RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES VOL. 9, ES2003, doi:10.2205/2007ES000273, 2007
Sustainable development global simulation: Opportunities and treats to the planetM. Z. Zgurovsky National Technical University of Ukraine "KPI", Kyiv, UkraineContents
Abstract[1] A system of factors (indices and indicators) and a new method named "Sustainable Development Gauging Matrix" (SDGM) culminated in a Global Simulation regarding quality of life and security of the world population are developed. The initial data for this simulation were presented by reliable international organizations. Specifically, this study focuses on applying SDGM to analysis of the Systematic Regularity of World Conflicts over the Course of Time. A prognosis is detailed of the next world conflict, labeled the "Conflict of XXI Century", and an analysis is provided of its nature and main characteristics; duration, main phases of the conflict and intensity. This prognosis details a set of basic global threats that spawn this conflict. Using cluster analysis, its influence on different countries of the world is accurately defined. Inferences are drawn from specific hypotheses as to possible scenarios occurring during the systemic conflict and after its conclusion. 1. Introduction[2] The subject of this study is based upon the concept of "sustainable development". The concept is a continuation of the theory of "noosphere" [Vernadsky, 1944]. The theory, in practice testifies that Vernadsky's "noosphere" doctrine at the turn of the century proves to be a necessary platform for the development of the "triune" concept of sustainable ecological, social and economic development. Hence, the new concept has united the three main components of sustainable development in society: economic, ecological and social. [3] The economic component of the concept consists of optimizing the use of limited resources and the management of material and energy saving technologies. From an ecological perspective, sustainable development provides for the integrity of both natural biological and physical systems and ensures their viability. The global stability of the biosphere depends upon it. Special significance is attached to the ability of such systems to self reproduce and adapt to various changes, as opposed to being preserved in a static condition within a vacuum or deteriorating and losing its biological variety. The social component is oriented to human development, preserved stability of public and cultural systems, and the reduction of the amount of societal conflict. [4] Coordinating a system comprised of these three components is a massive and complex task. Particularly, the interrelationship between social and ecological components results in the necessity of preserving identical opportunities for today's and future generations to exploit natural resources. The interaction of social and economic components compels achieving a valid distribution of material benefits amongst people and granting targeted help to poor layers of society. Finally, the interrelationship of natural protection and economic factors demands a cost assessment of the influence of technology on the environment. The solution to these problems is today's central challenge for national governments, pre-eminent international organizations and all forward thinking people of the world. 2. The Sustainable Development Gauging Matrix[5] A fundamental assignment in embodying the concept of sustainable development is the formation of a standard of measures (indices and indicators) for reasonable quantitative and qualitative assessments of this very complicated process. The main requirements of the specified measures (gauging matrix) are their information "completeness" and the adequate representation of the interconnected triad of sustainable development components. Well known international organizations and numerous scientists are working in this direction, but the unequivocal coordination of these efforts has not been yet achieved. [6] To meet this concept it is necessary to introduce a gauging matrix of sustainable development. The following sustainable development gauging matrix (SDGM) is proposed by the Institute for Applied System Analysis of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
