered and consensus is reached on actions to be taken for beneficial mineral extraction. The thesis shows a process of mineral policy development that result in the identification of key areas of emphasis to address concerns of the majority of the population in a country. The process has been applied in the development of mineral policies in Namibia and Malawi during this study. The outcomes address broad and specific social, economic and environmental issues that are consistent with sustainable development. Since the SADC countries have similar problems and opportunities, once all States have articulated minerals policies using this process, a regional approach or policy can be derived. This study illustrates such a policy framework.

It is a common misconception that the cross-sector partnership between private companies and environmental NGOs purely benefit financing and image possibilities. However, suppositions like these are worryingly out-of-date and do no longer correspond to the actual make-up, ambitions, effort, and functionings of said partnerships. Most companies use a concept called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) when describing their sustainability work, often including partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The term was coined at a time when sustainability work was less refined than what we see today, and while societal awareness and industrial appreciation for the importance of environmental agendas has developed, the term CSR and its definition has remained the same. This study interviewed three environmental NGOs and four private companies in Sweden in order to investigate the structure and outcomes of their current partnerships with the respective actor. The findings underline the need for an updated conceptual definition, that facilitates cross-sector partnership development parallel to societal development rather than to hold it back. With environmental threats winning the attention of both private and public actors in local as well as global settings, the issue of this conceptual misalignment and possible snag in efficiency that it may pose, becomes highly relevant.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:30:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VEREDIANE SILVA.pdf: 2468184 bytes, checksum: 97ba8847d6960140aa621fbcfd580bb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper discusses the environmental problems caused by the use of wood as fuel for heating poultry houses in the Southwest region of the state of Paraná, and the consequent degradation of the remaining forest areas of the Atlantic Forest Biome, region in which it operates. As proposed for the solution of this problem were studied and raised two alternative ways of generating heat energy: the pellets and briquettes produced from the reuse of waste, which can be urban, industrial or agricultural. The methodological procedures for the development of the objectives of this research were composed of systematic reviews related to power generation and the processes of degradation of forest cover; the application of questionnaires to producers and consumers of wood for energy generation, and field research in aviaries located within the municipality of Francisco Beltran New Hope and the Southwest. The results obtained demonstrate the process of using wood as the primary resource for heat generation in the region currently aviaries, while demonstrating the possibility of moving to another state, the diffusion and dissemination of the use of alternative fuels such as ecological wood, pellet and briquette called for. / O presente trabalho aborda a problemática ambiental causada pela utilização da lenha como combustível para aquecimento de aviários na região Sudoeste do estado do Paraná, e a consequente degradação das áreas de remanescentes florestais do Bioma Mata Atlântica, no qual a região está inserida. Como propostas para a solução desta problemática foram pesquisadas e levantadas duas formas alternativas de geração de energia calorífica: o pellets e o briquete, produzidas a partir do reaproveitamento de resíduos, os quais podem ser urbanos, industriais ou agrícolas. Os procedimentos metodológicos para o desenvolvimento dos objetivos desta pesquisa foram compostos por revisões bibliográficas referentes a geração de energia e os processos de degradação da cobertura florestal; a aplicação de questionários a produtores e consumidores de lenha para geração energética, e pesquisa de campo em aviários localizados no interior do município de Francisco Beltrão e Nova Esperança do Sudoeste. Os resultados obtidos demonstram o processo de utilização da lenha como sendo o principal recurso para geração de calor nos aviários da região atualmente, ao mesmo tempo que demonstra a possibilidade de mudança para outra situação, com a difusão e divulgação do uso de combustíveis alternativos como a lenha ecológica, denominada por pellet e briquete.