253
considering humane and sustainability
aspects. Companies have to certify that
raw material is obtained from sustainable
sources, and exploitation presents no
harm to ecological systems.
(b). Factories recycling waste contribute to
sustainable development. Prolonging the
useful life cycle of products that would be
beneficial from environmental points of
views (less waste would be produced
during consumption) is not a widespread
practice, especially not in the field of
informatics where devices become outdated in a very short period of time.
Waste recycling, however, could be
realised in that case as well. (The authors
note that this practically means a circular
economy model. Regarding factories
producing “zero waste”, it has to be mentioned that no such factories exist), only
small waste technologies can be
identified.)
(c). Eco-efficiency is about reducing the
amount of water, energy, chemicals and
raw material used per unit output.
Increasing efficiency is motivated not
only by environmental concerns but by
the prospects of significant financial savings as well.
(d). Satisfaction of workers at a workplace
greatly influences the achievement of
production targets. Workplace well-being
includes factors like sensible job, open
decision-making, measures ensuring
workers’ health and security, justified
wages (proportional to personal performance), humane management, good
workplace atmosphere and positive
human relations.
(e). Institutes committed to sustainable development universally recognise that they
could help the vitality of communities in
a number of ways. Besides financial and
in kind donations, raising the share of
goods and services procured from the
local community rather than imported
from afar. Wages have to reflect the cost
of living in different areas, etc.
As can be seen from the above lists, this scenario
has basically an economic view, but it still focuses
on not only the income of people but on many
factors of human well-being and the needs of the
society like education, healthcare, culture and
the protection of nature and environment.
Global environmental changes (primarily climate change) inspired economist research of the
highest standard. In 2018, the economic Noble
prize went to William D. Nordhaus and Paul
M. Romer for studying the economic effects of
climate change and working out the so-called
endogenous growth theory.
Nordhaus modelled the interactions of the
society and nature and set a model, among the
first scientists, showing the global interactions of
economy and climate based on quantitatively the
integration of the experience results of physics,
chemistry and economy (Nordhaus 1994). There
is a practical use of the model. Effects of CO 2
taxes could be shown. Models have calculations
on that, how forest clearings transformed affective areas and the life of people via changing precipitation distribution.
Romer studied how knowledge functions as
the engine of long-term economic growth.
Former macroeconomic studies marked technical
innovation as the primary motivation of economic growth; however, the way economic decisions and market conditions determine the
formation of new technologies was not modelled.
Romer revealed how economic forces control the
willingness of companies to find new ideas and
innovation. The endogenous growth theory
explains the difference between new ideas and
other goods and what other conditions are
necessary for new ideas to bring profit on the
market. Romer considers knowledge a decisive
form of capital therefore economic growth primarily depends on the degree of knowledge accumulation. Production and utilisation of knowledge
form the central element of value creation processes (Romer 1994).
The work of both scientists brings us closer to
sustainable global economic development. The
endogenous growth theory of Romer, however,
cannot solve the environmentally sound production of increasing amounts of material goods
6.7 Beyond SDGs: How to Develop the Global Society in the Future? Concepts Regarding the Future…
considering humane and sustainability
aspects. Companies have to certify that
raw material is obtained from sustainable
sources, and exploitation presents no
harm to ecological systems.
(b). Factories recycling waste contribute to
sustainable development. Prolonging the
useful life cycle of products that would be
beneficial from environmental points of
views (less waste would be produced
during consumption) is not a widespread
practice, especially not in the field of
informatics where devices become outdated in a very short period of time.
Waste recycling, however, could be
realised in that case as well. (The authors
note that this practically means a circular
economy model. Regarding factories
producing “zero waste”, it has to be mentioned that no such factories exist), only
small waste technologies can be
identified.)
(c). Eco-efficiency is about reducing the
amount of water, energy, chemicals and
raw material used per unit output.
Increasing efficiency is motivated not
only by environmental concerns but by
the prospects of significant financial savings as well.
(d). Satisfaction of workers at a workplace
greatly influences the achievement of
production targets. Workplace well-being
includes factors like sensible job, open
decision-making, measures ensuring
workers’ health and security, justified
wages (proportional to personal performance), humane management, good
workplace atmosphere and positive
human relations.
(e). Institutes committed to sustainable development universally recognise that they
could help the vitality of communities in
a number of ways. Besides financial and
in kind donations, raising the share of
goods and services procured from the
local community rather than imported
from afar. Wages have to reflect the cost
of living in different areas, etc.
As can be seen from the above lists, this scenario
has basically an economic view, but it still focuses
on not only the income of people but on many
factors of human well-being and the needs of the
society like education, healthcare, culture and
the protection of nature and environment.
Global environmental changes (primarily climate change) inspired economist research of the
highest standard. In 2018, the economic Noble
prize went to William D. Nordhaus and Paul
M. Romer for studying the economic effects of
climate change and working out the so-called
endogenous growth theory.
Nordhaus modelled the interactions of the
society and nature and set a model, among the
first scientists, showing the global interactions of
economy and climate based on quantitatively the
integration of the experience results of physics,
chemistry and economy (Nordhaus 1994). There
is a practical use of the model. Effects of CO 2
taxes could be shown. Models have calculations
on that, how forest clearings transformed affective areas and the life of people via changing precipitation distribution.
Romer studied how knowledge functions as
the engine of long-term economic growth.
Former macroeconomic studies marked technical
innovation as the primary motivation of economic growth; however, the way economic decisions and market conditions determine the
formation of new technologies was not modelled.
Romer revealed how economic forces control the
willingness of companies to find new ideas and
innovation. The endogenous growth theory
explains the difference between new ideas and
other goods and what other conditions are
necessary for new ideas to bring profit on the
market. Romer considers knowledge a decisive
form of capital therefore economic growth primarily depends on the degree of knowledge accumulation. Production and utilisation of knowledge
form the central element of value creation processes (Romer 1994).
The work of both scientists brings us closer to
sustainable global economic development. The
endogenous growth theory of Romer, however,
cannot solve the environmentally sound production of increasing amounts of material goods
6.7 Beyond SDGs: How to Develop the Global Society in the Future? Concepts Regarding the Future…