[8] This index is determined by three dimensions: economic ( Iec ), ecological ( Ie ) and social ( Is). Respectively, each of the indices ( Iec ), ( Ie ), ( Is ) is calculated by six global indices widely used in international practice (Table 1). [9] An index of economic dimension (Iec) shall be generated from two global indices: Growth (Global) Competitiveness Index (further - an index of competitiveness - Ic ), which was developed by the organizers of World Economic Forum. This index is annually defined for 117 economies of the world and published in the form of so-called "the Global Competitiveness Report". The report for 2005-2006 (http://www.weforum.org) was used for this paper. The index of competitiveness is comprised of three such indicators: the indicator of technological development of a country; the indicator of civil institutes and the indicator for the macroeconomic environment. In turn, these three indicators are calculated on the basis of 47 data sets including the conditions for technologies transfers and the innovational potential of a country, the level of development in information and communication technologies, the level of investment for research and development, the level of foreign direct investments, the level of government non-interference in business, the level of a country's perceived corruption, and others. [10] Economic Freedom Index ( Ief ), developed by the intellectual center of the Heritage Foundation (http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index). It is printed annually in the Wall Street Journal. The Economic Freedom Index is formed with the following ten indicators: the trade policy of country, the fiscal load on the part of government, governmental intervention in the economy, monetary policy, streams of capital and foreign investment, banking and financial activity, the policy of shaping prices and payments, the right to private property, a policy of regulation, and the informal activity of the market. These ten indicators are composed using fifty sets of economic, financial, legislative and administrative data. [11] Index of ecological dimension (Ie) is generated on the basis of the well known Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) designed by the Center of Ecological Legislation and Policy of Yale University (USA) for 146 countries of the world (http://www.yale.edu/esi). The ESI is generated from 21 ecological indicators which, in turn, are defined by the use of 76 sets of ecological data, the level of environmental pollution in the past and presently, efforts of a country in the management of its ecological conditions, the ability of a country to improve ecological its characteristics and others. [12] The ESI quantitatively defines the ability of any country to protect the environment both currently, and in the long-term, emerging from five criteria: the availability of a national ecological system; the ability to counteract ecological influences; the reduction of people's dependence on ecological influences; the social capabilities of a country to meet ecological challenges; the possibility to exercise global control over the ecological condition of a country. Additionally, this index may be used as a powerful tool for decision-making at an analytical level with an allowance for the social and economic measurements of sustainable development in a country. [13] An index of social dimension (Is) is generated by averaging three global indexes: [14] Quality of Life Index ( Iq ), is developed by the international organization, the Economist Intelligence Unit (http://www.en.wikipedia.org). This index is formed with the help of the following nine indicators: the gross national product per capita calculated by the parity of purchasing capacity; the average life expectancy of the population of country; the rating for political stability and safety in a country; the quantity of the divorced families per 1000/population; the level of public activism (the activity of trade unions, public organizations etc.); the distinctions between the geographical divide given warmer and colder regions of a country; the rate of unemployment in a country; the level of political and civil freedom in a country; a ratio of an average salary of men compared to women; [15] Human Development Index ( Ihd ) which is used by the United Nations Development Program (http://www.undp.org/annualreports/2005/english/). It is formed on the basis of the following three indicators: the average life expectancy of the population of a country; the level of education; the standard of life of the population of a country which is measured by gross national product per capita calculated by the parity of purchasing capacity; [16] Index of Knowledge Societies, or K - societies ( Iks ), was developed by the department of the United Nations on Economic and Social affairs - UNDESA (UN publication no. E.04. II.C.1, 2005). This index is defined by three basic indicators: the assets indicator; the advancement indicator and the foresightedness indicator, which in turn, are formed with the help of 15 data sets on a level of the involvement of youth in education and information, the investment climate in a country, the level of corruption, the inequality of the distribution of material and social benefits (GINI-index), the level of children's mortality rate, etc.
