Dear Francisco,

Take a read at the following sources for additional ideas:

http://log.iaee.org/documents/Prague/p03lee_paper.pdf

http://www.wanderingeyes.net/Gabswanderingeye/Readings_files/TS1367713_1.pdf

http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/ilsaic2&div=13&id=&page=

http://eu-gcc.grc.net/common/publicationfile/49.pdf

Good luck,

Simon Cleveland

Dear Simon,

Many thanks for your thought-provoking sources.

In deed, cooperation and energy is a clear example  in a context of climate change and increasing global energy demand.

The Desertec Iniative aims to  valorize high energy-potential of Desert Regions by promoting  both scientific and private cooperation across the world. The main idea is that clean power from remote deserts can be transmitted up to 3,000 kilometers to the consumption centres, using High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) lines.

Interesting links on these issues:

http://www.desertec.org/concept/

http://www.ourplanet.com/climate-adaptation/Wolff_Deserts.pdf

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Transgreen-agreement-signed-in

Kind regards

http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/OBMD/article/viewFile/37296/36097

Hi Francisco,

A very interesting, although very broad, question. I did investigate cooperation in logistics (you can find the article attached) and two main things came out when we were setting the scene for our research:

- Cooperation is not always successful, and in some cases it can be detrimental

- and, Trust plays a key role in the success of the cooperation (although I did investigate it within the logistic sector I do believe it applies almost regardless of the specific context).

Due to complexity of the topic, in our research we thought of drawing insights from other organisational theories to understand whether and to what extent they could help in developing a successful cooperation. I don't know if this could contribute to your perspective on the topic but I do wish you best of luck as it's a key theme worth exploring and understanding.

With best wishes,

Francesco

Article Trust development and horizontal collaboration in logistics:...

Try this site: http://sustainablehuman.com/

Also see this short video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

Francesco asked, "Could you share some examples, references, or inspiring ideas showing the positive interaction between cooperation and environmental sustainability?"

One of the three scientific components of sustainability is biodiversity.  The video illustrates this.

Yes, this is in fact an important question, because governance systems around the world have proven inadequate to the challenges of the global marketplace and the temptations of corruption at every level of society in virtually all countries. In our work among societies that are attempting to create their own responses through autonomous local development and greater self-reliance following precepts based on cooperation and local self.management, we have found numerous examples of successful social and environmental management that significantly contribute to raising the quality of life while assuring their fulfillment of commitments to environmental conservation and restoration.  Please check out our article on Research Gate, entitled: "Local Solutions for Environmental Justice" as well as another "Community forest management: Can the green economy contribute to environmental justice?" as an introduction from a different perspective than that of Young and Biermann who are both certainly worth reading.

Yes, cooperation can enhance sustainability of environment because if every member accepts responsibility and cooperate with each other to keep the environment good and safe starting from local extending to the globe, it may become sustainable. The cooperation is not limited to individuals only it should be in between societies, regions, countries and different organizations.

Yes, Napolean, you are right. The big goal can only be reached at by extensive cooperation at all levels, of which cooperation in between governments is the biggest and remain at the top..

Dear Towe! Your comment is valid if we see through practical terms. However, we can keep our wishes high and wait when good time is coming. When we are talking of principles and theories then we can express like that.

Please google 'green business model innovation' or 'business model innovation for sustainability'. Related works provide an interesting conceptual framework and empirical evidences on how some emerging areas of innovation including cooperation, from the business perspective of course, can contribute to environmental sustainability, and more generally to sustainable development.

Thank you all for offering your support and contributions.

There have been many interesting replies, I will try to comment them in a summarized way.

I agree with Francesco Pomponi's idea concerning Trust playing a key role in the success of cooperation and that some general rules about it might apply to a wide range of contexts, including environmental sustainability. This is logical given the fact that behind cooperation there are always individuals' behaviour, and consequently, potential similar human response patterns. Therefore, this appears to be an appealing research line.

But Trust needs to reaffirm continually throughout real facts to be effective. And that connects directly with viability of sustainability, as Kenneth M Towe has outlined in his comment. Without examples of good and successful practices of cooperation leading to environmental sustainability we will not have enough motivation  to break individualistic short term inertia. And, as a consequence, both strong dissemination and qualified training are necessary.

Alejandra Orozco's and David Barkin´s answers concerning governance in natural areas make me think on the importance of not only ecological corridors but of cooperation corridors among individuals, communities  and organizations, in order to improve environmental sustainability...

While global resource availability is likely to keep pace with increased general consumption, frequent local and regional shortages will continue to threaten our existence and challenge present governance and management systems.

https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/environemtal_management.pdf

Dear Krishan,

Thank you very much for delivering such a suitable response and accurate reference.