Transcript Environmental Sustainability and CED

ECON 3690
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is a critical component of CED
“development which meets the needs of the
present generation, without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs” (Brundtland Commission: UN
agency for sustainable development)
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Economic sustainability
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Social sustainability
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Environmental sustainability
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Recognizes limits to economic growth
1.
Emphasizes qualitative development rather
than the pursuit of strictly quantitative
growth
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Significance of local issues
3.
◦
Think globally, act locally
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Some literature links the concept of small
scale production with environmental
sustainability.
The CED principle of local production can be
viewed as harmonious with environmental
sustainability
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“Small-scale operations, no matter how
numerous, are always less likely to be
harmful to the natural environment than
larger-scale ones, simply because their
individual force is small in relation to the
recuperative forces of nature” (33)
E.F. Schumaker
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“Although even small communities are
sometimes guilty of causing serious erosion,
generally as a result of ignorance, this is trifling
in comparison with the devastations caused by
gigantic groups motivated by greed, envy, and
the lust for power. It is moreover obvious that
men organised in small units will take better care
of their bit of land or other natural resources
than anonymous companies or megalomanic
governments which pretend to themselves that
the whole universe in their legitimate quarry” (34)
E.F. Schumaker
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This section is based on chapter 11 by Mark
Roseland, SFU.
Sustainable development is seen by some to
be the solution to environmental and societal
problems.
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25 years ago environmental problems were
viewed as minor, technical, soluble, and
politically uncontentious.
◦ By-products of economic growth & social progress
◦ Times have changed
 Requires serious solutions
 Sustainable development: “the vehicle to resolve the
conflict between economic growth and environmental
protection”
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Local decision making
Small scale production
Local ownership
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Roseland argues that market mechanisms are
needed to address market failure i.e. land
use planning.
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Willingness & ability to pay
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Failure to address long term costs
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Taxpayers often end up paying “hidden costs”
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Roseland argues that communities need t use
new growth to their advantage by filling in
unused space to make their urban areas more
compact.
Land is more than a commodity!
◦ Relates to the common good
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Under a private market, price signals
determine land use.
◦ Creates necessity for designated areas.
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Urban sprawl resulting in enormous private
transportation use instead of public
transportation.
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Parcel of lakefront land in downtown Nelson
put up for sale.
Proposed bids: big box retailer
Community reaction! Collective action
success.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Planning
Taxation
Services
To complement private sector
entrepreneurial approaches.
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Private firms tend only to be interested in
regard to
◦ “Reputation management”
◦ Beware of “Green washing”
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“with a sustainability outlook to use market
approaches for the common good”
The public sector lacks the necessary
resources, inclination and will to strengthen
community capital for sustainable
development…thus a new actor needs to be
developed.
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socially-responsible investment funds
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community development corporations
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community land trusts
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