Thesis advisor: Andrew K. Jorgenson / The United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda (2015-2030) urges nation-states to engage in concerted efforts toward building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for people and the planet. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets offer a roadmap for policymakers to achieve this complex agenda. An essential component of the quest for global sustainability is to understand the synergies and potential tradeoffs between these economic, social, and environmental targets. The theoretical and empirical tools developed in the sub-discipline of environmental sociology are particularly helpful in this regard because it is dedicated to unpacking the connections among people, institutions, technologies, and ecosystems. The first portion of this dissertation considers some of the theoretical and empirical contributions of social scientists — and in particular environmental sociologists — to our understanding of sustainability. I also highlight the origins and value of the socio-ecological measure of sustainability used in this project, namely, the carbon intensity of wellbeing (CIWB). CIWB is a ratio of CO2 per capita/life expectancy. In the second portion of the dissertation, I engage development frameworks and macro-comparative sociological theories in two cross-national empirical investigations into the relationship between education and sustainability. Education is a social institution widely regarded as a useful mechanism for enhancing human wellbeing. However, much remains unknown about its relationship with global sustainability. To address this gap in our understanding, I assess the relationship between per capita rates of educational attainment and nations’ CIWB by estimating Prais-Winsten regression models using cross-national panel data from 1960 to 2010. In the first empirical investigation presented in chapter two, I hypothesize that gains in education may be associated with more sustainable societies, drawing on the ecological modernization perspective and Amartya Sen’s conceptualization of education as the expansion of human capabilities. In this analysis, I find that education played an important historical role in reducing nations’ CIWB. However, this relationship has mostly disappeared over time for nations located in most regions. Chapter three builds on the findings of chapter two by assessing how economic factors affect the interplay between education and CIWB. Two theoretical traditions concerning global integration inform this chapter: world society and world-systems perspectives. In my analyses, I find that the magnitude of the relationship between education and CIWB varies by nations’ levels of economic development. I also find that the relationship between per capita educational attainment and CIWB is moderated by national integration into the global economy, as measured by exports as a percentage of GDP. Notably, the nature of this relationship depends on nations’ level of economic development, in that further integration into the global economy enhances the beneficial relationship between education and CIWB for high-income nations. The opposite trend can be observed in the middle- and low-income nations, whereby further integration into the global economy ameliorates the predicted beneficial relationship between education and CIWB. In all, my research contributes to sociological understandings of sustainability and if — and under what conditions — population gains in educational attainment can strengthen both human and ecological wellbeing. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outlines the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to information. This paper builds on previous research on the international and national level and examines whether persons with disabilities have equal access to information online on the municipal level of government in Sweden. Also assessing the perception of municipality official’s view on the concept of accessibility, this thesis uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings indicate that clear differences are present among municipalities and that article nine of the CRPD is not fully implemented on the municipal level in this aspect, but that no clear relationship between party control and web accessibility can be found. This paper concludes that further efforts needs to be put towards education and information towards the issue of online accessibility.

In order to have a successful outcome and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the development of the hydropower sector is important. This as the hydropower contributes to the socioeconomic development and economic growth, as well as to have an efficient implementation of the SDGs. Nevertheless, the desired outcome of a hydropower development, which in fact will contribute to the other sectors. Thereby, dam governance is important in the success and an important mechanism as to find the balance in the hydropower projects. Since a good dam governance has the potential to create the achievement in both a hydropower development and Agenda 2030.  In relation to the research questions of this study, the importance of dam governance is discussed and analyzed in the success of a hydropower development and in the relation to the implementation of the SDGs.

No / This book demonstrates how the capability approach to human development can contribute to the realisation of the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The capability approach dictates that success should not be measured by economic indicators, but by people leading meaningful, free, fulfilled, happy or satisfied lives. Drawing from a range of disciplinary perspectives, this book argues that it is vital that the focus for the SDGs should shift to benefiting the most vulnerable. Case studies from across Asia, Africa, Latin America (global south), and the USA, UK, and Australia (global north) consider how the capability approach can contribute as a practical framework to achieving the SDGs’ ambitions for social, economic, political, and legal progress. Drawing on insights from a range of disciplines, this book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners from law, politics, international relations, criminology, international development, sociology, public policy, area studies and others.

(in English): This work deals with the representation of the SDG in political party programs for elections to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in 2013 and 2017. Specifically, the parties are ANO, Civic Democratic Party, Pirate Party, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and Czech Social Democratic Party. In the theoretical part, through the Agenda theory, was discussed the process of forming a political agenda at national and international level. Furthermore, the concept of sustainable development is explained, including the development it has undergone historically. Then the position of electoral programs in political discourse is described. The description of the methodology is followed by a chapter devoted to analysis, where the analysis processes are described in detail, including a detailed description of the findings. In the following chapter, the results of the analysis are interpreted and, at the end, all findings are discussed and confronted with other research as well as the limits of this work.

