http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/sustainability Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 01:23:20 -0400 Sat, 09 May 2026 01:23:20 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1509/commercialization-of-biochar-and-the-benefits-for-climate-change-and-agriculture By Nate D. Van Beilen - Biochar is biomass that has been converted into charcoal through the pyrolysis process. Biochar is applied into soils for carbon sequestration or for improving soil fertility. The carbon bonds in biochar are very stable and do not break down easily which makes biochar a long term carbon storage solution. The physical structure of biochar improves soil fertility by decreasing soil tensile strength and bulk density. Biochar also acts as a soil aggregate which provides habitat for microorganisms. Additionally, the porosity of biochar improves nutrient and water retention in soils thereby improving... Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:58 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1509/commercialization-of-biochar-and-the-benefits-for-climate-change-and-agriculture http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1505/joint-value-creation-between-marine-protected-areas-and-the-private-sector By David C. Harary - Officially, the primary objective of the sanctuary system is to protect marine resources, such as coral reefs, sunken historical vessels, or unique habitats (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 2013). Recently, however, ONMS has explored the economic earnings that could come out of the system through many different industries, such as recreation and tourism. Meanwhile, the concept of ‘sustainability’ has become increasingly utilized in ecotourism settings (Wight, 1993). Research in this area has shown that recreation and tourism can help promote public awareness and understanding... Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:49 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1505/joint-value-creation-between-marine-protected-areas-and-the-private-sector http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1555/sweden-the-worlds-most-sustainable-country-political-statements-and-goals-for-a-sustainable-society By Maria Mänsson - Sweden, a small country with almost 10 million inhabitants, is the world's most sustainable country according to some reports that compare environmental, social, and governance components between nations. Sweden plays a significant role in the European Union's work for a sustainable society in the European Union. Strict environmental policies and governmental initiatives that encourage all members of the society to invest in climate change projects are among the reasons that put Sweden on top of sustainable ranking lists. During the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, a number... Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1555/sweden-the-worlds-most-sustainable-country-political-statements-and-goals-for-a-sustainable-society http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1560/omega-playing-for-change By A. Rachelle Foss - But Verdigo, a social enterprise comprised of a group of volunteers, all with full-time careers, has created OMEGA with change in mind. Utilizing the smaller community model, Verdigo is looking to affect change, using fun to motivate people instead of proclamations of doom. Notwithstanding their self-professed laid-back personalities, the passion of those involved with this venture is evident: "OMEGA is our first endeavour—a game to get people to continue or introduce ‘green' actions in daily life and to stretch the boundaries of their environmentalism" (S. Gangel, personal communication... Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1560/omega-playing-for-change http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1528/clear-cutting-of-the-coastal-temperate-rainforest-a-brief-analysis-of-clayoquot-sound By Claire Brownlie - Using Clayoquot Sound as a reference, the consequences clear-cut logging has on the coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems was examined. Social and political outcomes from extensive protests in 1993, which opposed the destruction of the natural habitats, were also assessed. Additionally, First Nations' rights were investigated through the Interim Measures Agreement between the Government of British Columbia and the Nuu-chah-nulth community, as well as their co-management of the natural resources in Clayoquot Sound. In 2000 Clayoquot Sound was designated as a UNESCO site. The designation brought... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1528/clear-cutting-of-the-coastal-temperate-rainforest-a-brief-analysis-of-clayoquot-sound http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1531/costs-and-benefits-of-nitrogen-and-phosphate-fertilizer-use-in-the-lake-erie-basin By David C. Harary - This paper explores both the positive and negative externalities associated with nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizer use. Using 57 scholarly journal articles, government reports, manuscripts, and news articles; a comprehensive review was made on the effects fertilizer use and eutrophication has on ecological, environmental, human health, and economic systems in the western Lake Erie Basin. Negative externalities associated with fertilizer use included species population decline; environmental degradation; increased risks on public health; increased water treatment and maintenance spending;... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1531/costs-and-benefits-of-nitrogen-and-phosphate-fertilizer-use-in-the-lake-erie-basin http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1532/ecosystems-as-stakeholders-to-urban-air-pollution-mitigation-decisions-in-toronto By Conner Tidd - This paper explores the role that ecosystems can have in the decision making framework for urban air pollution mitigation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The focus is on management planning of green roof implementation to mitigate the effects of urban air pollution. The importance of Toronto's impact on surrounding ecosystems, conservation areas and their fragile habitats is often overlooked. Through a literature analysis of primary sources, the need for consideration of these nearby ecosystems in management planning is shown. Toronto's proximity to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems causes the dual... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1532/ecosystems-as-stakeholders-to-urban-air-pollution-mitigation-decisions-in-toronto http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1336/the-sixth-species-extinction-event-by-humans By Victor J. Nazarevich - The number of species becoming extinct has drawn a significant deal of attention from scientists and non-scientists alike. This research reviews recent literature citing evidence for the impact humans have had on our planet and how our biological systems are affected in both known species of flora and fauna as well as unknown species of flora and fauna, the latter lacking documentation as well as sightings by humans. Theoretical research is derived from previous research investigating the impacts of humankind's use of the land as well as population increases. Though there are many different definitions... Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:53 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1336/the-sixth-species-extinction-event-by-humans http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1331/a-tale-of-garbage By Ian McTaggart - In 1973, an American archaeologist named Dr. William Rathje sought to create a method that would help his students understand the intricacies of archaeological fieldwork. Dr. Rathje recognized that his students at the University of Arizona were having a difficult time understanding cultural remains from the past (Rathje, 1979, p. 4), so his idea was to use contemporary cultural material waste as a study tool. He named this method "The Garbage Project." Given that the project took place during 1970s and students of the time were far removed from potsherds and post holes, it made sense to articulate... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1331/a-tale-of-garbage http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future By A. Rachelle Foss - Alberta's resource power lies within the energy sector; in particular, the oil and gas industry. However, this same energy sector is contributing heavily to the destruction of the landscape and is contaminating the environment. This destructive pattern may seem unrelated to the province's economy, but a closer look shows that they are, in fact, closely connected. This is largely due to a failure by both the industry and political leaders to have a vision for the economic future. Although oil and gas royalties, paid to the province for the right to use crown land for capital gain, provide considerable... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1333/ecuador-communicating-to-bridge-the-education-gap-in-nutrition By Brittany Pitruniak - After conducting a study in May of 2014 on nutrition communication in Ecuador and how it affects consumer behaviour, researchers identified a gap between the level of education obtained by students and the knowledge of nutrition provided to them. This article uses that study to assess whether or not the communication of nutrition information can be understood with the level of nutrition education available through cultural and educational means. Researchers first gathered data using quantitative methods in a survey administered to students at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. The data was... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1333/ecuador-communicating-to-bridge-the-education-gap-in-nutrition http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan By Karin Snyder - In the case of Japan, which lacks any significant fossil fuel reserves (Gasparatos & Gadda, 2009, pp. 4038-4048) some alternative forms of energy production have been implemented. Japan has implemented alternative energy options such as nuclear power, photovoltaic power, hydroelectric power, and other various energy alternatives and renewable resources. These alternatives have the potential to lessen climate change. Japan is becoming an example of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with alternative energy sources. Following the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government addressed... Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:47 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/950/the-right-and-the-good-communicating-environmental-issues By Goldwin McEwen - What we see is partially dependent on what we are shown. As communicators, we have a duty to inform and educate and lead. As environmental communicators we have the privilege of explaining how the various parts of our natural world work, individually, in unison, and in relationship to people. By examining two specific areas of growing global concerns, this paper provides an analytic tool and starts a discussion as to what should be guiding decisions concerning major environmental questions. The first growing global concern discussed is tailings ponds in Northern Alberta’s oil sands. The... Fri, 19 Dec 2014 05:31 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/950/the-right-and-the-good-communicating-environmental-issues http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1194/icelands-clean-energy-economy-a-roadmap-to-sustainability-and-good-business By Ólafur R. Grímsson - President Grimsson studied economics and political science at the University of Manchester, and in 1970, became the first person in Iceland to earn a PhD in political science. In 1973, he became a Professor of Political Science at the University of Iceland. He was the University of Iceland's first Political Science professor. He served as a Member of Althing (Iceland's Parliament) from 1978 to 1983. He served as the Chairman of the People's Alliance executive committee from 1983 to 1987. From 1987 to 1995, he was Leader of the People's Alliance; during this time, he served as Minister of Finance... Sat, 01 Nov 2014 