Abstract This article reports on the mechanisms of business-to-business regulation as governance approach in an agricultural supply chain. The article explores the activities of NGOs, government and business in promoting sustainable production. It focuses on the requirements set for producers in agro-food chains and the effects of NGO perceptions on these issues. The subsequent business standards set by retailers and other market role-players and the responses of producers are reported and the responsibility for achieving desired outputs is discussed. The research methodology included open interviews with various stakeholders in the chain, as well as structured questionnaires to determine practices on farms. From the fi ndings it is clear that perceptions of European stakeholders differ substantially from the reality found in South Africa. This has consequences for producers, from both a social and a fi nancial perspective. Understanding the role and function of NGOs, market roleplayers and national government in the governance of sustainable development in the South African–European table grape supply chain contributes to identifying barriers and opportunities to achieving sustainable practices in global supply chains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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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.

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Sustainable urban environmental management is a process of improving the urban environment and quality of life of all citizens. This means allocating urban resources fairly, ensuring civil rights of citizenship and adequate housing, and guaranteeing healthinessin the use of air or wateri n urban areas.T his, at least, is the principle. Islamabad is a capital city that has concentrated power historically, geographically and ideologically. The city was designed to promote the well-being of elite groups of Pakistan in the post colonial period. Due to this powerful status Islamabad appropriates an unequal share of resources and public wealth. This is the prestige capital of a nation where the interests of the social and political elites are served by the civil government, but where the well-being of those with no legal rights to settle are not taken into account in the management of urban resources. This position is maintained by a state-supported bureaucracy which manages urban development and virtually controls the whole process of urban development. In the wake of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, Pakistan and Islamabad have both embarked on a new agenda of what is termed sustainable environmentalm anagemente: quity in the distributiono f resources,e fficiency in the use of resources, and a more participatory form of urban governance. With the use of three case studies, on the allocation and pricing of water, on the provision of low income housing, and on the interaction of urban management and civil society groups, this research demonstrates that the sustainable urban environmental managemento bjectivesa re being ignored or reinterpretedb y the urban managemenot f Islamabad in favour of the politically supported elites, and in violation of the well-being of the poor. The conclusion of this research is that the radical and sustaining agenda of the post UNCED era is likely to be compromised in Islamabad. The process of reform has already been systematically delayed.

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