[18] All data, indicators and indices which are included in the model (Figure 2) are measured in different units and have various interpretations. This is why they are reduced to the normal form in such a way that their changes and the changes of their indices themselves were in the range from 0 to 1. In this case the lowest values of the above indicators will correspond to the numerical values close to 0, and the highest - will approximate these values to 1. Such normalization allows one to calculate each of the indices Iec, Ie, Is and Isd in the form of an averaged sum of its constituents with the corresponding weighted coefficients. In turn, the weighted coefficients in the calculation formula of the sustainable development index ( Isd ) are chosen in such a way that allows one to provide the same weights of economic, ecological and social measures in this index. [19] The SDGM can be used for various investigations of sustainable development. Let's consider some SDGM applications. 3. The Sustainable Development Global Simulation Based on Data of 2005-2006[20] We shall fulfill calculation of an Index of Sustainable Development ( Isd ) using mathematical model 1 (Figure 2) and the global data for 2005-2006. The model includes complex mathematical formulas to integrate a large number of indexes and metrics measuring the development of countries. This interdisciplinary model seeks to integrate economic, ecological, and social/institutional factors into its analysis. All three areas need to be developed in harmony in order for a country to ensure "sustainable development." [21] Sustainable development requires a balance between economic, environmental, and social/institutional development. Factoring in the dozens of data sets produced by international monitoring groups, the model can produce a numerical value for all three types of development, and also an overall development metric that takes all three into account. [22] The model takes into account reports from various international organizations, including the United Nations, Heritage Foundation, World Economic Forum, Economist Intelligence Unit and a Yale University working group on the environment (Table 1). [23] As a result, according to mathematical model 1 and global indices, corresponding indicators and datasets for 2006 year, the sustainable development index ( Isd ) is calculated for 116 countries (Table 2). [24] In Tables 3, 4, 5, accordingly, are presented: a group of the world leaders in terms of sustainable development index, the G-8 countries and a group of the post socialist countries, positioned by the Index of Sustainable Development. [25] According to the model, Finland is one of the most harmonized countries in the world with good scores in all three sectors. Within the last two years Finland steadily holds the leading position in the world in terms of sustainable development index, the New Zealand, Great Britain, France, USA, Czech Republic and Poland have essentially improved their positions, the sustainable development index for Estonia, Romania and Moldova has considerably decreased. Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Austria, Japan, Germany, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Ukraine have remained practically on the same level of sustainable development. 4. Systematic Regularity of World Conflicts Over the Course of Time (SRWCT) and the Data Analysis of Global Threats to Sustainability in the XXI Century[26] The analysis of the complete list of the world conflicts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars) that took place from 2500 B.C. till now has shown that until the beginning of VII century B.C. these conflicts occurred without any permanent regularity. It looks like a stochastic process of the "white noise" type. It confirms the historic facts of permanent occurrence of conflicts at the early stages of the human civilization evolution, as a natural form of its existence. Only with the advent of higher forms of the society's formation it is possible to notice a certain periodic regularity in a sequence of data on the world conflicts. This regularity is determined and studied in the article [Zgurovskij and Yasinsky, 2007]. By using the specified regularity there appeared the possibility to foresee the upcoming system conflict, to analyze a set of threats generating it, to determine the impact of these threats on its development and to build scenarios of possible evolution of the society during and after the specified conflict. Certainly, it would be good to be mistaken in pessimistic prognoses, but from the scientific point of view, they are necessary in order to prevent the undesirable outcomes. 4.1. Systematic Regularity of World Conflicts Over the Course of Time (SRWCT)[27] The succession of the world conflicts (which are taken place in the time interval - from 705 B.C. up to present time (List of wars, 2007; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars) was analyzed with the following quantizing on years:
![]() ![]() [28] The quantity of world conflicts for each sampling interval DT was defined as arithmetic mean of quantity of all conflicts on this time interval.
![]()
[30] 1. Life cycle of each wave
Cn generates five sequential evolutionary phases (stages)
{Cn, i},
i = 1, [31] Cn, 1 (ORIGINS); Cn, 2 (GROWTH); Cn, 3 (CULMINATION); Cn, 4 (RECESSION); Cn, 5 (EXTINCTION); [32] 2. Duration of lifetime T(Cn) of each following wave Cn is determined by the duration of lifetimes of two previous waves, namely:
[33] 3. Intensity of conflicts for Cn waves
increases (Figure 2): I(Cn+1) > I(Cn), due to the technological progress of the mankind, where N (Cn) - number of conflicts shaping the wave Cn. [34] The world conflicts that are uniquely determined by characteristics 1-3 we shall call Cn -waves of system world conflicts or in other words Cn -waves.