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1194/icelands-clean-energy-economy-a-roadmap-to-sustainability-and-good-business http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/949/deconstruction-over-demolition-manasc-isaac-architects By David Campbell - Everyday activism is a topic that encompasses a variety of sustainable processes and behaviours like turning off lights in a room that is not in use or turning off water taps while brushing teeth, but also challenging large-scale projects. This sentiment has been embraced by Manasc Isaac, an Edmonton, Alberta based architectural firm with a focus on sustainable design. The company has won a plethora of honours for both its design style and sustainable practices. In addition to being recognized for designing Alberta’s first C-2000 green building, Manasc Isaac also designed Alberta’s... Tue, 30 Sep 2014 04:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/949/deconstruction-over-demolition-manasc-isaac-architects http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/858/the-price-of-development-the-importance-of-preserving-local-agricultural-lands By A. Rachelle Foss - Regardless of the fact that we have long been warned of the negative impact of industrial farming, rural communities are being wiped out as local producers, like Riverbend Gardens, are put at risk in favour of urban expansion. The industrial food production industry is unsustainable, leading to increased energy consumption and food costs because of the gross use of energy to transport food hundreds kilometres from where it is produced. Toxic chemicals used to combat swarms of pests that are nurtured by acres of single crop farming have lead to the increase of these substances in our environment... Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:39 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/858/the-price-of-development-the-importance-of-preserving-local-agricultural-lands http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/854/hoarding-plastic-waste-buried-alive By A. Rachelle Foss - Plastic is a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives. Popular for its versatility, it can be attributed to the creation of the numerous conveniences we enjoy in contemporary society. However, traditional plastic does not break down and thus has also become ubiquitous within the environment, and the mounting consequences to its extensive use is being seen. Recycling provides a degree of relief in our efforts to address this problem and can be a boost to the economy but there are barriers that reduce the effectiveness of this solution. In addition to the complex and arduous process of separating and... Mon, 13 Jan 2014 10:35 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/854/hoarding-plastic-waste-buried-alive http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/849/who-is-king-of-sarawaks-rainforest-an-insight-to-sarawaks-land-corruption-led-by-its-chief-minister-and-his-family By Tisha Raj - Malaysia's 13th General Elections were hopes of many to be the turning point of change, breaking Barisan Nasional's (BN or National Front) 56 years of governance. BN in recent years had been plagued with allegations of corruption and cronyism. Land grabs in the state of Sarawak, exposed an intricate and systematic corruption that happens in all levels of government in Malaysia. The perils of the rainforest in Sarawak are uncovered through a corrupt systematic mass deforestation through the governance of its Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. Was Malaysia's latest election successful in dethroning Taib... Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:06 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/849/who-is-king-of-sarawaks-rainforest-an-insight-to-sarawaks-land-corruption-led-by-its-chief-minister-and-his-family http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/848/christopher-benjamins-eco-innovators-sustainability-in-atlantic-canada--stories-to-change-minds-and-move-hearts By Tami Ambury - In his 2011 book, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada, environmental journalist Chris Benjamin provides a new kind of roadmap to a more sustainable future. In this work, Chris masterfully weaves the stories of 35 creative and dedicated individuals from the four Maritime Provinces who recognize the need to take action now. From more sustainable food, transportation, or housing choices, to new business models, to community- based social marketing and branding, to journalists and educators raising their voices for change, Chris outlines some of the many narratives for change. In so... Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/848/christopher-benjamins-eco-innovators-sustainability-in-atlantic-canada--stories-to-change-minds-and-move-hearts http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1083/food-security-in-the-contemporary-world-making-security-sustainable By William Barnes - The concept of food security is dynamic; it has been changing to incorporate new ideas over the years since it was established. In this piece, I will argue that if cultural acceptability is to be added as a tenant of food security then so must sustainability. Cultural acceptability addresses the needs of various ethnicities, for example providing kosher foods for the Jewish population and halal foods for the followers of Islam. Since there is a new focus on the environment with initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol, this piece concludes further that sustainability should also be an integral part... Wed, 01 Jan 2014 07:58 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1083/food-security-in-the-contemporary-world-making-security-sustainable http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/847/toward-a-more-sustainable-food-supply-network-an-economic-analysis-of-sustainability-in-the-united-states-food-industry By Morgan Bulger - In order to determine the current state of the industrial food system, both a quantitative survey and a qualitative interview were conducted and administered to various food corporations in the United States. These surveys assessed the corporations’ current awareness, attitudes, and actions in regards to analysis to the data collected, it becomes clear that perceptions of risk and directly affect the degree of sustainable action that a given corporation takes. Additionally, the relationship between vertical integration and sustainable of sustainable action is the ability to recognize environmental... Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:29 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/847/toward-a-more-sustainable-food-supply-network-an-economic-analysis-of-sustainability-in-the-united-states-food-industry http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/844/south-koreas-sustainable-urban-planning-and-environmental-technology By Lorna Kang - In the process of rapid urbanization spurred on by an increasingly globalizing world, the inhabitants of mega-cities make an important tradeoff between improved quality of life and the systematic destruction of the natural organization of land and the environment. In the developing nations of East Asia, rapid urbanization and economic growth are visibly apparent, but so are urban environmental problems in overcrowded cities. The complexity of the issue is ever-growing because slowing economic growth is not a favorable solution, but sustainable urban development is still a viable possibility. In... Sat, 21 Dec 2013 02:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/844/south-koreas-sustainable-urban-planning-and-environmental-technology http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/678/seeking-sustainability-adopting-sustainable-and-renewable-energy-sources-to-create-a-maintable-world By Kelton T. Busby - While this is a broad concept for one word to contain, it is an excellent representation of how we refer to sustainability. The next important concept is the difference between energy and power. There is a simple way to think about the difference between the two as long as one has a basic understanding of the concept of work, which is a force that displaces an object over a distance. With that in mind, energy is the ability to do work, whereas power is work over a specific time. Another important concept is that of a primary energy source. All of the energy we use comes from primary energy sources... Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/678/seeking-sustainability-adopting-sustainable-and-renewable-energy-sources-to-create-a-maintable-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/610/a-preservationists-perspective-on-levittown-communities-urban-planning-and-designs-awkward-dilemma By Michael Gray - Suburban housing is the backbone of an unsustainable living pattern. Long commutes to work and long drives for groceries, other supplies, and recreational activities increase America’s need for expensive fossil fuels. The isolated nature of subdivision style housing also decreases opportunity for interpersonal communication, which lessens the community experience and overall quality of life in a city. Modern smart growth principles, a dominant trend in planning theory and urban design, aim to concentrate housing as well as amenities closer to city centers. Smart growth advocates therefore... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:54 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/610/a-preservationists-perspective-on-levittown-communities-urban-planning-and-designs-awkward-dilemma http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/295/sustainability-is-it-a-good-choice-for-small-companies By Jennifer L. Miller - In recent years, sustainability has become a popular topic as business leaders face hardships with the poor economy in the United States. In fact, sustainability strategies have been growing in popularity over the past several decades. Young and Tilley (2006) describe in a recent article that the 1980’s and 1990’s were decades of eco-awareness following the pollution aware decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Now, as companies face increasing problems in trying to achieve profitability, managers are looking for ways to decrease costs while still maintaining quality products... Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:18 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/295/sustainability-is-it-a-good-choice-for-small-companies http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/215/love-in-the-time-of-pollution-a-look-at-eco-feminism-roots-in-disneys-wall-e By Cassandra A. Clarke - Despite critics’ assumption that WALL-E centers its plot upon an anti-pollution/sustainability theme, the writer Andrew Stanton never intended his movie to contain an environmental message. Instead, what he intended to do was create a movie that epitomizes the importance of human relations to the natural world. “What’s really important,” he says, “is relationships, everything else, the planet, benefits from that.” Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, it ironically takes the love of two robots to reintroduce humans to the power of humane connections. Through observing... Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:55 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/215/love-in-the-time-of-pollution-a-look-at-eco-feminism-roots-in-disneys-wall-e http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/68/environmental-sustainability-in-china-a-historical-perspective By Patrick M. Hutchison - In “Food, Famine, and the Chinese State” Perdue analyzes cases in the Dongting Lake region during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Dike building was then, and is now, an integral part of the agricultural system. Perdue illustrates how dike building and necessary repairs were met with inconsistent success. “Community organization of waterworks construction and repair proved inadequate, because individual incentives contradicted collective needs. At times, this intervention [local official] was successful..but the dialectic of official initiative and community response did not always... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:49 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/68/environmental-sustainability-in-china-a-historical-perspective