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:42:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VEREDIANE SILVA.pdf: 2468184 bytes, checksum: 97ba8847d6960140aa621fbcfd580bb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper discusses the environmental problems caused by the use of wood as fuel for heating poultry houses in the Southwest region of the state of Paraná, and the consequent degradation of the remaining forest areas of the Atlantic Forest Biome, region in which it operates. As proposed for the solution of this problem were studied and raised two alternative ways of generating heat energy: the pellets and briquettes produced from the reuse of waste, which can be urban, industrial or agricultural. The methodological procedures for the development of the objectives of this research were composed of systematic reviews related to power generation and the processes of degradation of forest cover; the application of questionnaires to producers and consumers of wood for energy generation, and field research in aviaries located within the municipality of Francisco Beltran New Hope and the Southwest. The results obtained demonstrate the process of using wood as the primary resource for heat generation in the region currently aviaries, while demonstrating the possibility of moving to another state, the diffusion and dissemination of the use of alternative fuels such as ecological wood, pellet and briquette called for. / O presente trabalho aborda a problemática ambiental causada pela utilização da lenha como combustível para aquecimento de aviários na região Sudoeste do estado do Paraná, e a consequente degradação das áreas de remanescentes florestais do Bioma Mata Atlântica, no qual a região está inserida. Como propostas para a solução desta problemática foram pesquisadas e levantadas duas formas alternativas de geração de energia calorífica: o pellets e o briquete, produzidas a partir do reaproveitamento de resíduos, os quais podem ser urbanos, industriais ou agrícolas. Os procedimentos metodológicos para o desenvolvimento dos objetivos desta pesquisa foram compostos por revisões bibliográficas referentes a geração de energia e os processos de degradação da cobertura florestal; a aplicação de questionários a produtores e consumidores de lenha para geração energética, e pesquisa de campo em aviários localizados no interior do município de Francisco Beltrão e Nova Esperança do Sudoeste. Os resultados obtidos demonstram o processo de utilização da lenha como sendo o principal recurso para geração de calor nos aviários da região atualmente, ao mesmo tempo que demonstra a possibilidade de mudança para outra situação, com a difusão e divulgação do uso de combustíveis alternativos como a lenha ecológica, denominada por pellet e briquete.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Climate change has induced a number of environmental issues that have affected people's lives beyond the scope of ecology; these effects have touched on the social, cultural and economic dimensions of life as well. In light of this, migration has increasingly been used as a climate adaptation strategy particularly in rural areas. This has not only changed migration patterns, it has also reconstructed the gender dynamics within the migration discourse through the ‘feminization of migration.’ Hence it has become important to analyse, understand and unpack the various ways in which women experience climate change and climate-induced migration, and how this has affected their lives. Additionally, women's position as active agents in climate migration and knowledge production has increasingly been acknowledged in climate and migration discourse This study focused on the effects of climate change on female migration patterns in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe; and took place in Hiya village. The main research question aimed to find out if using migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change had positively changed the lives of women in rural Zimbabwe? With a focus on Hiya village in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe the research question was answered through identifying migration push factors for women, climate resistant livelihoods and the benefits of migration in light of climate induced environmental disasters. A mixed methods research approach was used however the research is largely qualitative.