[35] We see that from 705 B.C. up to now six
Cn -waves have been identified.
Their so-called "structural portraits" and basic performances are shown in Table 6
and in Figure 3. Ratios
T(Cn)/T(Cn+1),
n =1, 2, 3,
[36] Therefore, we present the sequence
{T (Cn)},
n = 1,
![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]()
where
kc
[37] Meanwhile six terms of sequence
T (C1),
[39] According to (5) the intensity of the seventh (forecast) conflict is:
[40] Thus, relationships (3)-(6) present the systematic regularity of world conflicts over the course of time in the values of these conflicts' lifetime duration T(Cn), their intensity I (Cn) and values of Fibonacci numbers sequence ( Fs ). 4.2. "The Conflict of XXI Century" and the Analysis of Its Nature[41] The element being forecast by means of (5) and (6) will correspond to the seventh wave of system world conflicts C7. We shall call it "the conflict of XXI century". This conflict has the time span from 2008 to 2092 with the following probable phases:
[42] Let us study the nature of "the conflict of XXI century" on the basis of the analysis of a totality of threats generating this conflict. We will determine a degree of approach or removal of these threats for various groups of the countries. [43] We shall analyze each of these threats [Zgurovsky, 2007]:
4.2.1. Global decrease of the earth energy resources.[44] In the first half of XXI century one of the most acute threats to the mankind is a sweeping decrease of organic fuels resources accompanied by an increase of their consumption, first of all, in India and China. According to (Alenka Burja, 2006; http://www.folkecenter.dk/en/articles/HScheer_aburja.htm) in the beginning of the 20s of the current century there will be the intersection of consumption and production curves of energy produced from oil. In other words, the "production-consumption" balance of the energy produced from oil will inverse from positive to negative (Figure 5). A similar phenomenon will be observed for the "production-consumption" balances of the energy produced from gas - in the beginning of 30's and for uranium - in the beginning of 50's, respectively (Figure 5).[45] To quantitatively estimate a decrease of organic fuels resources for different countries we will use the parameter: "Consumption of traditional fuels percentage wise of the general energy needs of the country" (Human Development Report, 2006; http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2006/). 4.2.2. The changes of demographic structure of the world.[46] By the end of 2007 our planet's population constitutes 6.63 billion people living in the territory of 510,072,000 square kilometers. The population annually increases by more than 74 million (Geo Hive database, maintained by Johan van der Heyden, 2007). If we proceed from the linear extrapolation method, the population of the Earth will reach 9.75 billion by 2050. Due to this the first of possible threats originates. It is connected with the fact that the population of the planet would become more than it could withstand. In opinion of Pentagon experts by 2020 the mankind shall face real problems connected with critical deficit of water and energy, which, in its turn, may lead to new conflicts on the Earth (http://www.membrana.ru/articles/misinterpretation/2004/03/03/182200.html).[47] Another threat is connected with changes in the population demographic structure. For example, the greatest increase in the population within the next fifty years is expected in the poorest regions of the world: in Africa it will double, in Latin America and the Caribbean basin the population will increase by 1.5 times, while in Europe it will decrease by 0.8 times. An uncontrollable growth of the urban population in developing countries also presents a considerable threat. By 2050 it will double, and will be reaching 7 billion. It shall result in aggravation of transport, ecological and social problems, increase in crime and other consequences of uncontrolled urbanization. [48] An important trend of the nearest decades will be impetuous changes in religious groups of the world population. Thus, within the period from 1980 to 2025 the number of Moslems will increase from 16.5% up to 30%, the number of Christians will reduce from 33% to 30%, that of Hindus will change from 13.3% to 10%, and Buddhists - from 6.3% to 5%. The total number of representatives of other religious groups will also decrease from 31.1% to 25% (Japan Vision 2050. Principles of Strategic Science and Technology Policy Toward 2020, 2005; http://www.scj.go.jp/en/vision2050.pdf). These changes will necessitate searching for new conditions of tolerant coexistence of the world population. [49] To estimate growing threats resulting from the imbalance of the world population and the planet resources we shall use the indicator representing the ratio of the gross national product per capita to the population density of the given country. We shall use the data from the sources (Human Development Report, 2006; http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2006/; and Geo Hive database, maintained by Johan van der Heyden, 2007). 