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Sustainability

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Search databases for articles

  • EBSCOhost databases
    These three databases can be searched separately or together :
    • Academic Search Complete
      Multi-disciplinary database, includes full text articles on environment and ecology.
    • GreenFILE
      GreenFILE is a database of articles and web pages covering all aspects of human impact and the environment. GreenFILE indexes nearly 300,000 journal articles as well as linking to more than 4,600 web pages.
    • Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre - EBSCOhost database. Contains leading Australian and New Zealand newspapers & magazines and a few international ones too, as well as some reference books in full text.
  • ScienceDirect - Search over 1800 Elsevier journals, with full text generally available from 1997. Subjects covered include sustainability and renewables.
  • Emerald - The Emerald database has full text for around 150 journals, including titles such as the International Journal of Social Economics; Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal; International Journal of Sociology & Social Policy and also Corporate Governance.
  • SAGE - part of the INFORMIT set of databases, SAGE indexes and abstracts Australian articles on science, geography and the environment.
  • Streamline on AANRO - indexes and abstracts articles on agriculture and natural resource management.

    • Thomson Gale database collection:

    • Academic OneFile - A major academic database with varied sources covering a range of subjects.
    • Expanded Academic ASAP - Over 3500 different titles going back 20 years, with many available in full text. 2100 are peer-reviewed. Subjects covered include social sciences, humanities, education, science and technology.
    • Infotrac OneFile - A small database with mostly general material, however it contains a few titles that Academic OneFile lacks.
      • Search these 3 databases together

    Search for statistics

    E-books: books available online

    Search online encyclopedias & dictionaries

    Search the Swinburne Library catalogue

    • Swinburne Library catalogue
      Try a Keywords search using words like sustainability, sustainable, environment, environmental, conservation, renewable, recycling, social responsibility, etc
      Try a Subject starts with... search using:
      Sustainable Development
      Economic development - environmental aspects
      Environmental protection
      Industrial management - environmental aspects
      Green marketing
      Ecotourism      , etc.

