Global sustainability is impacted by several major issues, including climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Climate change results in extreme weather events, while overreliance on fossil fuels and water scarcity depletes essential resources. Biodiversity loss stems from habitat destruction and species extinction. Pollution, encompassing air, water, and soil contamination, further degrades the environment. Rapid population growth and urbanization increase pressure on resources and infrastructure, while social inequities and economic disparities exacerbate these challenges. Unsustainable consumption and production, coupled with weak governance and policy, hinder sustainability efforts. Technological and infrastructural challenges and cultural and behavioral barriers impede progress. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions, fostering innovation, collaboration, and equitable practices. This edited volume addresses the pressing sustainability and environmental challenges our planet and society face today. It is intended to comprehensively explore how we can move beyond merely discussing these issues to finding and implementing informed solutions. It aims to inform the creation of a sustainable future for all of us, both locally and globally, by focusing on cross-sector engagement, human capacity building, co-design, networking, and innovation. The primary objective of the volume is to propose practical pathways to solutions and their implementation, highlighting the progress and innovations being developed worldwide. This book will explore how research and innovation are applied to understand, mitigate, and adapt to the significant environmental stresses we face. It will showcase the latest in sustainability science and foster new collaborations, expanding networks and connecting with new markets.
Timothy L. Killeen is the 20th president of the University of Illinois System. Killeen has more than three decades of experience as an educator, researcher and administrator in public higher education and in leadership positions with national scientific research agencies. Killeen has helped lead a surge of growth across the state's flagship university system. A leading researcher in geophysics and space sciences, Killeen champions efforts to expand research discovery that drives progress and job creation. Donald J. Wuebbles is the Harry E. Preble Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Illinois. He is also a special advisor to the President of the University of Illinois and a Distinguished Scientist with the university's Discovery Partners Institute. He is also Director of Climate Science for Earth Knowledge. From 2015 to 2017, Dr. Wuebbles was Assistant Director with the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President (with President Obama). Jason E. Lane is a Special Advisor to President Tim Killeen. A Fulbright New Century Scholar, Lane has extensive experience collaborating with higher education systems globally. He has worked and consulted in more than 30 countries, advising both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UNESCO on higher education's role in supporting economic development and quality of life.
