Lect 2-sustainable Dev

Master of Technology – Environmental Planning Date: August 14, 2008

Rutool Sharma

Faculty of Planning & Public Policy Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad

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Examples LESSONS FROM OTHER CIVILIZATIONS & SOCIETIES 

Carthage - at the height of its civilization and power had more than one million inhabitants and had an abundant food supply from the cultivation and grazing in the fertile lowlands between the coast and Atlas mountains.

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Rome conquered Carthage and decided to make Carthage a colonial food supplier for the Roman empire.

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A cycle of irreversible land degradation began, which impoverished people through history to present.

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Rome opted for intensive cultivation with maximum yield per acre.

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When the fertility began to decline, it planted even more intensively to “make up” the declining yield.

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Productivity naturally declined even more.

Source: Topsoil & Civilization by Dale and Carter Session 2

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Examples LESSONS FROM OTHER CIVILIZATIONS & SOCIETIES 

Rome spread cultivation and grazing into marginal and upland areas, triggering a cycle of erosion

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This triggered the cycle of erosion and declined productivity which ultimately ruined the land forever.

Source: Topsoil & Civilization by Dale and Carter Session 2

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Examples LESSONS FROM OTHER CIVILIZATIONS & SOCIETIES 

In contrast, civilization of Egypt persisted from the time of Cleopatra until the 20th century on a “sustainable” basis

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The annual spring flooding of the Nile provided both water and a replenishment of soil nutrients

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Ironically, now in 20th century, Aswan Dam was constructed due to which this stable system declined

Results Decline in soil fertility due to addition of artificial soil fertilizers Severe impacts upon health, sustenance and ecology Alteration in hydrology due to salt water intrusion into delta region

Source: Topsoil & Civilization by Dale and Carter Session 2

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Conceptual interaction of Economic & Natural systems Minerals / Nutrients Silt Clear / denuded land Land / Habitat

Products

Economic Systems

Living natural resources (forests, fisheries, species) Renewable energy

Natural Systems

Non-living natural resources (fuels, minerals, water, air) Thermal energy Gases like carbon dioxide Air / water pollution, solid waste Source: Principles of Sustainable Development, F. Douglas Muschett Session 2

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Contents

CONTENTS 1. Definitions 2. Evolution of the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’ 3. Bruntland Report • • •

Key concepts Concept, Principles and Importance of ‘Sustainable Development’ Major outcomes

1. World’s response to the concept 2. Application of Sustainable Development

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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Definition (Bruntland Report) Sustainable development

passing on to future generations

an equal or preferably enhanced stock

of economic, natural, social and human capital. Session 2

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Definition (Bruntland Report)

 It is a process of developing land, cities, business, communities, and so on that “meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

 It's about the kind of world we want to leave for posterity.

 What sort of world would we like to leave for our children and their grandchildren?

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Definition Hawken -- Sustainability as “an economic state where the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations” (1993). Common -- “To sustain is to support without collapse and the sustainability problem is taken to be: how to address problems of inequality and poverty in ways that do not affect the environment so as to reduce humanity’s future prospects” (1995). Dryzek -- “The legitimate development aspirations of the world’s peoples cannot be met by all countries following the growth path already taken by the industrialized countries, for such action would over-burden the world’s ecosystems;” however, since improving the conditions of the world’s poor is a desired international goal, economic growth should be promoted “in ways that are both environmentally benign and socially just. Justice here refers not only to distribution within the present generation, but also to distribution across future generations” (1997).

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Definition Elkington -- “It’s the principle of ensuring that our actions today do not limit the range of economic, social, and environmental options open to future generations” (1998). Meadows -- “Sustainable development is a social construct, referring to the long-term evolution of a hugely complex system — the human population and economy embedded within the ecosystems and biogeochemical flows of the planet” (1998). Berke and Conroy -- “A dynamic process in which communities anticipate and accommodate the needs of current and future generations in ways that reproduce and balance local social, economic, and ecological systems, and link local actions to global concerns” (2000).

More than 100 definitions of Sustainable Development have come-up, however the definitions put forward by Brundtland Commission is most widely accepted and followed definition. Session 2

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Evolution of the concept

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Evolution of the concept •

The concept of ‘sustainability’ or ‘sustainable development’ has been discussed at international medium since long time.

