An examination of the stationary power sector is performed using The Natural Step framework and Sustainability Principles (SP), in order to aid decision makers in developing policy to balance energy needs while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in order to address climate change. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is evaluated for its sustainability aspects, and is found to be a potentially sustainable approach which can be a bridging technology to a more sustainable energy mix, as well as a remediation technology which can remove CO2 from the atmosphere when utilized in combination with biomass fuel. Initial actions for restructuring the stationary power sector should emphasise demand reduction and efficiency efforts, followed by switching to renewable energy sources. If the first two strategies can not provide sufficient CO2 reductions, then investments in CCS technology may be an appropriate choice. CCS with coal-fired power can be a means to decouple CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use, but other SP violations associated with coal use must also be fully addressed before this strategy can be considered a truly sustainable option.

Conflict is a complex phenomenon and a major part of sustainability challenges and therefore requires holistic approach for its prevention. This thesis argues that integrating Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) at the structural level of conflict prevention can provide long term solutions to conflict escalation around the world. SSD provides a holistic approach for addressing the sustainability challenges and complexity of conflict prevention. Sustainability issues (social and ecological) were identified to be at the heart of many conflicts. Both the social (human needs) and ecological (environmental) dimensions are always violated in each conflict. The mechanisms for these violations are embedded in the structures (Political, Economic, Social and environmental) and institutional arrangements that are inherent in conflict-prone societies. Addressing these structural factors has potentials to provide long term solutions to conflict escalation. The connections between conflict and sustainability might not always be easily seen. Using the FSSD as an analytical tool in conjunction with other conflict analysis tools has greater capacity to bring to limelight previously unrecognized risk factors of conflict escalation while at the same time revealing known factors as sustainability challenges. The thesis described the links between conflict,structural conflict prevention, sustainability and Strategic Sustainable Development. Keywords: Conflict, Conflict Prevention, Conflict prone-societies, Structural Prevention, Sustainability, and Strategic Sustainable Development. / <p>+46767485159</p>

This thesis explores how to apply an approach of strategic sustainable development to e-waste management through a case study at the National University of Rwanda (NUR). Interviews and surveys were conducted, and workshops and presentations were hosted during a site visit to NUR. No e-waste management system is in place in Rwanda, while the country is working to increase ICT capacity. At NUR, awareness of e-waste challenges is low, and management currently consists of storage and limited low-tech pre-processing. Suggested actions were prioritized and delivered to NUR in an action plan under three project categories: project core, e-waste management, and e-waste education and research with the aim of establishing a pilot project of e-waste management to make NUR an e-waste leader. A Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development was used to ensure e-waste is managed in a strategic way that leads to an e-waste management approach that could exist in a sustainable society. This research concludes that strategic sustainable e-waste management is possible at NUR and presents six theme areas to guide the development of an e-waste project with a systems perspective.

Navigating complexity for change toward sustainability in large companies is best done using a systems perspective, a principled vision of success and a step-wise planning process, as espoused for instance by the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. Many large companies have a significant contribution to un-sustainability and stand to benefit from such a transition. However, the human factor of the undertaking is as of yet underdeveloped in extant literature. Seeking insights into experiences of sustainability change-agents in large companies, the authors conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with sustainability change- agents in large companies. Using a relational view as an analytical lens, they examined the dynamics of social interactions involving these change-agents and thereby gained a greater understanding of the place held by these individuals in the broader company system. The 11 relational categories that emerged permitted to draw links between structural, behavioural and personal facets of advancing sustainability in large companies and highlighted the human aspect of strategic planning as well as the strategic nature of building relationships, teams and coalitions. Overall, the authors believe that consideration by the change-agents of relational aspects may help foster commitment and collaboration in the transition toward sustainability

The urban landscape requires a shift to a more self-sufficient, healthy and sustainable future. Urban agricultural (UA) projects are one way to do so. This research explores how low-income UA projects in North America and Europe can be supported strategically in moving towards a sustainable future. The authors analysed UA projects using the 5 Level Framework (5LF) and the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) to understand their current reality and to help determine sustainable advances within UA projects. Leverage Points were also used as a subsidiary analytical tool to help pinpoint effective actions of change. Research resulted in the creation of Strategic Recommendations and guidance for UA projects to help foster a societal shift towards sustainability. / An in-depth exploration of urban agriculture. Using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, an analysis was conducted, as well as looking at main barriers and enablers to success to determine what is the most strategic support urban agriculture projects need. An Ideal Project was created, complete with a set of 10 Foundational Values to build a vision on, 25 best practice recommendations and an ABCD planning process to move urban agriculture projects towards sustainability.

