Enviro Facts - Sustainable Development



3) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Historically, development and conservation (see Enviro Facts "Conservation") have been in conflict, because conservation was understood as the protection of resources, and development as the use, or exploitation of resources. Recognising the need for both, the United Nations appointed, in 1980, a commission to advise on development and conservation. In their report "Our common future" they emphasised the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development thus aims to improve the quality of human life while living within our ecological means. This reflects a changed view of development, as it takes into account environmental concerns. It is compatible with a more enlightened view of conservation as the wise use (not only protection) of natural resources. AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE During the industrial revolution, development was associated with economic growth through industries such as mining, factory production and large scale-farming. Industrialization began in Britain and spread to Europe, North America and Japan, all of which became known as the First World. Characteristics of First World countries are high economic growth, many job opportunities, and high incomes. Third World countries, such as those in Africa and South America, have slow, if any, economic growth, with high unemployment and very low incomes. In fact, the wealth of many First World countries is founded on the exploitation of resources from Third World countries. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS The environmental problems of the First World are associated with economic wealth, high resource consumption and industrialization. These have contributed to, for example, ozone depletion (see Enviro Facts "Ozone"), and global warming (see Enviro Facts "Global warming"). Environmental problems of the Third World, however, are associated with poverty, e.g. high population growth rates (see Enviro Facts "Human numbers"), overgrazing and desertification (see Enviro facts "Desertification"). DEVELOPMENT AS A SOLUTION? The solution to the devastating poverty, and environmental problems of Third World countries is often seen as 'development', i.e. the development of Third World countries towards the First World ideals of economic growth through industrialization and high consumption patterns. However, many people have begun to seriously question the wisdom of this approach. Limited resources It is argued that the earth's finite resources would not be able to support all the world's people if everyone had the high consumption patterns of First World countries (see Enviro Facts "Human numbers"). Mahatma Gandhi, when asked if, after independence, India would attain British standards of living, commented that "... it took Britain half the resources of the planet to achieve its prosperity; how many planets will a country like India require?" A different type of development? Development is conventionally seen as economic growth, dependant upon `throughput growth', i.e. growth which depends upon an ever increasing consumption of energy and natural resources. This type of development tends to be unsustainable. One alternative being suggested is qualitative development, with minimum inputs and outputs and maximum reuse and recycling, and little or no growth in throughput. Development programmes in Third World countries probably need both quantitative growth (to address poverty), and qualitative development. The richer countries of the First World need to bring a halt to throughput growth, and replace it with qualitative growth. For example, an industry-oriented economy (high throughput) might be characterised by coal mining and steel manufacture, whereas a service-oriented economy might focus on fibre optics and electronics (low throughput). Who benefits? Third World development programmes that focus on economic growth as a solution to widespread poverty, assume a `trickle-down' effect, i.e. that the benefits of economic growth will trickle down to all members of society, including the poorest. However, economic growth does not always benefit the poor in a country. Many development programmes now give special attention to human needs, and the distribution of development benefits, rather than focusing all efforts on economic development. A more people- oriented development should empower people to take greater control over all aspects of their lives: social, political, economic and ecological. TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IEM (see Enviro Facts "Integrated Environmental Management") is a tool, or environmental check, used to support sustainable development. IEM, which includes environmental impact assessment and environmental auditing (see Enviro Facts "Environmental auditing"), is of potential significance in less developed regions where people want avoid the environmental problems associated with uncontrolled development. IEM has an important role to play in ensuring that a particular development does address the needs of all people, including the poor, as public participation is an essential part of the process. TOPICS FOR DEBATE * The rich must live more simply, so that the poor may simply live. * Is development without an increase in throughput really possible? Describe examples of this type of development, from both First and Third Worlds. * The Third World is plagued not so much by a lack of development, but by its disadvantaged place in a world economic order in which the interests of the First World are paramount. * Sustainable development may become a verbal formula for glossing over the harsh political realities that the concept requires, e.g. the need for income redistribution, reduced population growth and reduced natural resource consumption. * South Africa is often described as a microcosm of the world because it has both First World and Third World characteristics in one country. With this in mind, what approach to development would be best for this country? FURTHER READING NEW GROUND: THE JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT. Environmental and Development agency, address below. WEALTH BEYOND MEASURE: AN ATLAS OF NEW ECONOMICS. P. Ekins (ed.) Gaia Books, London, 1992. THE GAIA ATLAS OF PLANET MANAGEMENT. N. Myers (ed.) Pan Books, London, 1985. OUR COMMON FUTURE. The World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1987. CARING FOR THE EARTH: A STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING. IUCN, UNEP, WWF. Gland, 1991. EXPLORING THE EARTH SUMMIT - FINDINGS OF THE RIO UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA. R. Wynberg. Mazda Wildlife Fund, Pretoria, 1992. Available from Mazda Wildlife Fund, address below. AFRICA IN CRISIS: THE CAUSES, THE CURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL BANKRUPTCY. L. Timberlake. Earthscan, London, 1988. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE THIRD WORLD. D. Pearce, E. Barbier and A. Markandya, Earthscan, London, 1991. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. Council for the Environment, 1989, address below. Also offer slide show on the same topic. All books available from Russel Friedman Books. PO Box 73, Halfway House 1685. Tel. 011-70022300/1. USEFUL CONTACTS Environmental and Development Agency. PO Box 322, Newtown, 2113. Tel. 011-834 1905 Environmental Justice Networking Forum. PO Box 100029, Scottsville, 3209. Tel. 0331-65410 Development Resource Centre. PO Box 6079, Johannesburg, 2000. Tel. 011-8387504. Council for the Environment. P/Bag X 447, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-310 3528. Mazda Wildlife Fund. PO Box 411, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-4764183.
00