Environmental and Ecological Sustainability

Call for Papers

Environmental and Ecological Sustainability: Engaging the Stakeholders

4-5 October 2018

Venue: Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

Organised by School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

Call for Paper

Sustainable Human development is always in natural synergy with ecology and environment. Imbalances in the nature have always brought catastrophic consequences for human survival and hence have derailed the human development. Defining Sustainable development is complex. However, in general, there is a common agreement that sustainable development is the result of synergetic interaction between three systems: ecological, economic, and social. The enormous complexity of interaction between them often poses more challenge. For example, the increased human development and economic progress often challenge the ecosystem and are instrumental in bringing catastrophic consequences. The growing pressure of population, energy use, and exploitation of natural resources obviously put tremendous pressure on ecology and environment. Many of the recent catastrophes are the result of over-exploitation of ecosystem and unplanned growth.

These global catastrophes impel us to think proactively about response mechanism to minimise the loss of human lives and material resources in the wake of such natural calamities. Indian Ocean Earthquake (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), Pakistan Earthquake (2005), Cyclone Nargis (2008), Haiti Earthquake (2010), Tōhoku Earthquake, Tsunami (2011) and Hurricane Irma (2017) are some of the known examples of environmental and ecological disturbances. It is alarming that the frequency of these disasters is increasing.

Intensification of industrialisation and urbanisation has brought more challenge to ecology and environment to a great degree. Scarcity of clean air, water and other basic needs become everyday issues across many countries. Most of the cities in the world in general and Asian countries in particular are engaged in social conflict on scarce resources. Conflicts related to water has been a perennial issue among various states in India. Rivers that flow between different states such Kaveri, Godavari etc in India are often a bone of contention among states as they stake claim on these natural resources.

Large scale human migrations as a result of multiple push and pull factors, including environment and ecological disaster, further aggravate the problem. It put more pressure on the natural resources and disturbs the ecology. Both internal and international migration has  intensified in recent years creating more conflicts among communities as a result of diminishing resources. 

The response to the environmental and ecological sustainability is still very poor at global level, but some countries such as Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada have officially adopted a sustainable development policy. International organizations such as U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO) also have taken this as a major area of policy intervention in recent times.

Sustainability demands inclusive participation of large array of stakeholders from grassroots level performer to state level policy makers. This conference tries to engage stakeholders from diverse range to provide a nuanced perspective on the issue. 

Objectives

The Conference is an attempt to engage various stakeholders to delve into the complex environmental and social problems and enhance the understanding and create a vision of socially desirable, ecologically viable and economically feasible solutions for the future.

General Objectives

• Current issues and challenges related to the Environmental and Ecological sustainable development
• To learn about the recent advancement on sustainable development at both conceptual as well as applied areas to achieve sustainable solutions.
• Stake holders’ perspective on sustainable development for promoting and maintaining the environmental health for future generations.

Specific Objectives

• To get knowledge and insights into the environmental and ecological  sustainability
• To have knowledge on policy challenges arising out of urbanisation, economic development and natural resource exploitation
• To learn about the best practices and policies on sustainable development

There are several countries actively engaged in making policies to achieve sustainable solutions but no one has achieved it. The Conference will have both conceptual as well as applied areas so as to give a holistic approach to understand the issue.

The following are the tentative Themes and Sub-themes proposed for the conference.

Themes and Subthemes

• Environment and Natural resources
• Ecology and  Ecological sustainability
• Conflict over resources
• Hazardous Materials
• Environmental Pollution and Ecology
• Migration and Environment
• Tourism, Environment and Ecological sustainability
• Legal and Policy: Local and Global
• Innovation and Best practices
• Community Engagement

Outcome

Environmental and ecological sustainability demands intensive interdisciplinary engagement. The conference will be an exercise to engage multiple stakeholders from multiple domains. This exercise will help to intensify the interdisciplinary conversation among scholars and experts in academics and policy.

The conference papers will be published in Books and journals after the due peer review process.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

All participants are required to submit abstract of about 300 words to soitsenvironment@gmail.com

Registration

There is no registration fee required for the selected participants. Due to limited number of guest rooms, accommodation will be provided only for few selected participants based on request. Participants have to arrange their own transport to participate in the conference.

Coordinators: Dr. Boyina Rupini and Dr. Sadananda Sahoo

Organising Committee: Dr. Boyina Rupini, Prof. Nandini Sinha Kapur, Dr. Shubhangi Vaidya, Dr. Sadananda Sahoo, Dr. Shachi Shah, Dr. Sushmitha Baskar, Dr. Deeksha Dave, Mr. V Venkat Ramanan, Dr. Yanglem Sharatchandra Khuman