    Online journals and magazines

    Sustainability - internet resources and websites

    • Balanced Value - sustainable construction - Balanced Value is about making ‘balanced value’ judgments in design and specification – incorporating issues of functional performance with society, environment and economics (the sustainability ‘triple bottom-line’). It is of most value for those involved in sustainable construction. Includes a free toolbox and free framework.
    • CSIRO Sustainability network - As well as a directory of links to other websites, there are also databases of research and articles that can be searched. The current month's issue of their own magazine, ECOS, can be browsed online and articles downloaded in PDF format.
    • Defining Sustainability, Defining the Future - a review article by Ethan Goffman on the CSA Illumina website.
    • Department of Sustainability & Environment (Vic Gov) - The main page of interest is Conservation & Environment . Other pages of interest are Forestry (especially the links to Commercial activities & Sustainable Forest Management ) and Land Management as well as the sustainable initiatives currently in operation.
    • Dow Jones Sustainability indexes - Tracks the financial performance of sustainability-driven companies. Presents lots of data and variables about international companies and their sustainability. As well as current statistics, there are archived figures and reports back to 2001. Only the items in the Publications section (top orange menu bar, far right) can be freely accessed - users will be required to create an account before viewing other sections.
    • Port Phillip Ecocentre - (It) "aims to protect and enhance biodiversity by promoting awareness and action for sustainable living”. Of most interest is The Ecohouse Project on the Projects menu - a model sustainable site in St Kilda Botanical Gardens. The Eco Links in the Resources menu has lots of Victorian content such as the Alternative Technology Association, Nature Loo, EcoRecycle and more.
    • EcoEarth - environmental portal & search engine - A directory of links to other environmental websites, including a set that covers Sustainability. Many of these resources are links to environmental groups, but some are for research projects and more immediately accessible information.
    • Environmental Performance Management Project - Produces the Environmental Stability Index which integrates 76 data sets resulting in 21 indicators. Countries can then determine their place against others in meeting these indicators of environmental sustainability. The whole report or just sections can be freely downloaded in PDF format.
    • EPA Victoria's Sustainable business & industry pages - The Victorian Government's Environmental Protection Agency has plenty of information largely aimed at implementing sustainability into Victorian businesses and organisations. Eco-footprints can be examined and calculated. Sustainability Covenants (including Swinburne's!) are listed. Case studies of how businesses are actually implementing these ideas can be downloaded in PDF format.
    • Sustainability - US EPA - This is a directory of information about sustainability from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The four main headings here are: Built environment; Water, ecosystems & agriculture; Energy & the environment; Materials & Toxics.
    • Forum on Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development - A forum of groups and individuals sharing information, commentary and ideas about applying science and technology to sustainability. There are full text essays, replies to essays and research articles as well as directories pointing to further internet pages. This forum grew from a need to centralize information after a sustainability conference. Extensive resources are listed that examine sustainability worldwide.
    • Global Reporting Initiative - This organisation works with the UN, offering a standard set of guidelines for businesses and organisations to use for reporting their levels of sustainability. They can then compare themselves and their activities internationally and also establish accountability. All documents are freely accessible PDFs (a few are in HTML format as well). Some large companies have placed reports here, such as 3M, Microsoft, BHP Billiton, Nike and Shell International.
    • GreenTreks Network - A television and multimedia production organisation in America that educates by informing about current environmental issues and how to make positive changes. Realplayer clips from their productions can be freely viewed and downloaded, as can presentations. Broadband is the best way to download or view – files on this site are large. Click on Education (along the top) and then select Resources.
    • Interface sustainability - Sustainability for individuals and organisations, written in plain English but in great detail and with comprehensive explanations. Interface itself is a commercial interiors business, providing floor coverings and fabrics. This is a good example of a business striving towards sustainability. Colour graphs can be viewed.
    • Japan for sustainability - Sustainable developments and activities in Japan (in English!). A database of full-text news articles, links to Japanese Law, overviews and data about Japan for the 20th century are all accessible.
    • SustainAbility - Creators of “the triple bottom line” concept, this major consultancy and think-tank is interested in risks and opportunities of corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability. Their Showcase (on the Network page) lists many unique projects. Membership (free, just need to register) grants access to their other publications.
    • The Sustainability Report - A Canadian independent NPO that provides information about sustainability in order to educate Canadians. The Pollution Probe Primers are highly detailed. Their Environment and Sustainability Chronology is an excellent summary of the history of these subjects from the Stone Age to 2002 CE.
    • WA Government Sustainability website - Developed by the WA Government's Sustainability Policy Unit, this site is a repository for the documents of the projects and strategies being promoted in WA. The draft of the legislative Bill is available, as are media speeches, action plans by various groups (eg. schools, Art Gallery of WA) and case studies.
    • Swinburne National Centre for Sustainability - A collaboration of Victorian universities and TAFEs that provides education, research and consultancy. The Sustainability Self-Assessment Software for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and the Information and Tips for Green Office Reps are two useful resources. More information is available from the National Centre for Sustainability.
    • Towards sustainability – a portal for sustainable development - A directory of links to other sustainability or related websites. Some more unique issues covered include Sustainable Building & Sustainable Settlements; Transport; Waste & Recycling. Click on Sustainability Topics to get to them.
    • The Seawater Greenhouse - "The Seawater Greenhouse is a unique concept which combines natural processes, simple construction techniques and mathematical computer modelling to provide a low-cost solution to one of the world's greatest needs – fresh water. The process uses seawater to cool and humidify the air that ventilates the greenhouse and sunlight to distil fresh water from seawater. This enables the year round cultivation of high value crops that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to grow in hot, arid regions".

    Climate change - internet resources and websites

    • The Kyoto Protocol Download the full text of the Kyoto Protocol from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as read some background and explanatory material.
    • Climate Action Network Australia - “Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) is an alliance of over 30 regional, state and national environmental, health, community development, and research groups from throughout Australia”. Reports and articles about the Environment, current environmental and sustainable issues, discussion of the Kyoto Protocol etc.
    • European Environmental Bureau - European Union organisation that promote environmental and sustainable policies in the EU. The Press Releases and Publications sections have many freely accessible documents to view or download.
    • University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute - Their research is centred around three core themes: energy, climate and ecosystems.
    • Australian Bureau of Meteorology – Climate change - As well as an extensive booklet about climate change, The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change (with the data and images available separately), other data is freely available such as statements, maps, graphs and statistics. There are also links to global climate change information.
    • CSIRO – climate change FAQ - A CSIRO Frequently Asked Questions page with information, data and diagrams on climate change. There are also links to other organisations, Australian and International.

    Swinburne Resource Bank - educational resources about Sustainability

    • Resource Bank - an interactive web based educational search tool that assists training deliverers in searching and locating educational resource materials, providing quick access to online information on sustainability for specific interest areas and helping to identify how these relate to specific industry sectors.
    Last maintained by : Nick Pavlovski (email npavlovski@swin.edu.au), 16 April 2008