Briefly discuss concerns for sustainable development.

      

Briefly discuss concerns for sustainable development.

  

Answers


Martin
1. Equity in both time and space. According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, WCEP (Brundtland report), a world in which poverty is endemic will always be prone to ecological and other catastrophes. Reducing poverty requires the introduction of new knowledge and organizational forms into the economic system. Technology and related institutional reform thus represent a key element in achieving sustainable development.

2. Sustainable economic development. This is essential for meeting basic needs and to assure that the poor get a fair share of the resources they require. Such equity cannot be achieved in the absence of political systems that secure effective citizen participation in decision making and by greater democracy in international decision making.

3. Choice. This is a critical element in technological and economic evolution. Societies determine their own future. The choice with respect to technology transfer is clear and compelling. Technology should not be transferred to benefiting factions in developing countries which in return profit the suppliers of the technology by supplying commodities to be consumed in developed countries. Instead the capacity of the population in developing countries should be increased in order for them to solve their problems and provide for their own needs.

4. Diversity of functional units. Diversity is essential for the creation of new systems. It is the principal condition of innovation, adaptation and change. This includes diversity in biological, technological and cultural issues. This enhances the capacity of societies to integrate novel technologies into external systems and to avoid imposition of particular technologies where no infrastructure exists to assimilate them. Local initiatives and priorities provide the essential basis for external assistance – thus technology transfer is properly understood since sustainability also depends on practicability given the local experience, institutions, economic structures, knowledge and ecological criteria

marto answered the question on March 21, 2019 at 06:14


Next: Outline nine principles for sustainable development.
Previous: Outline the general constraints on sustainable development.

View More Environmental Science Questions and Answers | Return to Questions Index


Exams With Marking Schemes

Related Questions