14th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference

The International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS, www.isdrs.org) is pleased to announce its 14th annual conference. The conference takes place in New Delhi, India, September 21-23, 2008. India provides a very important platform and context for sustainable development research.

Our goal is to make the conference carbon neutral. The International Sustainable Development Research Society is committed to take responsibility for the climate impact associated with hosting this conference by purchasing offsets for the major greenhouse gas emissions of this event

The topics discussed and research themes addressed will cover the diversity of aspects and approaches in sustainable development research. The Confrence administrative and scientific committee had decided to have two call for papers. The conference will also have two different dates for registration with different conference fees.

As scheduled, the first call for papers was closed on March 31, 2008. The abstracts have been reviewed and notification of acceptance has been sent to the authors. The second call for papers now opens and shall remain open for uploading of the abstracts till midnight of June 18.

The 14th annual conference of the International Sustainable Development Research Society is hosted by the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, India in collaboration with Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia, University of Hong Kong, ERP Environment, Åbo Akademi University, Finnish Environment Institute and Academy of Finland. A novel feature of this year's conference is an emphasis on interaction between participants from developed and developing countries to face the challenge of global unsustainable development. Sustainability researchers will be able to learn from each other's experience and jointly strive to create solutions for making progress in sustainable development.

Sustainable development is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary theme requiring cross-sector collaboration and partnerships. The conference welcomes partners and participation from all sectors of sustainable development work including academia, universities, research institutes, government and public sector organizations, industry and business, NGOs and others engaged and interested in this global challenge, its implications as well as the opportunities sustainable development offers.

The 14th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference will focus on the following topics and themes:

• Government’s Role and Policies in Sustainable Development
• International and Supra-National Organisations and Sustainable Development
• Corporate Strategy and Sustainable Development
• Development VS. Business Strategy
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Culture and Sustainable Development
• Multinational Corporations and Sustainable Development
• NGO Contribution to Sustainable Development
• Fossil Fuels: How Sustainable?
• Biofuels and Renewables for Climate Change Mitigation
• Industrial Ecology for Climate Change Mitigation
• Industrial Symbiosis and Eco-Industrial Parks
• Cleaner Production, Eco-Efficiency and Design for the Environment
• Sustainability of New Product Development
• Impact of Poverty and Human Rights on Sustainability
• Enforcement of Environmental Laws
• Design, Aesthetic Consumption and Sustainability
• Sustainable Transport in Mega cities
• Adapting Societies to Changing Climate Conditions
• Sustainability Science – Still in its Infancy, or already Mature
• Energy Issues in Asia and Climate Change
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship - a Key to Sustainable Development?
• Health, Environment and Sustainable development
• Current Issues in Sustainable Development: General Questions

The conference is pleased to announce that in addition to the above general call, we are calling papers for special tracks and workshops. These tracks and sessions have been designed by internationally recognised experts in their respective area of expertise. We currently have 26 such tracks available.

The 14th Annual Conference is a peer reviewed conference. Abstracts are sent to reviewers and written comments are provided to the authors. Papers from the conference are considered for publication in special issues of international scientific peer reviewed journals. The conference has several supporting journals, including Sustainable Development, Business Strategy and the Environment, Journal of Cleaner Production, Progress in Industrial Ecology, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management and European Environment. Accepted conference papers are presented at the conference and authors are then advised to revise based on the experience on the debates and discussion. Revised papers will go through the journal review processes.

IMPORTANT DATES

• March 31, 2008 - First call for papers (submission of abstracts)
• June 9, 2008 - Early bird registration 
•  June 18, 2008 - Second and final call for papers (submission of abstracts)
• July 20, 2008 - Notification of acceptance (against 2nd call for papers)
• August 15, 2008 - Submission of full papers (voluntary) and revised abstracts (required)