Sustainable Development

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Sustainable Development
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Development and EnvironmentIn Conflict?
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Sustainable Development

• Seeks to meet the aspirations and the needs of
  the present
• Without compromising the ability of future
  generations to meet their own needs

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Challenges to Sustainable Development
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Ecological Footprints

• Ecological footprints
• http//www.rprogress.org/
• Measures the amount of renewable and
  non-renewable ecologically productive land area
  required to support the resource demands and
  absorb the wastes of a given population or
  specific activities
• US (295mn) 3bn hectares, or 9.6 he/person
• India (850mn) 880mn hectares, or .08he/person

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Challenges to Sustainable Development
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Poverty across the globe
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The sustainable development dilemma

• Developed countries
• 19 of population
• 85 of wealth
• 88 of resource use
• 75 of pollution
• Population growth 0.1

• Developing countries
• 81 of population
• 15 of income
• 12 of resource use
• 25 wastes
• Population growth 1.5

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History of the SD Concept

• UN Conference on Environment and Development
• Rio de Janeiro, 1992
• Conflict between concerns of developed and
  developing countries
• Agenda 21 guide to sustainable policies

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The Background Forces of Unsustainability

• Poverty
• Affluence
• Population

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The Poverty Connection
Deforestation Soil Degradation Failure to Control
Pollution Feedback Effects
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The Affluence Connection

• Depletion of Ozone Level
• Global Warming
• Solid Waste
• Loss of Wetlands
• Heavy Use of Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

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Population

The Pressure Effect The Well-Being Effect The
Timing Effect The Feedback Effect
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Addressing the Challenge

• Quest for a New Vision
• Global cooperation
• Local and individual action

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Sustainable National Policies

• Conservation in Costa Rica and Bolivia
• Renewable power in Denmark
• German waste recycling law

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Sustainable Cities

• Curitiba
• Brazilian city of 2 million
• Mayor Jaime Lerner
• Policies
• Ecological education and awareness
• Recycling
• Mass transit
• Efficient buildings, energy and water efficiency
• 99 of inhabitants would not want to live
  elsewhere

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Sustainable Cities

• Portland, OR
• Cities for Climate Change coalition
• Renewable energy
• Recycling
• Incentives to supply food locally
• Public transportation system
• The most bicycle friendly city in the US