4.2.3. The increasing inequality between people and countries.[50] According to the World Bank in 1973 the gap in profits between the richest and poorest countries was defined as 44:1, and now it is 72:1. The three richest people in the world now possess the wealth exceeding the wealth of 47 poor countries of the world, 475 richest people control over the wealth exceeding the property of a half of all mankind. The relationship between one fifth part of the world rich population and one fifth of the world poorest population is 1:75. Thirty years ago this relationship was 1:43. The assets of civilization remain unattainable for the poorest group. Its representatives earn less than 2 dollars a day. Seven hundred million of them live in Asia, four hundred million in Africa, hundred fifty million in Latin America. The gap between the richest and poorest groups in their living standards has increased almost ten times during the last twenty years. This threat is rather serious from the point of view of growing number of conflicts in the world, spreading of corruption, terrorism, crimes, worsening of education, ecology and health care.[51] To estimate the inequality in distribution of economic and social assets for each of the considered countries we shall use Gini index (Human Development Report, 2006; http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2006/) representing these characteristics. 4.2.4. Spreading of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, malaria.[52] Among new threats to the mankind World Health Organization (WHO) points out such dangerous infectious diseases, as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, first of all, in connection with their dramatic consequences and also their global spreading.[53] According to the data of the international organization UNAIDS only during 2004-2006 the number of HIV-infected people in the world has increased from 36.9 to 39.5 million. This general tendency with minor variations is observed in all regions of the world. [54] Despite of the successes achieved in combating tuberculosis, annually in the world there are 8 million new morbid events causing 2 million of fatal outcomes. In countries with a high level of HIV/AIDS spreading, the number of those suffering from tuberculosis has 3-4 times increased for the last 15 years (http://www.who.int/gb). 80% of them have been registered in Africa, South East Asia and the Western part of coastwise of the Pacific Ocean.
[55] Malaria is traditionally widespread in Africa and Latin America. For the last five years
malaria incidence has 2-3 times increased in Afghanistan, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan,
Uganda; 30 times in Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo; threatening morbidity
rates (70 times growth) are registered in Mali. In other countries where cases of malaria are
recorded, the morbidity rates are varying within the limits of
[56] We used the data on the indicated diseases presented by the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/programme/en/index.html). 4.2.5. Corruption growth.[57] Corruption poses a formidable obstacle to economic growth and social evolution. It undermines any positive transformations. Corruption has become not only the major reason for poverty, but also the main impediment of overcoming it. Although corruption is rooted in ancient times, its "explosion" occurred at the end of XX, the beginning of XXI centuries in the course of the sweeping globalization. Corruption in one country has begun negatively affect development of other countries. Moreover, countries with the highest level of corruption now are not confined by the so-called "third world": liberalization in the former socialist countries in 1990-s was accompanied by scandalous official abuses. In its issue of 31 December 1995 "Financial Times" called 1995 "the year of corruption". The following years were marked by this negative phenomenon penetrating almost into all countries of the world, and, thus, corruption has gained global, international character.[58] High living standards did not become the necessary precondition of successful eradication of corruption. The analysis of the long-term trends revealed by the international organization "Transparency International" shows that for the last twelve years the corruption level has decreased in some countries with low levels of income, such as Estonia, Colombia, and Bulgaria. In the same time, in rich countries, for example, in Canada and Ireland a noticeable growth of corruption level is observed. Such risk factors as the opacity of state institutions, excessive impact of some oligarchic groups, violations in financing political parties, etc. exist both in rich and in poor countries; and, unfortunately, in the majority of countries the tendencies towards the growth of corruption still remain. [59] To estimate effect of corruption on social, economic and spiritual evolution of the world we shall use "an index of corruption perception" which is defined by the international organization "Transparency International" (http://www.transparency.org.ru). 