Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins

The three-pillar conception of (social, economic and environmental) sustainability, commonly represented by three intersecting circles with overall sustainability at the centre, has become ubiquitous. With a view of identifying the genesis and theoretical foundations of this conception, this paper reviews and discusses relevant historical sustainability literature. From this we find that there is no single point of origin of this three-pillar conception, but rather a gradual emergence from various critiques in the early academic literature of the economic status quo from both social and ecological perspectives on the one hand, and the quest to reconcile economic growth as a solution to social and ecological problems on the part of the United Nations on the other. The popular three circles diagram appears to have been first presented by Barbier (Environ Conserv 14:101, doi: 10.1017/s0376892900011449, 1987), albeit purposed towards developing nations with foci which differ from modern interpretations. The conceptualisation of three pillars seems to predate this, however. Nowhere have we found a theoretically rigorous description of the three pillars. This is thought to be in part due to the nature of the sustainability discourse arising from broadly different schools of thought historically. The absence of such a theoretically solid conception frustrates approaches towards a theoretically rigorous operationalisation of ‘sustainability’

System of dynamic norms as a basis for sustainable development management of territories of innovative development

The aim of the research is to develop a system of dynamic norms providing an assessment of the projects of territories of innovative development for the purposes of their control and management. Using the functional approach we conducted a study of effective organization of territories of innovative development which is a subject of research. On the basis of selected its main functions we suggested the purposeful creation of the individual components that characterize its activities. The study is based on the data of Russian Federation regions but this method can be freely transformed for other countries. The system of indicators highlights in the work and comprehensively characterizes the territory of innovative development. It is the basis for the system of dynamic norms representing the ratio of main indicators growth. The system allows to detect deviations from the target vector of development for a regional and individual economic subjects and it is used to manage the sustainable development of territory. The need of sustainable development issues research due to objective conditions of limited resources, evidence-based cycles of economic growth and a number of other negative factors which together can become the reason of not achieving of objectives in project of creation of territory of innovative development. In the study we showed the construction of the dynamic norms of main components of territories of innovative development for purposes of sustainable development identification. Each dynamic norm meets to function of territory of innovative development. The compliance of date to the etalon dynamic norm indicates the right vector of development to ensure its sustainability. The study shows that the management at the regional level should be focused on addressing imbalances designed dynamic norms and provides specific activities that contribute to sustainable development of the territory