SUSTAINABILITY
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Sustainable Development
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Sustainable Development
“A sustainable society is one that ensures the health and vitality of human life
and culture and of nature’s capital, for present and future generations.
Such a society acts to stop the activities that serve to destroy human life and
culture and nature’s capital, and to encourage those activities that serve to
conserve what exists, restore what has been damaged, and
prevent future harm.”
Stephen Viederman (1992)
Quote found in Groom et al. (2006)
Sustainable Development
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United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment – Stockholm, 1972
Two ground-breaking reports resulted:
World Conservation Strategy
(1980)
Our Common Future, a.k.a. the
Brundtland Commission Report
(1987)
Sustainable Development
Gro Harlem Brundtland
(b. 1939)
Prime Minister of Norway (1981, 1986-89, 1990-96; 1st woman)
Director General of World Health Organization (1998-2003)
Special Envoy on Climate Change to U. N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon (since 2007)
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
(1988)
Photo of Brundtland from Wiki Media
Sustainable Development
Our Common Future, a.k.a. the
Brundtland Commission Report
(1987)
Sustainable development "meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs"
United Nations Conference on Environment &
Development, a.k.a. Rio Earth Summit, 1992
Two major achievements:
Kyoto Protocol
(adopted 1997, Kyoto, Japan)
Convention on Biological Diversity
(key objective = to develop national strategies for
the conservation & sustainable use
of biodiversity)
Logo from www.eoearth.org
United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment, Johannesburg, 2002
Two important achievements:
Johannesburg Declaration on
Sustainable Development
Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation
These global efforts promote sustainable development
as they advance the welfare of both
humans & nature, while balancing
considerations for both
Sustainable Development
Ecological Society of America
Sustainable Biosphere Initiative
(1991)
Sustainability includes “management practices
that will not degrade the exploited system
or any adjacent system”
Requires “consumption standards that are
within the bounds of ecological possibility
and to which all can aspire”
From Lubchenco et al. (1991)
Sustainable Development
Examples of what
is to be sustained
Biodiversity
Natural habitats
Ecosystems
Ecosystem productivity
Ecosystem services
Evolutionary potential
Natural resources
Climate
Human culture
Significant natural &
cultural heritage
Etc…
Modified from Groom et al. (2006)
Examples of what
is to be developed
Social equality
Economic security
Food & water security
Home security
Human health
Life expectancy
Education
Stabilized population
Etc…
Sustainable Development & World Peace
Wangari Muta Maathai
(1940-2011)
Nobel Peace Prize (2004; 1st African woman) for
“contribution to sustainable development, democracy & peace”
“Protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace”
Photo of Maathai from Wiki Media
Sustainable Development & World Peace
Wangari Muta Maathai
(1940-2011)
Nobel Peace Prize (2004; 1st African woman) for
“contribution to sustainable development, democracy & peace”
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has challenged the world to broaden the
understanding of peace: there can be no peace without equitable development;
there can be no development without sustainable management of the
environment in a democratic and peaceful state.”
Photo of Maathai from Wiki Media
Sustainable Development & World Peace
“Protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace”
Images of the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) from Wiki Media
Sustainable Development & World Peace
“Protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace”
It’s a complex task, since human enterprise is complex & dynamic,
just as nature is complex &dynamic
Image of PowerPoint diagram that portrays the complexity of U.S. stratgey in Afghanistan from N. Y. Times
Sustainable Development & Social Equality
Selected symbolism of some awareness ribbons illustrates various
interconnected improvements to the Global Human Condition and
Nature through thoughtful, equitable Sustainable Development
Orange:
malnutrition
White:
gender
violence
Light blue:
Purple:
Green:
child abuse; environmental religious
slavery
intolerance
abuse
(incl. sexual)
Images of examples of awareness ribbons from Wiki Media
Black:
Sept. 11,
2011
Sustainable Development & Social Equality
> 1 billion people suffer from malnutrition
~ 1 person dies every second from malnutrition
1 in 5 is a child
Map from Wiki Media
Sustainable Development
Sustained growth (in terms of resource consumption) is impossible, so
sustainable development seeks development without growth
Limits of space, food, waste disposal, energy, etc.
disallow sustained growth
Sustainable development makes qualitative changes,
without increasing quantitative demands on
natural populations & ecosystems
How can we improve the quality of life for human societies through qualitative
changes to our economy in ways that support healthy natural environments?
How can we begin the move away from the current
agenda of non-sustainable economic growth?
Recall Ch. 5, Groom et al. (2006); questions from Ch. 16, Groom et al. (2006)
Sustainable Development
How can we achieve it?
Economic tools
E.g., charitable donations, foreign aid, boycotts, embargos, etc.
Social pressure
Consider your own example as you “think globally, act locally”
(quote used by & possibly originated with René Dubos – advisor to
U. N. Conference on the Human Environment, 1972)
Policy mechanisms
Consider the policies we have discussed; see Ch. 17, Groom et al. (2006)
Etc…
Sustainable Development at LSU
LSU Sustainability
LSU Recycling Web site
Sustainable Development at LSU
What about the other actions in the conservation mantra:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?
Sustainable Development at LSU
LSU Sustainability
LSU Sustainability Web site
Prospects for Global Sustainability
“Crossing certain biophysical thresholds could have disastrous
consequences for humanity; Three of nine interlinked planetary
boundaries have already been overstepped”
Figure from Rockstrom et al. (2009) Nature