O presente estudo de natureza bibliográfica, qualitativa e analítica apoiou-se na transdisciplinaridade da Ecologia Humana com outras áreas do conhecimento e objetivou evidenciar a influência contemporânea de grandes corporações globais no padrão de consumo, no endividamento das pessoas, no empobrecimento das instituições, enfraquecimento dos Estados Nacionais e nas urgentes questões ambientais. Foram entrelaçadas perspectivas teóricas multidisciplinares sobre consumo, endividamento e questões ambientais, demonstrando a consolidação da obsolescência como estratégia capitalista para impulsionar vendas de eletrodomésticos e automóveis, têxtil e moda, eletrônicos e softwares, com consequente intensificação de impactos no ambiente pelo extrativismo de recursos naturais, contaminação da água, solo e ar, bem como a geração de lixo. Evidenciou-se o cenário em que o ganho com aplicações financeiras é frequentemente superior ao ganho com atividades produtivas, o capital improdutivo, a consolidação do poder econômico de grandes conglomerados globais e sua influência sobre as políticas públicas, de ensino, pesquisa e sobre o sistema judiciário. A concentração de riquezas e poder econômico das grandes corporações globais vêm afetando a economia mundial, o endividamento e empobrecimento das instituições, agravando a desigualdade social, dificultando a implementação de programas de educação, cumprimento de acordos mundiais e fiscalizações ambientais. A interdisciplinaridade promovida pela Economia da Informação, adoção de princípios da Economia Circular, a preocupação generativa da geração Y com o mundo, ambiente e consumo, a inventividade humana, a conectividade global, a convergência das tecnologias digitais, físicas e biológicas, tratadas neste trabalho, podem contribuir para reverter o quadro de degradação ambiental. Para enfrentar os desafios globais é necessário integrar aquilo que é biologicamente necessário, social e culturalmente desejado com o que é ecologicamente possível. O ser humano é o único com capacidade de protestar e reverter o quadro de degradação ambiental ao qual vem se adaptando nas últimas décadas. Sua capacidade de adaptação em promover as mudanças necessárias pode reconstruir padrões de direitos, deveres e valores humanos e adotar novas formas de pensar, sentir, agir e comportar-se. / This bibliographic, qualitative and analytical study was based on the transdisciplinarity of Human Ecology with other areas of knowledge and aimed to highlight the contemporary influence of large global corporations on the pattern of consumption, on people\'s indebtedness, on the impoverishment of institutions, on the weakening of human resources, National States and urgent environmental issues. Several theoretical perspectives on consumption, debt and environmental issues were intertwined, demonstrating the consolidation of obsolescence as a capitalist strategy to boost sales of appliances and automobiles, textiles and fashion, electronics and software, intensifying impacts on the environment through the extraction of natural resources, water contamination, soil and air, as well as waste generation. The scenario showed that the gain on financial investments is often greater than the gain on productive activities, unproductive capital, the consolidation of the economic power of large global conglomerates and their influence on public policies, education, research and the judiciary system. The concentration of wealth and economic power of large global corporations has been affecting the world economy, aggravating social inequality, making it difficult to implement education programs, comply with agreements and environmental inspections. The interdisciplinarity promoted by the Information Economy, adoption of Circular Economy principles, Generative concern of Y generation with the world, environment and consumption, human inventiveness, global connectivity, convergence of digital, physical and biological technologies can all contribute to reversing the picture of environmental degradation. Meeting global challenges requires integrating what is biologically necessary, socially and culturally desired with what is ecologically possible. The human being is the only one capable of protesting and reversing the picture of environmental degradation to which he has been adapting in recent decades. Their ability to adapt to change can rebuild human rights, duties, and values to adopt new ways of thinking, feeling, acting, and behaving.

This thesis examines how pupils in the upper level of compulsory school learn about environmental issues and related theoretical concepts in an instruction employing an investigative approach and thematically organised content. The results of the study give reason to question some central arguments supporting these designs of instruction. Additionally, and primarily, these results contribute to research on concept formation. An understanding of pupils’ difficulties in learning theoretical concepts as a problem of contextualization is derived, representing an alternative to the influential view in which pupils’ difficulties are seen as a problem of conceptual change. Three case studies carried out within the pupils’ regular instruction are presented. The empirical material consists of recorded conversations, observational notes and the pupils’ own written material. The first study shows that the pupils experience difficulty in distinguishing among the different meanings attached to individual concepts in various conceptual contexts. This implies that pupils are often unable to identify the meaning relevant to the specific environmental problem on which they are working. The second study shows that the pupils do not make the connection between theoretical concepts and practical activities, as intended in instruction. Instead, they interpret the concepts within separate practical contexts, i.e. interpretative contexts other than the theoretical contexts. Finally, the third study demonstrates that the context for a pupil’s investigation changes as the pupil’s values concerning the environmental issues are brought to the fore. Thus, the outcome indicates that contextualization is a main factor in pupils’ learning of theoretical concepts. It is shown that the pupils’ understanding of theoretical concepts is dependent on their contextualizations of these concepts, both with regard to different conceptual contexts and with regard to different levels within a context. It is also demonstrated that emotions play a part in pupils’ learning by determining into which context pupils choose to enter.