regions, cities, companies, and products or in fields such as society, economy,
environment, and institutions. With the varied understanding and definition of
sustainability depending on the theorist, the amount of accumulated research is
enormous. As such, the science of sustainability is still in development as a supradisciplinary educational system.
As shown in Fig. 1.16, we considered the Earth to consist of resources/energy,
natural ecosystems (the basis of human survival), economic systems, political
systems, industrial structures, and technical systems. A sustainable society may be
realized by re-building the human system consisting of lifestyles, health, safety,
security, and value norms and repairing their mutual relationships (IR3S).
1.6.2 Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs at the United Nations Summit in September 2015 aim to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. These are the goals set by
the 193 member states of the United Nations to achieve over 15 years (2016–2030).
As shown in Fig. 1.17, there are 17 significant goals and 169 concrete targets to
achieve.
The primary aims of the SDGs are linked to the following priority areas:
1. Energy Security Issues (7th in SDGs): this aims to address issues associated with
the rapid increase in energy demand, the potential depletion of fossil fuels, the
promotion of energy conservation and renewable energy diffusion, risks for
nuclear power accidents, and spent nuclear fuel.
2. Resource/Recycling Issues (12th in SDGs): this aims to address the depletion of
metal resources, health/environmental problems from by illegal recycling of
electric/electronic devices, health/environmental problems associated with the
mining of natural resources.
Earth System
Climate system
Resource/Energy/Ecos
ystem
Human System
Life cycle
Healthy
Value norm
Social System
Politic
Economy
Industry
Technology
Global warming
Wide area air pollution
Complicating issues
Recycling society
Massive production
Massive consumption
Massive disposal
Poverty
Spread of infectious disease
Frequent occurrence of natural
disasters
Fig. 1.16 Basic scheme of sustainability science. (Source: based on Integrated Research System
for Sustainability Science (IR3S))
1 Climate Change and Low-Carbon Society: Coping with Uncertainty
33
environment, and institutions. With the varied understanding and definition of
sustainability depending on the theorist, the amount of accumulated research is
enormous. As such, the science of sustainability is still in development as a supradisciplinary educational system.
As shown in Fig. 1.16, we considered the Earth to consist of resources/energy,
natural ecosystems (the basis of human survival), economic systems, political
systems, industrial structures, and technical systems. A sustainable society may be
realized by re-building the human system consisting of lifestyles, health, safety,
security, and value norms and repairing their mutual relationships (IR3S).
1.6.2 Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs at the United Nations Summit in September 2015 aim to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. These are the goals set by
the 193 member states of the United Nations to achieve over 15 years (2016–2030).
As shown in Fig. 1.17, there are 17 significant goals and 169 concrete targets to
achieve.
The primary aims of the SDGs are linked to the following priority areas:
1. Energy Security Issues (7th in SDGs): this aims to address issues associated with
the rapid increase in energy demand, the potential depletion of fossil fuels, the
promotion of energy conservation and renewable energy diffusion, risks for
nuclear power accidents, and spent nuclear fuel.
2. Resource/Recycling Issues (12th in SDGs): this aims to address the depletion of
metal resources, health/environmental problems from by illegal recycling of
electric/electronic devices, health/environmental problems associated with the
mining of natural resources.
Earth System
Climate system
Resource/Energy/Ecos
ystem
Human System
Life cycle
Healthy
Value norm
Social System
Politic
Economy
Industry
Technology
Global warming
Wide area air pollution
Complicating issues
Recycling society
Massive production
Massive consumption
Massive disposal
Poverty
Spread of infectious disease
Frequent occurrence of natural
disasters
Fig. 1.16 Basic scheme of sustainability science. (Source: based on Integrated Research System
for Sustainability Science (IR3S))
1 Climate Change and Low-Carbon Society: Coping with Uncertainty
33