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Certain publications in late 1960’s and early 1970’s inspired interest in the environmental movement. a. In 1962 - Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ b. In 1968 - Garret Hardin’s ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’

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Many people in the 1960s predicted a doomsday in the 1960s.

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Called for an immediate moratorium on growth, for they believed growth to be the root cause of environmental destruction.

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Evolution of the concept 1972 (UN Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm)

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The relationship between economic development & environmental degradation was first placed on the international agenda.

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Set up United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which today continues to act as a global catalyst for action to protect the environment.

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Evolution of the concept •

However, in the succeeding years little effort was done to integrate environmental concerns into national economic planning and decision making.

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Overall, environment continued to deteriorate, resulting in global problems such as

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Ozone depletion

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Global warming

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Water pollution grew more serious

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Destruction of natural resources accelerated at an alarming rate

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Evolution of the concept

1983 (UN set up the World Commission on Environment and Development - WCED)

• Environmental degradation, which had been seen as a side effect of industrial wealth with only a limited impact, was understood to be a matter of survival for developing nations

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Evolution of the concept 1987 (World Commission on Environment and Development)

- Published a report entitled ‘Our common future’ - Report was prepared under leadership by Gro Harlem Brundtland of Norway - The Commission put forward the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’ as an alternative approach to one simply based on economic growth. - Defines “which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. - The document is also known as ‘Brundtland Report’ Session 2

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Evolution of the concept Brundtland Commission started looking for environmental issues: •

People responded with many interrelated issues: jobs, health, ecological productivity, education, international trade

Conclusion: “Sustainability is not as much about the environment as it is about our communities and economic systems and their future survival”

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Bruntland Report

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Bruntland report

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Report developed development

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Reasons for critical global environmental problems: -

guiding

principles

for

sustainable

Enormous poverty of the South Non-sustainable patterns of consumption & production in the North.

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Report suggested to formulate a strategy, now-common term ‘Sustainable development’.

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In 1989, the report was debated in the UN General Assembly, which decided to organize a UN Conference on Environment and Development.

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The concept of Sustainable Development Point 1: •

The major objective of development is to satisfy human needs and aspirations. Needs: food, clothing, shelter, job etc. Aspirations: better quality of life

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In developing countries these needs of people are not satisfied.

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Poverty is widespread and imbalance is common

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In such situation, the ecological crisis / environmental degradation will occur and cannot be avoided

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Sustainable Development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations.

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The concept of Sustainable Development

It contains within it two key concepts: •

the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;

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and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organizations on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

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The concept of Sustainable Development Point 2: Living Standards

Consumption standards •

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Consumption standards – within bounds of ecological possible and to which all can reasonably aspire.

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The concept of Sustainable Development Point 3: Population Pressure on resources

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Demographic developments are not in harmony with the changing productive potential of the ecosystem

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Over-exploitation of resources - to meet the ever-increasing needs of the people

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The concept of Sustainable Development Point 4: •

Increasing human intervention of natural systems - diversion of natural water courses, -

extraction of minerals, emission of harmful gases, etc.

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These interventions are becoming more drastic in scale and impact

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Sustainable development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on Earth i.e. the atmosphere, water, soil and living beings

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Key concepts of sustainability •

Today’s needs should not compromise on the ability of future generations to meet their needs;

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A direct link exists between the economy and environment;

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The needs of the poor in all nations must be met;

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In order for our environment to be protected, the economic conditions of the world’s poor must be improved;

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In all our actions, we must consider the impact upon future generations.

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Key principles It puts together two irreconcilable principles: a.

Environmental Sustainability

a.

Economic Development

This has led to two interpretations of Sustainable Development:

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Eco-centric:

which puts Global Ecology first

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Anthropocentric:

which puts human well-being first

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Importance of the concept Concept of Sustainable Development is not only development which will conserve our resources and not destroy and damage them, as our present development models are doing. Sustainable Development is important because it is development for all and not for few in the society. Sustainable development is one of those rare concepts and strategies that theoretically leaps far beyond political divisions and unites all of humanity around such common values and concerns as human health, ecosystem health, security, justice, education, jobs, and the future.

