Abstract
The governance of sustainable development is a politically important issue but whose conceptualisation and implementation are testing the resilience of existing governance systems. The perceived failure to deliver effective change, moreover, is heightening pressures on governments and key stakeholders pushing for the greater prominence of sustainable development and sustainable governance on the policy agenda. Yet, opportunities to advance the notion of sustainability exist: reframing of the analysis of the issues related to sustainability; formulation of more effective sustainable development goals; and identification of novel ways to engage a greater number of actors in the sustainable development debate. Recent initiatives involving governments and private actors (i.e. business firms and civil society groups) constitute interesting developments in the study of the governance of sustainability at both at the national and transnational level. These initiatives are characterised by different forms—some being strictly private while others being collaborative efforts with the public sector (public-private partnership agreements, standard setting by multi-stakeholder initiatives). The chapter concludes with the idea that the crisis of sustainable development is primarily one of governance. Fundamental changes, in the actions of governments and in the life-choices of private citizens, will be required for a successful transition to a more sustainable world.
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del Real, R.V. (2017). Governing Sustainability: Some Challenges Ahead. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47883-8_10
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