Efforts around the world to transition to more sustainable societies are afoot, and companies have a major role to play in this transition.  This research analyzed how multinational cocoa processing companies can strategically contribute to social sustainability of cocoa farmers. The authors present the cocoa challenge as a socially imbalanced system that cannot be continued indefinitely. In collaboration with a case study company, the authors evaluated how the sustainability program of the case study company incorporates social sustainability to determine what the gaps are in contributing to improving social sustainability of cocoa farmers and make use of the Framework for Strategic Development (FSSD). Building on their findings the authors offer guidance on how to implement strategic sustainable development in multinational cocoa processing companies to realize socially sustainable cocoa.

Society is on an unsustainable course, predicted to reach a tipping point where greenhouse gas emissions cause irreversible consequences. The cement industry is estimated to be responsible for 7% of the global CO2 emissions, but remains an essential part of building safe and affordable infrastructure for an urbanising and growing population. It is imperative that the industry urgently transitions to a more sustainable pathway. As a key stakeholder, the construction industry could play a role in this. This paper looks at the sustainability of the cement production process from a systems perspective and how the construction industry can help leverage change, using the FSSD and Meadows’ (1999) leverage points as a framework. An analysis of the cement production method against the misalignments with the FSSD Sustainability Principles was performed, as well as a document content analysis of the WBCSD 2018 roadmap for the cement industry. We also conducted 9 semi-structured interviews with experts in the cement and construction industry. Results showed that while CO2 emissions are the biggest challenge for the industry, change will not happen fast enough while a number of structural barriers prevent this. These barriers, their potential solutions and leverage points within the construction industry are discussed.

The social phenomenon of children without parental care and those at risk of separation from their parents has gained considerable global attention in recent years. A key concern is the over-reliance on institutional care mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America as the default form of alternative care for such children. Extensive research points to mostly negative impact of separation of children from families and institutionalization of children which affects their health outcomes and development. In response to this global crisis, the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children were developed in 2010. Kenya domesticated the guidelines in 2014 and is in the process of implementation. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development and more specifically the Social Sustainability Principles are used in this study to assess the extent to which the UN Guidelines, Kenya Guidelines and implementation of alternative care of children in Kenya align to Social Sustainability. This research finds that the guidelines are highly aligned to social sustainability although their implementation points to major structural obstacles that if minimized will promote social sustainability of alternative care in Kenya. A coherent well-coordinated approach that takes a systems perspective and links to the mainstream social development agenda is recommended.

The global socio-ecological system is under stress with increasing consumer demands and society’s inability to meet those demands. Businesses are both enablers and inhibitors of this socio-ecological dilemma, enabling a shift towards sustainability, in various ways including through Certification. This study aims to understand the B Corp Certification (BCC) – a certification that certifies business according to their social and environmental performance.  The purpose of this study is to gage how much this Certification granted by B Lab moves the dial on sustainability.  To accomplish this, a case study was performed on B Lab with a focus on Developed Markets. This study was largely dependent on semi-structured interviews, desk research and an analysis of the B Impact Assessment (BIA) - a cornerstone of the BCC - which was assessed according to the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). The FSSD which takes a scientific systems view on strategic sustainable development (SSD) was instrumental in analyzing how much the BCC aligns with a SSD approach. The result of this research lends itself to recommendations for the B Corp Certification of which B Lab may choose to consider in future iterations of the BIA and Certification in general.

The aim of this study was to examine key attributes of sustainable service innovation (SSI) in the hotel industry. The research has used backcasting from sustainable principles and a few frameworks for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) concepts. The FSSD concepts such as 5LM and strategic ABCD lens helped to discover an integrated framework for evaluating SSI. Document analysis and interviews with 6 practitioners from a single case study organization informed on how they recognize and contribute towards sustainability. The study shows the competitive benefits of using SSI strategically in the hotel industry. The recommendation is for them to complement FSSD with SDGs, the Sustainability Principles (SPs) so they can have a better definition of sustainability to implement into their operational processes.        This thesis contributed to the ongoing study on sustainability and its relationship to service innovation in addition to provide recommendations for companies striving towards sustainability path. The findings showed that SSI consists of four attributes: hotel industry, sustainable practice, organizational innovation, and resourcing. The result from the 5LM analysis and thematic analysis shows that sustainable practice has direct and indirect impacts on hotel industry, organizational innovation, and resourcing. Additionally, while using the ABCD approach resourcing appeared as the most important attribute. Since this research is based on a single case study, the future studies should conduct multiple case study to investigate the relationship between sustainability and service innovation.