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Title Sustainability for the nation : resource connections and governance linkages / Committee on Sustainability Linkages in the Federal Government, Science and Technology for Sustainability Program, Policy and Global Affairs Division, National Research Council of the National Academies
Published Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, [2013]
©2013

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Description 1 online resource (xviii, 124 pages) : color illustrations, color maps
Contents Summary -- The challenge of managing connected systems -- The impediments to successful government linkages -- Examples of sustainability connections and linkages -- Development of a decision framework -- A path forward: Priority areas for interagency collaboration -- Appendixes
Summary "A 'sustainable society, ' according to one definition, 'is one that can persist over generations; one that is far-seeing enough, flexible enough, and wise enough not to undermine either its physical or its social system of support.' As the government sector works hard to ensure sufficient fresh water, food, energy, housing, health, and education for the nation without limiting resources for the future generations, it's clear that there is no sufficient organization to deal with sustainability issues. Each federal agency appears to have a single mandate or a single area of expertise making it difficult to tackle issues such as managing the ecosystem. Key resource domains, which include water, land, energy, and nonrenewable resources, for example, are nearly-completely connected yet different agencies exist to address only one aspect of these domains. The legendary ecologist John Muir wrote in 1911 that 'when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.' Thus, in order for the nation to be successful in sustaining its resources, 'linkages' will need to be built among federal, state, and local governments; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); and the private sector. The National Research Council (NRC) was asked by several federal agencies, foundations, and the private sector to provide guidance to the federal government on issues related to sustainability linkages. The NRC assigned the task to as committee with a wide range of expertise in government, academia, and business. The committee held public fact-finding meetings to hear from agencies and stakeholder groups; examined sustainability management examples; conducted extensive literature reviews; and more to address the issue. Sustainability for the Nation: Resource Connection and Governance Linkages is the committee's report on the issue. The report includes insight into high-priority areas for governance linkages, the challenges of managing connected systems, impediments to successful government linkages, and more. The report also features examples of government linkages which include Adaptive Management on the Platte River, Philadelphia's Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Managing Land Use in the Mojave"--Description on publication's home page at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13471
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references
Notes Print version record
Subject Sustainable development -- Government policy -- United States
Sustainability -- Government policy -- United States
Conservation of natural resources -- Government policy -- United States
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Industries -- General.
Conservation of natural resources -- Government policy
Sustainable development -- Government policy
Transit oriented development.
Joint development.
United States
Form Electronic book
Author National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Sustainability Linkages in the Federal Government, sponsor, contributor.
LC no. 2015430736
ISBN 9780309262316
0309262313
Other Titles Resource connections and governance linkages