Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the progress in 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and policymakers have been challenged with the implications of conventional economic system in the market. At this point, it can be said that the adoption of the best alternative economic and business model for the marketplace is the new phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, alternative economic and business models can reduce the carbon emission, environmental pollution, and global warming, but there is a still dark point in solving social issues globally. This study aims to give a brief framework for alternative economic and business models in the context of sustainability. This study presents the links between 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, digital economy, and de-growth. In other words, this chapter focuses on digital economy (digitalization) and degrowth model (degrowing). Accordingly, it is thought to give an up-to-date work for achieving sustainable development after the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term.
TopIntroduction
Sustainability and digitalization are seen as two popular phenomena in the 21th century. While sustainability is a vital principle in every kind of policies including health, education, economy, employment, energy etc., the need of digital transformation in government and business is getting higher (Yıldırım and Bostancı, 2021). When considering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic globally, it can be said that it is the biggest global crises that ever happened. After the Covid-19 pandemic, economic, social and environmental issues have been re-designed due to the new normal conditions and the possible future. Especially, it is observed that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital transformation in government and business model, globally (Öncü et.al., 2021; Yıldırım and Bostancı, 2021; Yıldırım et.al., 2021a). On the other side, the Covid-19 has affected the progress in 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are already some troubles in achieving sustainable development and its goals. Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) (1987) emphasized the term of sustainable development formally and then, all countries who members of the United Nations accepted the importance of sustainable development by United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)-Earth Summit (Demirtaş, 2021:332). In fact, Covid-19 pandemic has forced all countries to adopt alternative economic and business models in the way of sustainability. When struggling to achieve economic and social development, there are still big problems in environmental problems. At this point, the continuation of environmental problems has shown that sustainable growth is insufficient to meet expectations (Schneider et al., 2010: 511). According to Daly (2007: 15), the problem stems from the fact that the relationship between growth and development is not separated. In other words, while a sustainable economy stops growing at a certain level, it only needs to continue to develop. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on sustainable development, not on sustainable growth. Viktor (2020) similarly mentioned about the lack of economic growth in the long term. The continuation of economic growth as the main policy objective causes “factors directly related to welfare such as leisure time, increase in quality of life, democratic participation, environment and happiness”, which we can define as the main welfare criterion. On the other hand, the aim of continuous growth by rich countries will increase “resource scarcity and environmental problems” (Viktor, 2020: 165-166).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Digital Economy: This model presents digital transformation in economic model and business practices.
Green Economy: It is the closest sustainable economic model to sustainable development. Green economy aims to get sustainable balance between environmental, economic, and social issues.
Degrowth Economy: This model presents a new model suggestion including sustainable development in the context of de-growing implications.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic which influences the sustainability of the health issues is the worst global health crises in 21th century.
Sustainable Development: The development aims to achieve economic development and social development by reducing the negative impacts on environment in the long term.
Digitalization: The digitalization expresses the transformation and adaptation of digital technology and tools in every kind of implications.
2030 Sustainable Development Goals (2030 SDGs): 2030 SDGs presents 17 main goals including main issues such as poverty, hunger, education, health, equality, gender equality, energy, water, sea life, forest land, climate change, employment, industry, sustainable city, peace-justice, sustainable consumption-production, and global partnership to be achieved until 2030.