Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse

K. R. Skene; A. Oarga-Mulec

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse

K. R. Skene (Lead / Corresponding author)
, A. Oarga-Mulec (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter sets out to explore a theory of sustainable economics, grounded in the functionality and organization of the Earth system. It seeks to find a path to a sustainable future for humanity when viewed through all three lenses of environment, society, and economics. To begin with, the concept of a pluriverse is explained and critiqued. Next, the ecological pluriverse is explored, combining systems theory and thermodynamics. The Earth system consists of many worlds, or biomes, whose characteristics are emergent from the energetic contexts in which each biome finds itself. The biomes also operate their economies in ways that relate to their ecological properties. The totality results in an ecological pluriverse, one world and many worlds, setting the parameters for all life within. Next, the social pluriverse is explored, wherein a sustainable humanity can be seen to exist in resonance with the ecological pluriverse. Finally, the economic pluriverse is addressed, wherein appropriate sustainable economic activity emerges from the social pluriverse and, more fundamentally, the economics of the ecological pluriverse.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Green International Business
Subtitle of host publication	Strategies, Research and Goals
Editors	Aldo Alvarez-Risco, Subramanian Senthilkannan-Muthu, Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales
Place of Publication	Cham, Switzerland
Publisher	Springer Nature
Chapter	1
Pages	1-15
Number of pages	15
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032124975
ISBN (Print)	9783032124968, 9783032124999
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1
Publication status	Published - 24 Jan 2026

Publication series

Name	Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes
Publisher	Springer
ISSN (Print)	2345-7651
ISSN (Electronic)	2345-766X

Keywords

Localism
Resilience
Supply chains
Systems theory
Thermodynamics
Traditional knowledge

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

Cite this

Skene, K. R., & Oarga-Mulec, A. (2026). Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse. In A. Alvarez-Risco, S. Senthilkannan-Muthu, & S. Del-Aguila-Arcentales (Eds.), Green International Business: Strategies, Research and Goals (1 ed., pp. 1-15). (Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

Skene, K. R. ; Oarga-Mulec, A. / Sustainable Economics : Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse. Green International Business: Strategies, Research and Goals. editor / Aldo Alvarez-Risco ; Subramanian Senthilkannan-Muthu ; Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales. 1. ed. Cham, Switzerland : Springer Nature, 2026. pp. 1-15 (Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes).

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abstract = "This chapter sets out to explore a theory of sustainable economics, grounded in the functionality and organization of the Earth system. It seeks to find a path to a sustainable future for humanity when viewed through all three lenses of environment, society, and economics. To begin with, the concept of a pluriverse is explained and critiqued. Next, the ecological pluriverse is explored, combining systems theory and thermodynamics. The Earth system consists of many worlds, or biomes, whose characteristics are emergent from the energetic contexts in which each biome finds itself. The biomes also operate their economies in ways that relate to their ecological properties. The totality results in an ecological pluriverse, one world and many worlds, setting the parameters for all life within. Next, the social pluriverse is explored, wherein a sustainable humanity can be seen to exist in resonance with the ecological pluriverse. Finally, the economic pluriverse is addressed, wherein appropriate sustainable economic activity emerges from the social pluriverse and, more fundamentally, the economics of the ecological pluriverse.",

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Skene, KR & Oarga-Mulec, A 2026, Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse. in A Alvarez-Risco, S Senthilkannan-Muthu & S Del-Aguila-Arcentales (eds), Green International Business: Strategies, Research and Goals. 1 edn, Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes, Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse. / Skene, K. R. (Lead / Corresponding author); Oarga-Mulec, A. (Lead / Corresponding author).
Green International Business: Strategies, Research and Goals. ed. / Aldo Alvarez-Risco; Subramanian Senthilkannan-Muthu; Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales. 1. ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature, 2026. p. 1-15 (Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Sustainable Economics

T2 - Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse

AU - Skene, K. R.

AU - Oarga-Mulec, A.

PY - 2026/1/24

Y1 - 2026/1/24

N2 - This chapter sets out to explore a theory of sustainable economics, grounded in the functionality and organization of the Earth system. It seeks to find a path to a sustainable future for humanity when viewed through all three lenses of environment, society, and economics. To begin with, the concept of a pluriverse is explained and critiqued. Next, the ecological pluriverse is explored, combining systems theory and thermodynamics. The Earth system consists of many worlds, or biomes, whose characteristics are emergent from the energetic contexts in which each biome finds itself. The biomes also operate their economies in ways that relate to their ecological properties. The totality results in an ecological pluriverse, one world and many worlds, setting the parameters for all life within. Next, the social pluriverse is explored, wherein a sustainable humanity can be seen to exist in resonance with the ecological pluriverse. Finally, the economic pluriverse is addressed, wherein appropriate sustainable economic activity emerges from the social pluriverse and, more fundamentally, the economics of the ecological pluriverse.

AB - This chapter sets out to explore a theory of sustainable economics, grounded in the functionality and organization of the Earth system. It seeks to find a path to a sustainable future for humanity when viewed through all three lenses of environment, society, and economics. To begin with, the concept of a pluriverse is explained and critiqued. Next, the ecological pluriverse is explored, combining systems theory and thermodynamics. The Earth system consists of many worlds, or biomes, whose characteristics are emergent from the energetic contexts in which each biome finds itself. The biomes also operate their economies in ways that relate to their ecological properties. The totality results in an ecological pluriverse, one world and many worlds, setting the parameters for all life within. Next, the social pluriverse is explored, wherein a sustainable humanity can be seen to exist in resonance with the ecological pluriverse. Finally, the economic pluriverse is addressed, wherein appropriate sustainable economic activity emerges from the social pluriverse and, more fundamentally, the economics of the ecological pluriverse.

KW - Localism

KW - Resilience

KW - Supply chains

KW - Systems theory

KW - Thermodynamics

KW - Traditional knowledge

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DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9783032124968

SN - 9783032124999

T3 - Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes

SP - 1

EP - 15

BT - Green International Business

A2 - Alvarez-Risco, Aldo

A2 - Senthilkannan-Muthu, Subramanian

A2 - Del-Aguila-Arcentales, Shyla

PB - Springer Nature

CY - Cham, Switzerland

ER -

Skene KR, Oarga-Mulec A. Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse. In Alvarez-Risco A, Senthilkannan-Muthu S, Del-Aguila-Arcentales S, editors, Green International Business: Strategies, Research and Goals. 1 ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. 2026. p. 1-15. (Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes). Epub 2026 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-12497-5_1

Sustainable Economics: Uniting the Environmental, Social and Economic Pluriverse

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Other files and links

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