4.2.6. Limited access to clean potable water.[60] According to World Health Organization (WHO) and Children's fund of the United Nations (UNICEF), one more danger is connected with diminishing access of people to clean potable water and sanitary means. The fifth part of mankind (more than 1.1 billion people) has no access to potable water, and 2.4 billion are not provided with minimum sanitary conditions. In this connection 2003 was declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations the International year of fresh water, and the period from 2005 to 2015, starting from the International day of water resources, 22 March 2005, the International decade of "Water for life" actions.[61] Especially critical is the situation in urban regions of poor countries where due to the rapid growth of population this problem quickly becomes aggravated. The indicated negative factors especially affect the children's health. As estimated by WHO, in 2005 1.6 million children under 5 years of age (on the average, 4500 children daily) died of aftereffects of the usage of unsafe water and because of inadequate hygiene. In the course of the world population growth and especially that in less developed regions of the world, the struggle for control over fresh water resources will become bitter, which represents one more global threat to the mankind. [62] Limited access to clean potable water will be estimated by the inverse magnitude to the indicator of access to the clean potable water presented in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2005 (http://www.wssinfo.org/en/welcome.html). 4.2.7. Isolation or "inverse globalization".[63] Considering globalization as an objective phenomenon that has its economic basis and is associated with growing interdependency of people on the Earth with the purpose of common use and sharing the best achievements of mankind, we assume that its opposite - "isolation" being an artificial process and having political basis presents one more global threat.[64] Isolation or "inverse globalization" - is a sign of the "other side of a medal" of globalization, being an evidence of insufficient development of democratic institutes of the country, its deviation from methods of competitive struggle in the global markets. In that case the power and wealth in this country are concentrated within a small group of people, separating the remaining society from democratic norms of using the public rights and resources. The opacity which is characteristic for the isolated societies generates the highest level of political corruption, suppression of healthy competition mechanisms, leads to a decrease of competences of people, financial and public institutes. Such status of a society is unbalanced and sooner or later comes to the ended with a collapse for those political and financial circles, who are striving to maintain this order. [65] We shall estimate the isolation by means of inverse magnitude to an index of globalization [Dreher, 2006]. In this connection we shall also call isolation "inverse globalization". 4.2.8. Global warming.[66] Global warming is the process of gradual rise of average annual temperature of the Earth atmosphere and the World Ocean. As stated by the United Nations Interstate commission of experts on climate changing (ICECC), and national academies of sciences of G-8 countries, the average temperature on the Earth has risen by 1o C from the end of XIX century, and "major part of the warming observed in the last 50 years is caused by human activity", first of all, it is due to emissions of the gases causing greenhouse effect, such as carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) (http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/).[67] The estimations obtained on climatic models referred to by ICECC, show that the average temperature of the Earth may raise from 1 up to 15o C between 1990 and 2080 (in different regions, or on the average on the Earth). Predictably, warming will lead to other climatic changes, including a rise of the World Ocean level by 0.1-5 meters (it is probable in 30-40 years), and to changes in the quantity and distribution of atmospheric precipitation. As a result, natural cataclysms, such as flooding, droughts, hurricanes, etc., would become more frequent, the harvests would become poorer and many biological species may disappear. The struggle for control over diminished natural resources, both between the countries, and between separate groups of the population may become aggravated, which also would provoke new global conflicts. [68] Taking into consideration, that emissions of carbon dioxide considerably exceed those of methane, we shall estimate the threat of global warming by the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission (Human Development Report, 2006; http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2006/). 