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H. Schlör et al.
2. Second, an operationalization is derived for Amartya Sen’s sustainable development definition using the food–energy–water nexus as the core of sustainable
development (United Nations (UN Water) in Water, food and energy. United
Nations, 2020 [73]), and to reveal both
a. potential contradictions between the FEW sectors and other sectors of the
German society which can negatively affect sustainable development in
Germany, and
b. the degree of inequality in functionings and capabilities among German
households.
3. Finally, those household groups will be identified which “have to be sustained”
the most according to Sen’s definition.
In the presented model, based on ul Haq (Fukuda-Parr in Fem Econ 9:301–317,
2003 [24]; Haq in Human development in a changing world. UNDP, New York, 1992
[30]; Haq in Reflections on human development. Oxford University Press, Oxford,
1995 [31]) and Sen (Anand and Sen in Human development index: methodology and
measurement. Occasional papers. UNDP, New York, 1994 [3]; Sen in Ökonomie
für den Menschen [Economy for the people], 2nd edn. dtv, Munch, 2003 [59]), the
German capability index (GCI) is used to reveal both the capabilities and functionings
of German society and the underlying justice structure of the German society. The
capabilities (realization opportunities) in this context describe people’s opportunities
of using their functionings (abilities) to achieve a place in society (Venkatapuram
in Health justice. Polity Press, Cambridge, 2011 [81]) given their personal capabilities, while simultaneously maintaining a sustainable use of the food–energy–water
resources. The aim of the German capability index (GCI) is to make the capabilities
of the various German households comparable and establish the GCI as an index of
revealed capabilities.
Keywords Food–energy–water nexus · Capability approach · Germany ·
Sustainable development
1 Introduction
Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Gutteres expressed his concerns
about the state of the world [27] in Davos 2019, however, a question posed by
Amartya Sen actuates further thought—namely that for who has to be sustained [4]?
This question was answered by himself, proposing “it is not so much that humanity
is trying to sustain the natural world but rather that humanity is trying to sustain itself
[60]”, because “the precariousness of nature is our peril, our fragility [60]”.
This, however, would inevitably imply accounting for inter- and intragenerational
justice and thus requires the setting of ecological restrictions on the use and the
management of the food–energy–water-nexus (FEW-nexus) resources in order to
H. Schlör et al.
2. Second, an operationalization is derived for Amartya Sen’s sustainable development definition using the food–energy–water nexus as the core of sustainable
development (United Nations (UN Water) in Water, food and energy. United
Nations, 2020 [73]), and to reveal both
a. potential contradictions between the FEW sectors and other sectors of the
German society which can negatively affect sustainable development in
Germany, and
b. the degree of inequality in functionings and capabilities among German
households.
3. Finally, those household groups will be identified which “have to be sustained”
the most according to Sen’s definition.
In the presented model, based on ul Haq (Fukuda-Parr in Fem Econ 9:301–317,
2003 [24]; Haq in Human development in a changing world. UNDP, New York, 1992
[30]; Haq in Reflections on human development. Oxford University Press, Oxford,
1995 [31]) and Sen (Anand and Sen in Human development index: methodology and
measurement. Occasional papers. UNDP, New York, 1994 [3]; Sen in Ökonomie
für den Menschen [Economy for the people], 2nd edn. dtv, Munch, 2003 [59]), the
German capability index (GCI) is used to reveal both the capabilities and functionings
of German society and the underlying justice structure of the German society. The
capabilities (realization opportunities) in this context describe people’s opportunities
of using their functionings (abilities) to achieve a place in society (Venkatapuram
in Health justice. Polity Press, Cambridge, 2011 [81]) given their personal capabilities, while simultaneously maintaining a sustainable use of the food–energy–water
resources. The aim of the German capability index (GCI) is to make the capabilities
of the various German households comparable and establish the GCI as an index of
revealed capabilities.
Keywords Food–energy–water nexus · Capability approach · Germany ·
Sustainable development
1 Introduction
Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Gutteres expressed his concerns
about the state of the world [27] in Davos 2019, however, a question posed by
Amartya Sen actuates further thought—namely that for who has to be sustained [4]?
This question was answered by himself, proposing “it is not so much that humanity
is trying to sustain the natural world but rather that humanity is trying to sustain itself
[60]”, because “the precariousness of nature is our peril, our fragility [60]”.
This, however, would inevitably imply accounting for inter- and intragenerational
justice and thus requires the setting of ecological restrictions on the use and the
management of the food–energy–water-nexus (FEW-nexus) resources in order to