Strategies Towards the New Sustainability Paradigm

Currently, humankind seems to be on the verge of a Great Transition to new political scenarios, possibly involving dramatic political, economic, social, and ecological changes. The book deals with the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm , the most democratic and sustainable one of six different future scenarios once developed and treated by the Global Scenario Group (GSG) and published in a paper trilogy, culminating in the famous essay "Great Transition. The Promise and Lure of the Times Ahead" by Raskin et al.(2002). Although these models are supposed to depict future scenarios, the authors of the book at hand consider them valuable tools to analyze equally historical, recent, and current transitions as well as their impact on politics, the economy, nature, and human society. 11 authors from 5 continents contribute to the book by providing detailed analyses of economic and political transitions in Western and Eastern Europe as well as in Asia, discussing the role of different players for the implementation of the New Sustainability Paradigm, and covering essential topics like water security, food security, sustainable city architecture, sustainable waste management, as well as rarely addressed subjects like climate engineering and bio-terrorism. A survey performed in Libya in the first half of 2014 will shed some light on the drivers and consequences of the Arabian spring movement as a recent transition. Another survey, recently performed by a sustainable food expert from New Zealand, will highlight current challenges in the food sector on a global base. The analysis of past transitions and major challenges in the environmental sector will be followed by a critical debate on the question, if and how the New Sustainability Paradigm might be implemented. Based on insights from these analyses, strategies are developed which might help Civil Society to manage the Great Transition to the New Sustainability Paradigm .