4.3. The Impact Analysis of the Totality of Global Threats on the Sustainability in the XXI Century[69] We shall define the summarized impact of the totality of global threats (1-8) on different countries of the world. Being grounded on data on specified threats we shall use the method of cluster analysis with the purpose of selecting groups of the countries with "close" characteristics of summarized threats. We shall perform this procedure on the basis of application of Vard clusterization agglomerative hierarchical algorithm. For each country j we shall put the corresponding vector Trj, with the elements describing the degree of corresponding threats (Table 8).where HIV - number HIV -infected people (percentage of the population in the age of 15-49 years); TB - degree of tuberculosis spreading (number of patients per 100000 population); GI - an index of inverse globalization (it is calculated as 1/index KOF); WI - index of limited access to clean potable water (percentage of the population in the country not having access to potable water); CP - corruption perception index (varies from 0 up to 10, where 0 is maximum level of corruption, 10 - minimum); GINI - index of inequality in distribution of allocation of material and social assets (varies in the range of 0-65, where 0 is minimum inequality, 65 is maximum inequality); DI - demographic status (it is estimated by the ratio of gross national product per capita in the country to the population density in the country); CO2 - carbon dioxide emission (it is measured in metric tons); TFC - consumption of traditional fuels (it is measured in percentage of the total power consumption in the country). [70] Initial data on each threat are normalized, so that its values vary over the range (0-1). Thus, 0 will correspond to maximum threat, 1 - to minimum. In other words, after such normalization any of threats becomes "closer" for the concrete country to the extent its numerical value is closer to zero, and "more distant" for the country, if its value is closer to 1. [71] For example, normalization for HIV and TB is fulfilled by using relationships:
[72] Similarly the normalization for all other threats is fulfilled. As a result, we have a vector of the normalized threats:
[73] Let us correlate with each j -th country some number | Trj|, which is the Minkovsky norm of the vector Trj consisting of normalized threats at p=3:
where | Trj| is the threats vector norm for j -th country. Let us identify the norm of vector | Trj| as a degree of remoteness from the totality of threats. [74] On the basis of the computed norms of the vector of threats | Trj| for each country j let us introduce relationship of order between countries' clusters (Table 8).
[75] From Table 8 it follows that cluster 1 includes a group of "the most satisfactory countries", from the point of view of safety, for which the degree of remoteness from the totality of threats is highest. Moreover the world leaders in terms of sustainable development index for 2006 (Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Canada, Austria, Table 4) also belong to cluster 1 (Table 8) as the most satisfactory countries, from the safety point of view. [76] And, on the contrary, cluster 5 includes the countries most vulnerable in this respect. For them the remoteness degree from the totality of threats is minimal. The comparison of cluster 5 of Table 3 and cluster 5 of Table 8 shows that the countries with the lowest values of sustainable development index (like Cameroon, Madagascar, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe) at the same time are most vulnerable in respect of safety. [77] Ukraine, China, Russia, India, Romania, Egypt, Mexico, Argentina and a number of other countries belongs to cluster 3 with the average remoteness from the totality of global threats. The most dangerous global threats for Ukraine are the level of spreading HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis which is one of the highest in the world and a very high level of corruption. 4.4. Possible Scenarios Generated by "The Conflict of XXI Century"[78] Since from relationship (3) and Table 6 it follows that at n>6 for Cn - waves the inverse Fibonacci series {Fs} is degenerated, there is a natural question what should happen with the world civilization in the course of "the conflict of XXI century" and after 2092, in particular, in XXII century? Maybe, there is a closing cycle of some evolutionary chain:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() [79] The answer to this question can be found in the works of two outstanding scientists of the past century - V. I. Vernadsky: "In the geological history of biosphere human beings will have great future, if they realize it and do not use their mind and labor for self-destruction" [Vernadsky, 1944] and N. N. Moiseyev: "If the mankind is not going to radically change its behavior on the Planetary scale, then in