The problem of global sustainability is indisputably the most serious issue facing humanity today. One of the biggest factors in the deterioration of global sustainability is climate change which has been exacerbated by the entire range of human activities and is inextricably related to modern civilization. Solving this difficult problem requires a drastic redesign of society from all aspects-technological, economic, and social. This book looks at at how to achieve a more secure level of global sustainability and gathers together a variety of recommendations.

Achieving Global Sustainability reviews the current status of global sustainability and analyses the relationship between globalization and sustainability, together with arguments on the necessity of a paradigm shift in economic growth. Paradigm shifts in socio-economic development are discussed in terms of social common capital, contemporary social discipline and economic valuation of the environment. The contributors also examine various strategies for achieving a sustainable society, among them a basic strategy for mitigating climate change, a strategy of technology development toward global sustainability, and a post-2012 international policy framework. The book presents methods of adaptation for environmental change, including integrated assessment models of climate change and a risk-assessment approach to seismic hazard mitigation. Policy recommendations for global sustainability are also introduced, including those advocating a low-carbon society by 2050, a “Green New Deal” as a means of integrating policies, climate security, and a new international discipline.

About the Editors

Takamitsu Sawa is Adviser to the Chief Director of the Kyoto Sustainability Initiative, Professor at the Graduate School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, and Project Professor at the Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University, Japan. Susumu Iai is Chief Director of the Kyoto Sustainability Initiative and Professor at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan. Seiji Ikkatai is Professor of Economics at the Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University, Japan.

Table of Contents

Introduction, Takamitsu Sawa
Global sustainability
Global sustainability: Current issues and challenges, Michinori Uwasu
Global sustainability: Globalization and sustainable development, Kazuhiro Ueta
A new paradigm for economic growth, Takamitsu Sawa
Paradigm shift of socio-economic development
Sustainable development and social common capital, Kazuhiro Ueta
Social norms and people’s values in light of sustainability, Takashi Ohshima
Measuring sustainability and economic valuation of the environment, Masayuki Sato
Strategies for sustainable society
Basic mitigation strategy for climate change, Seiji Ikkatai
Technology development strategy towards global sustainability, Satoshi Konishi
Technological strategy for renewable bioenergy, Shiro Saka
Clean development mechanism policy and sustainable rural development in China, Akihisa Mori
Conservation of peat bog and agro-forestry in Indonesia, Kosuke Mizuno and Haris Gunawan
Do markets matter? The role of markets in the post-2012 international climate regime, Yukari Takamura
Adaptation to environmental change
Adaptation in global integrated assessment models of climate change, Hans-Martin Füssel
Risk assessment approach for seismic hazard mitigation and its application to adaptation to global climate change, Susumu Iai
Risk management of climate change and stochastic calculus, Jiro Akahori
Policy recommendations towards global sustainability
Policy recommendations towards a low-carbon society in 2050, Takamitsu Sawa
A Green New Deal as an integration of policies towards sustainable society, Kazuo Matsushita
Climate security and its implications for integrating paradigms of development and security, Seiichiro Hasui