A truly comprehensive introduction to the topic, Understanding Sustainable Development is designed to give students on a wide range of courses an appreciation of the key concepts and theories of sustainable development.

Fully updated, the third edition includes detailed coverage of the Sustainable Development Goals and their impact on global development. Major challenges and topics are explored through a range of international case studies and media examples which maintain the 'global to local' structure of the previous edition.

With an extensive website and pedagogy, Understanding Sustainable Development is the most complete guide to the subject for course leaders, undergraduates and postgraduates.

John Blewitt is the Director of the MSc Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Aston Business School, Aston University, UK.

List of figures

Introduction

1 Towards Sustainable Development

2 Worldviews and ethical values: towards an ecological paradigm

3 Cultural and contested understandings of science and sustainability

4 Connecting social with the environmental justice

5 Sustainable development, politics and governance

6 Conservation and sustainable development

7 Beyond the imperatives of economic growth and 'business as usual'

8 Envisioning sustainable societies and urban areas

9 Tools, systems and innovation for sustainability

10 Communication and learning for sustainability

11 Leading the sustainability process

Bibliography