the middle of XXI century there may appear conditions under which people cannot exist" [Moiseyev, 2000]. Taking into consideration that the statistical data on the world conflicts (presented in (List of wars, 2007; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars) for the time span from 2500 B.C. up to now) corresponded to the constant paradigm of the mankind existence "to meet people's own interests", then according to [Vernadsky, 1944] and [Moiseyev, 2000] with the persistence of this paradigm on the Planetary scale, already in the middle of XXI, it would not be possible for people to exist. [80] If we assume that the mankind will change the paradigm of its existence on the Planetary scale for another, for example, for the paradigm of "harmonious coexistence", then the systemic regularity of world conflicts over the course of time determined for the previous paradigm corresponding to the Fibonacci series, obviously, will lose its validity. Thus, the mankind will find new prospects for prolongation of its mission on the Planet. 5. Conclusions[81] 1. The new Sustainable Development Gauging Matrix (SDGM) was developed and argued. SDGM as a system analysis model uses mathematical formulas to integrate a large number of indices and metrics measuring the sustainable development of countries. This interdisciplinary model seeks to integrate economic, ecological, and social/institutional factors. All three areas should be developed in harmony in order for a country to have "sustainable development". [82] 2. The model takes into account reports from well known international organizations and institutions, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, Heritage Foundation, Economist Intelligence Unit, Transparency International, Yale University working group on the environment and others. This model allows carrying out the global simulation of sustainable development processes for different specific applications. [83] 3. Based on the analysis of data pertaining to global conflicts taking place from 705 B.C. till now, the regularity of their occurrence is determined. It is shown that a sequence of life cycles of system world conflicts is subordinate to the law of the Fibonacci series, and the intensity of these conflicts, depending on a level of technological evolution of the society, builds up under the hyperbolic law. By using the determined regularity we attempt to foresee the upcoming world conflict, called "the conflict of XXI century", and analyze its nature and the principal characteristics - duration, main phases of its flow and intensity. [84] 4. We analyze a set of basic global threats that generate "the conflict of XXI century", and by using the cluster analysis identify the impact of these threats on different countries of the world. The examples of the threats to the future of the planet identified by the model are: population growth rates in less developed countries, the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, corruption, CO2 emissions, and projected shortfalls in the production of energy resources, such as oil, gas, and uranium. The model also analyzes the periodicity of conflicts, and presents a model for predicting future conflicts. Then, a number of possible scenarios are built regarding the world community evolution during and after the specified system conflict. [85] 5. In such a way the created mathematical model has political implications and could become a method for politicians to measure their country's progress. The model can serve as the basis for providing informed and accurate analysis to politicians for developing some recommendations regarding the ways of improving the standards of quality and safety of life in particular countries and regions of the world by the global computer simulation of sustainable development and security of world population. ReferencesDreher, A. (2006), Does Globalization Affect Growth? Empirical Evidence from a new Index, Applied Economics, 38, 1091, doi:10.1080/00036840500392078. [CrossRef] Moiseyev, N. N. (2000), To save the mankind on the land, Ecology and the Life, 1, 11. Vernadsky, V. I. (1944), A few words about a noosphere, Successes of modern biology, 18, (2), 113. Zgurovsky, M. Z. (2007), Objective Laws of the Course of Global System Conflicts and Global Threats of the XXIth Century, Cybernetics and System Analysis, 5, 87. Zgurovskij, M. Z., and V. V. Yasinsky (2007), Ascertaining regularity of time flow of system world conflicts, System Researches and Information Technologies, 2, 1. Received 17 September 2007; accepted 12 October 2007; published 26 November 2007. Keywords: sustainable development, world conflicts, global simulation, noosphere. Index Terms: 1600 Global Change; 6300 Policy Sciences; 6600 Public Issues. ![]() Citation: 2007), Sustainable development global simulation: Opportunities and treats to the planet, Russ. J. Earth Sci., 9, ES2003, doi:10.2205/2007ES000273. (Copyright 2007 by the Russian Journal of Earth SciencesPowered by TeXWeb (Win32, v.2.0). |