(in English): This work deals with the representation of the SDG in political party programs for elections to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in 2013 and 2017. Specifically, the parties are ANO, Civic Democratic Party, Pirate Party, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and Czech Social Democratic Party. In the theoretical part, through the Agenda theory, was discussed the process of forming a political agenda at national and international level. Furthermore, the concept of sustainable development is explained, including the development it has undergone historically. Then the position of electoral programs in political discourse is described. After description of the method, ie the content analysis of election programmes follows by the chapter dedicated to the analysis, where are some of the partial decisions and results explained. In the penultimate chapter, the main findings on the occurence of topics contained in SDGs are interpreted and in conclussion there is discussion going on in which are results confronted with other researches engaged in sub topics of the analysis. The work is concluded by recommendations for further research and the limits of this work.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, known as Industry 4.0, has ushered in a new era of technological advancement and disruption across Manufacturing Industries. As organizations embrace digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation, the workforce faces profound changes in job roles, skill requirements, and training needs. Several challenges are faced by industries during this Industrial transformation. This research begins by focusing on Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, understanding there evolving concept. Through comprehensive literature review, the challenges and practices faced during this Industrial transformation and SDGs are discussed. Following the literature review, survey and interview questions were drafted trying to dug deeper into aspects that the literature could not fully capture. Furthermore, the relation between this Industrial Transformation and SDGs were established. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between technology, the workforce, and sustainable development. This thesis report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, educators, and researchers seeking to navigate the transformative landscape of Industrial Transformation and its implications for a rapidly evolving workforce and sustainabledevelopment. / Den fjärde industriella revolutionen, känd som industry 4.0, har introducerat en ny era av teknologisk framsteg och förändringar inom tillverkningsindustrin. När organisationer omfamnar digitala teknologier, artificiell intelligens och automation står arbetskraften inför djupgående förändringar i arbetsroller, kompetenskrav och utbildningsbehov. Under denna industriella omvandling möter företag flera utmaningar. Denna forskning börjar med att fokusera på industry 4.0 och industry 5.0 och förstå deras utvecklande koncept. Genom en omfattande litteraturgenomgång diskuteras de utmaningar och metoder som möter denna industriella omvandling samt deras koppling till hållbarhetsmålen (sdgs).Efter litteraturgenomgången utformades enkät- och intervjuförfrågningar för att fördjupa förståelsen för aspekter som litteraturen inte kunde fånga helt. Vidare etablerades sambandet mellan denna industriella transformation och hållbarhetsmålen. Denna forskning bidrar till en djupare förståelse av den dynamiska relationen mellan teknologi, arbetskraften och hållbar utveckling.Denna avhandling tjänar som en värdefull resurs för beslutsfattare, företagsledare, utbildare och forskare som söker navigera i det föränderliga landskapet av industriell transformation och dess konsekvenser för en snabbt utvecklande arbetskraft och hållbar utveckling.

It is a growing belief that transitioning towards sustainable cities requires a wide citizen engagement, yet many local governments are not able to define how citizen engagement should be done. This research was conducted to assess municipalities’ effort in engaging citizens when working for sustainability. This study focuses on creating a strategic guide for municipalities to use when engaging citizens to work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A systemic analysis approach was selected to examine the SDGs through the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, followed by a Value Stream Analysis for the SDGs. Then a mapping method used, where each SDG was linked to a level of citizen engagement on Arnstein’s ladder for citizen engagement (1969). A group interview for practitioners was held in Karlskrona Municipality in Sweden for an evaluation purpose. The results revealed a risk of misalignment for some SDGs, a relational matrix map was created where each SDG was related to a level of Arnstein’s ladder in a graphic visual, which can be used by the municipality as guide to choose the level of engagement for each SDG. A set of insights were revealed concerning the enablers and barriers for citizen engagement in municipal context.

The aim of this qualitative interpretive study is to look into SDG implementation in Sweden from a governance for sustainable development perspective. This research is to be seen as a first attempt at mapping the state of governance for sustainable development in relation to SDG implementation in Sweden – further research is both necessary and welcomed in order to get a complete picture of the situation. Seven key components of governance for sustainable development developed by Gibson et al. (2005) are used as a theoretical framework for the study. Those key components are; policy integration; shared sustainability objectives; sustainability based criteria for planning and approval of significant undertakings; specified rules for managing trade-offs and compromises; widely accepted indicators of needs for action and progress towards sustainability; information and incentives for practical implementation, and; programmes for system innovation. Previous research as well as reports from organizations such as the OECD and the European Commission have been used to evaluate the state of these components in Sweden, primarily from an environmental sustainability perspective. Conclusions reached include that the main components relevant for Swedish implementation of the SDGs are: policy integration, shared sustainability objectives and widely accepted indicators for needs for action and progress towards sustainable development. Another conclusion drawn is that the level of fulfillment in some of these key components does not necessarily correspond with the likelihood of successful SDG implementation. Further research is being suggested for   a governance-related mapping of the social and economic pillars of sustainable development. Together with the environmental pillar they are essential for the holistic approach that sustainable development deserves.

Traditionally, Multinational Corporations and the United Nations used to have different agendas. During recent years, there has been a shift, and with the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the objectives of the two different entities are more closely aligned. The United Nations has increasingly promoted multi-stakeholder partnerships as a way to foster development efforts in emerging markets. At the same time, these partnerships have appeared to be a way for businesses to gain legitimacy and overcome the challenges in entering emerging markets. The literature review is based on Johanson and Vahlne’s (1977) Uppsala Model, complemented with Bottom of the Pyramid literature. Specifically, the role of experiential knowledge in the internationalization process is investigated. An exploratory field study has been conducted during one month in Myanmar, with the overarching purpose to study an MNC’s expansion into an EM. The study has further investigated on how MNCs partner with non-traditional actors when entering EMs and how the exchange of knowledge is carried out on the micro-level in these relations. The study includes interviews with both an MNC and the UN, including observations on site and a documentary analysis. In line with previous literature, the result show that the MNC had to learn from the local market in order to succeed in their internationalization process, but also educate the local market in order to enter. Thus, the thesis contributes to research in proving that internationalization in emerging markets seems to be a two-way experiential knowledge direction where MNCs also need to take an active part in educating the emerging market in order to enter.