IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i14p5169-d864351.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Defining and Operationalizing Sustainability in the Context of Energy

Author

Listed:
  • Lucas Reijnders

    (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The terms sustainable and sustainability are currently often used in scientific journals, including Energies. There are cases where these terms are defined or operationalized, but more often they are not. This is problematic, as there are reportedly hundreds of (different) definitions and operationalizations (in terms of standards or goals) of sustainability. This large number has its roots in history. Many current definitions and operationalizations of sustainability are social constructs. As these constructs vary, there can be variation in the characterization of specific ways to provide energy as sustainable or not sustainable. There are also definitions of sustainability that have emerged from the sciences. These definitions can also lead to differences in the characterization of specific ways to provide energy as sustainable or not sustainable. In view thereof, there is a case to define and/or operationalize sustainable and sustainability when these terms are used in the context of energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucas Reijnders, 2022. "Defining and Operationalizing Sustainability in the Context of Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-9, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5169-:d:864351
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5169/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5169/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Veronika Wittmann & Elif Arici & Dieter Meissner, 2021. "The Nexus of World Electricity and Global Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Jianyun Zhang & Xinxin Li & Lingying Pan, 2022. "Policy Effect on Clean Coal-Fired Power Development in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Omojola Awogbemi & Daramy Vandi Von Kallon & Emmanuel Idoko Onuh & Victor Sunday Aigbodion, 2021. "An Overview of the Classification, Production and Utilization of Biofuels for Internal Combustion Engine Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-43, September.
    4. Opschoor, J. (Hans) B., 1995. "Ecospace and the fall and rise of throughput intensity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 137-140, November.
    5. Schenone, Corrado & Delponte, Ilaria, 2021. "Renewable energy sources in local sustainable energy action PLANs (SEAPs): analysis and outcomes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Eduardo Cabrera & João M. Melo de Sousa, 2022. "Use of Sustainable Fuels in Aviation—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Huadong Gao & Baifu An & Zhen Han & Yachao Guo & Zeyu Ruan & Wei Li & Samuel Zayzay, 2020. "The Sustainable Development of Aged Coal Mine Achieved by Recovering Pillar-Blocked Coal Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
    8. Song Xu & Yiu Hin Martin Lu & Meiheriayi Mutailipu & Kanti Yan & Yaoli Zhang & Staffan Qvist, 2022. "Repowering Coal Power in China by Nuclear Energy—Implementation Strategy and Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-27, January.
    9. Oskar Englund & Göran Berndes, 2015. "How do sustainability standards consider biodiversity?," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(1), pages 26-50, January.
    10. Gyunyoung Heo, 2022. "Advancements in Probabilistic Safety Assessment of Nuclear Energy for Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-2, January.
    11. Daly, Herman E., 1990. "Toward some operational principles of sustainable development," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, April.
    12. Schubert, Renate & Blasch, Julia, 2010. "Sustainability standards for bioenergy--A means to reduce climate change risks?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 2797-2805, June.
    13. Fischer, W. & Hake, J.-Fr. & Kuckshinrichs, W. & Schröder, T. & Venghaus, S., 2016. "German energy policy and the way to sustainability: Five controversial issues in the debate on the “Energiewende”," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P3), pages 1580-1591.
    14. Höfer, Tim & Madlener, Reinhard, 2020. "A participatory stakeholder process for evaluating sustainable energy transition scenarios," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    15. Pactwa, Katarzyna & Woźniak, Justyna & Strempski, Andrzej, 2021. "Sustainable mining – Challenge of Polish mines," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    16. Ekins, Paul & Simon, Sandrine & Deutsch, Lisa & Folke, Carl & De Groot, Rudolf, 2003. "A framework for the practical application of the concepts of critical natural capital and strong sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 165-185, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Farley, Joshua, 2012. "Ecosystem services: The economics debate," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 40-49.
    2. Itziar Barinaga-Rementeria & Iker Etxano, 2020. "Weak or Strong Sustainability in Rural Land Use Planning? Assessing Two Case Studies through Multi-Criteria Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Nuno Quental & Júlia Lourenço & Fernando da Silva, 2011. "Sustainability: characteristics and scientific roots," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 257-276, April.
    4. Garmendia, E. & Prellezo, R. & Murillas, A. & Escapa, M. & Gallastegui, M., 2010. "Weak and strong sustainability assessment in fisheries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 96-106, November.
    5. Zhang, Chonghui & Bai, Chen & Su, Weihua & Balezentis, Tomas, 2024. "The centralised data envelopment analysis model integrated with cost information and utility theory for power price setting under carbon peak strategy at the firm-level," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    6. Ettore Bompard & Daniele Grosso & Tao Huang & Francesco Profumo & Xianzhang Lei & Duo Li, 2018. "World Decarbonization through Global Electricity Interconnections," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-29, July.
    7. Charfeddine, Lanouar & Umlai, Mohamed, 2023. "ICT sector, digitization and environmental sustainability: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2022," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    8. Scott Duke Kominers & Alexander Teytelboym & Vincent P Crawford, 2017. "An invitation to market design," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 33(4), pages 541-571.
    9. Yeray Hernandez & Gustavo Naumann & Serafin Corral & Paulo Barbosa, 2020. "Water Footprint Expands with Gross Domestic Product," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-6, October.
    10. Daniel Buda & Hoinaru Razvan & Mocanu Mihaela & Roman Aureliana-Geta, 2019. "IAS 41 and beyond for a sustainable EU agriculture," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 829-839, May.
    11. Gheorghe Epuran & Bianca Tescașiu & Alina-Simona Tecău & Ioana-Simona Ivasciuc & Adina-Nicoleta Candrea, 2020. "Permaculture and Downshifting-Sources of Sustainable Tourism Development in Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Toman, Michael & Pezzey, John C., 2002. "The Economics of Sustainability: A Review of Journal Articles," RFF Working Paper Series dp-02-03, Resources for the Future.
    13. Lange, Steffen & Pohl, Johanna & Santarius, Tilman, 2020. "Digitalization and energy consumption. Does ICT reduce energy demand?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    14. Toyosi K. Oye & Naren Gupta & Keng Goh & Abdelfateh Kerrouche & Tosin T. Oye, 2021. "Development of a Sustainable Theoretical Framework for a Renewable Based Bathroom Unit," Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(3), pages 10-35, August.
    15. Rothman, Dale S., 1998. "Environmental Kuznets curves--real progress or passing the buck?: A case for consumption-based approaches," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 177-194, May.
    16. Genesis T. Yengoh & Frederick Ato Armah & Edward Ebo Onumah, 2010. "Paths to Attaining Food Security: The Case of Cameroon," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-22, August.
    17. Alcott, Blake, 2008. "The sufficiency strategy: Would rich-world frugality lower environmental impact," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 770-786, February.
    18. Nikodinoska, Natasha & Paletto, Alessandro & Pastorella, Fabio & Granvik, Madeleine & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2018. "Assessing, valuing and mapping ecosystem services at city level: The case of Uppsala (Sweden)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 368(C), pages 411-424.
    19. Gilbert Gillespie, 2010. "2009 AFHVS presidential address: the steering question: challenges to achieving food system sustainability," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 27(1), pages 3-12, March.
    20. Florian Fizaine, 2021. "La croissance verte est-elle durable et compatible avec l’économie circulaire ? Une approche par l’identité IPAT," Post-Print hal-03884377, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5169-:d:864351. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.