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Major outcomes World’s natural resources already strained, & could not accommodate the development of the rest of the world, through rapid industrialisation and conspicuous consumption, to the standard of living enjoyed in developed countries.

Development not about getting richer, but about meeting essential human needs & aspirations – emphasis on quality of & not quantity of economic growth. In order to sustain the progress of humanity, overriding priority to be given to meeting essential human needs, e.g. education, health, clean air & water.

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Major outcomes When essential needs have been met, aspirations can legitimately be pursued, at a level that all can reasonably aspire to, & within ecological capacity. Technological innovation alone insufficient, social re-organisation also required. Sustainability implied a concern for equity between generations, a concern that had to be logically extended to equity within each generation.

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World’s response to the concept

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World’s response to the concept The report had profound impact at the international level and in countries all around the globe. This report helped to shape the international agenda and the international community's attitude towards economic, social and environmental development. 1992 - The "United Nations Conference on Environment and Development" (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro -

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largest gathering of world leaders that has ever taken place. 177 countries in the world attended the "Eco Summit", more than 100 of them represented by the Head of State.

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World’s response to the concept The Earth Summit Agreements: In Rio, 108 representatives of various countries - adopted three major agreements aimed at changing the traditional approach to development: 1. Agenda 21: a comprehensive programme of action for global action in all areas of sustainable development; 2. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: a series of principles defining the rights and responsibilities of States; 3. The Statement of Forest Principles: a set of principles to underlie sustainable management of forests worldwide. Session 2

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World’s response to the concept In addition, following two legally binding Conventions were opened for signature at the Summit: 1. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: preventing global climate change 2. The Convention on Biological Diversity

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Application of Sustainable Development

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Areas of application Sustainable development is wide-ranging in its application reaching out to: 1.

Land use, including forestry;

2.

Water;

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Air and pollution control;

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Industry;

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Energy;

6.

Human resources

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Application of Sustainable Development Practical application of Sustainable Development: 1. Choose projects which are not resource-consuming, which are not resource damaging and resource destroying. 2. To build into every project into the means of conserving the resource which have to be used, renewing resources which have to be consumed and countering the damage and pollution to environment that emerges as a result of development.

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Ineffectiveness A.

Law, legislation etc. – implementation - Interpretation is not well defined. It depends on the view point of the observer. - Knowledge regarding Rights & Duties not clear - Less Legal awareness and approach to law / court is difficult, time consuming and costly - Mindset to avoid going to court

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Ineffectiveness B.

Conflicts between the environmental requirements on one hand and the day-to-day economic needs of the people. Example: Supreme court ordered the closure of large number of mines in the Mussoorie hills. We have been enforcing it and stopped the mining activities. But whereas the mining activities have been stopped and reforestation of that area is underway, the problem of the hundreds of people who have lost their jobs as a result of the closure of the mines has not been considered. Similarly when because certain iron mines have not complied with the rules and regulations and there is an order to close them, there is the human problem of throwing out of employment several thousand people working in them. When we talk of environmental requirements on the one hand and the perceived conflict with the basic economic needs of the people – not talking of the economic gains but the bare earnings of the worker to feed and clothe his family.`

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Ineffectiveness  One of our former Prime Minister said: POVERTY POLLUTES  We need to attend the basic requirements of people.  For this, the process of development which benefits the poor people will have to be accelerated and they will have to be satisfied.  We will have to recognize that the conflict is real, that the problem of the economic needs of the people is real and that it has to be addressed.  When that happens, then automatically, they will contribute also to a better environment.

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Ineffectiveness

C.

Awareness

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Awareness is abysmally low, not only among the illiterate and uneducated, but among all people, including educated and uneducated, urbanities and ruralities.

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Awareness – in terms of the entire society

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The housewife will sweep her house, make it absolutely spotlessly clean, and take all the rubbish and dump it over the wall of the next house.

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Awareness promotion

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Ineffectiveness D.

Impact Assessment

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No scientifically designed tools for measuring sustainable development

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Tools of measurement of sustainability should be able to put down in figures, that this is the exact damage in rupees and paisa, this is what happens if you take the two together, this is the end result

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Details about each activity and impact of each of these activity on nature and its magnitude

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Our common future

“The environment cannot be effectively protected without economic development, and Economic development cannot be sustained without environmental protection”

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Thank You !

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