The Natural Advantage of Nations: Business Opportunities, Innovations and Governance in the 21st Century / Edition 1

by Michael Harrison Smith

Overview

This book is more than just a 'palliative care' guide for the planet. It is about innovation, solutions, competitiveness and profitability. At work, at home and as members of society, our generation has an opportunity – to be part of the obligation - and an exciting solution in restoring the balance.

The authors present a bold vision for the future and demonstrate how we can get there, drawing on lessons of competitive advantage theory and the latest in sustainability, economics, innovation, business and governance theory and practice. The result is nothing less than the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to date, to building the new ecologically sustainable economy. For further information about The Natural Edge Project and to view the book's online companion, visit www.naturaledgeproject.net.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781844073405
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/01/2006
Edition description:	1
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

I think it's a great project and I wish it every success' DAVID SUZUKI OC award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster 'This is world-leading work - the team deserves the loudest acclamation possible' BARRY J. GREAR AO President 2006, World Federation of Engineering Organizations 'Anyone interested in the practical details of building a bright green future needs to read this book. It's an absolutely critical overview of our progress towards sustainability thus far, 500+ information-packed pages on what's working best This is a book I'll be coming back to again and again' ALEX STEFFEN, WorldChanging.com 'This volume pulls together thirty of the top thinkers in sustainability for a provocative and stimulating journey that happens to be easy to read. The industrialized world needs to focus not just on sustainable development but also on 'sustainable re-development', which would shift the focus from solving environmental problems to eliminating them' CYNTHIA D. CHURCHWELL business information librarian at Baker Library, Harvard Business School 'A must-read for anyone serious about understanding the global phenomenon and trend of sustainable development. This comprehensive and well-documented book shows specific examples of how sustainable innovation can and needs to transform our globally linked society and economy' KAREN WAN GreenPlants Program Director, Chicago Manufacturing Center 'What I found in reading the book was how the pursuit of sustainable development, whether on a small scale in domestic organizations or on a national or international scale, is no walk into the unknown. In a host of areas solutions already exist and are being implemented around the world by companies, governments and by social groupings. All this the book provides through relevant and successful solutions' SIR NINIAN STEPHEN, Former Governor General of Australia 'It is a great book following up on findings we published in Factor Four and linking it all to the business community I shall quote Hargroves and Smith' PROF. DR. ERNST VON WEIZS CKER author of Limits to Privatization and Factor Four 'It is widely understood that we must shift towards a sustainable future, and increasingly it is agreed that in order to do so we must move beyond rhetoric and into hard-edged, pragmatic forward steps. This book is a vital contribution to that forward movement, and I commend it to you' STEVE MORTON Group Chair, Environment and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

Table of Contents

Section 1: The Need for a New Paradigm Natural Advantage of Nations Risks of Inaction on Sustainable Development. Asking the Right Questions. A Dynamic 'Platform for Change'. Thinking Locally, Acting Globally. Section 2: Natural Advantage: A Business Imperative Natural Advantage and the Firm. Innovation and Competitiveness through Industry Cluster Development. The Political and Social Context: A Sixth Force on Business? Accelerating the Sustainability Revolution. Operationalizing Natural Advantage through the Sustainability Helix. Section 3: Acheieving a Natural Advantage of Nations The Role of Government. Towards a Deeper Understanding. National Systems of Innovation. Sustainability in the Wild West (State Government). Delivering Sustainability Through Local Action (Local Government). Section 4: Sustainable Cities: The Challenge of the 21st Century Tomorrow's Mega-cities: How Will They Develop? Profitable Greenhouse Solutions. Greening the Built Environment. Sustainable Urban Transport. Water: Nature's Gold. Section 5: A National Collaborative Approach: The Bigger Picture – Building Resilience Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Consumption and Cleaner Production. Changing Hearts and Minds: The Role of Education. Achieving Multi-stakeholder Engagement. Notes. References. Index.

Editorial Reviews

'I think it's a great project and I wish it every success.' David Suzuki, award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster 'This is world-leading work - the team deserves the loudest acclamation possible.' Barry J Grear, AO President 2006, World Federation of Engineering Organizations 'Anyone interested in the practical details of building a bright green future needs to read this book. It's an absolutely critical overview of our progress towards sustainability thus far, 500+ information-packed pages on what's working best... This is a book I'll be coming back to again and again.' Alex Steffen, WorldChanging.com 'This volume pulls together thirty of the top thinkers in sustainability for a provocative and stimulating journey that happens to be easy to read. The industrialized world... needs to focus not just on sustainable development but also on 'sustainable re-development', which would shift the focus from solving environmental problems to eliminating them.' Cynthia D Churchwell, Harvard Business School 'A must-read for anyone serious about understanding the global phenomenon and trend of sustainable development. This comprehensive and well-documented book shows specific examples of how sustainable innovation can and needs to transform our globally linked society and economy.' Karen Wan, GreenPlants Program Director, Chicago Manufacturing Center 'What I found in reading the book was how the pursuit of sustainable development, whether on a small scale in domestic organizations or on a national or international scale, is no walk into the unknown. In a host of areas solutions already exist and are being implemented around the world by companies, governments and by social groupings. All this the book provides through relevant and successful solutions.' Sir Ninian Stephen, Former Governor General of Australia 'It is a great book following up on findings we published in Factor Four and linking it all to the business community... I shall quote Hargroves and Smith.' Prof. Dr. Ernst Von Weizsacker, author of Limits to Privatization and Factor Four 'It is widely understood that we must shift towards a sustainable future, and increasingly it is agreed that in order to do so we must move beyond rhetoric and into hard-edged, pragmatic forward steps. This book is a vital contribution to that forward movement, and I commend it to you.' Steve Morton, Group Chair, Environment and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

From the Publisher