DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY

What is Sustainability?
 Sustainability = resource sufficiency and functional

integrity  Non substantive Sustainability: much of discourse is based on political, ethical, and cultural concerns that have nothing to do with above (sufficiency)
 Jamieson: Sustainability does little to explain human

activities in terms of philosophy (moral obligations) and/or motivational power (little effect on behavior)

 Sustainability must be more than optimization (or well

being over time), it must be a by product of resource sufficiency and functional integrity of the system

Studying and Employing Sustainability

 Resource Sufficiency = Econ sustainability  Functional Integrity = Ecological sustainability  Equity Fairness = Social Sustainability  Environ + Soc Justice?  Sustainability as social mvmt  Sustainability = interests of labor, marginalized  Sustainability = storyline contested in locale

Thompson s conclusion
 Social Sustainability (or non-substantive

sustainability) amount to merely normative commitments and is insufficient.

Need empirical factors like resources & functionality

 Yet, sustainability as social impetus is important

and compensates for its vagueness.

 Believes that storylines are important, esp

around democracy and social justice

Clashing Backdrop to 1972 Stockholm Convention

Developed: Surge of environmental concern, primarily within nation Developing (G77): concern over preserving their sovereignty and control over their resources poverty, lower life expectancies, illiteracy, sanitation, etc

Indira Gandhi at Stockholm: Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?...How can we speak to those who live in villages and slums about keeping oceans, rivers and air clean when their own lives are contaminated at the source? The environment cannot be improved in conditions of poverty.

1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment

Serves as Foundation b/c:
Biosphere and planet were identified as objects necessitating protection (1st time) 2. Widely attended (114 or 131 UN states) stirrings of civil society--NGOs on side 3. Creation of the UNEP (UN Environmental Program) the 1st int l organization with an exclusively environmental mandate 4. Stockholm Declaration, outlining duties and responsibilities of citizens/states
1.

Assumptions of Stockholm Declaration

Core of Declaration is based on assumptions:


(1) In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale (3) We see around us growing evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth (4) In the developing countries most of the environmental problems are caused by under-development In the industrialized countries, environmental problems are generally related to industrialization and technological development (7) Local and national governments will bear the greatest burden for large-scale environmental policy and action within their jurisdictions.

Fundamental Principles of Stockholm Declaration

 Principle 1: Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and

adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations.

 Principle 21: States have the sovereign right to exploit their own

resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. international law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage caused by activities within the jurisdiction or control of such States to areas beyond their jurisdiction.

 Principle 22: States shall cooperate to develop further the

Central Environ Issues from Stockholm

 Is global pollution a problem of poverty or

affluence?

 Can development or growth operate as

complement to environmental protection? responsibility via North/South?

 Who is responsible, and who should shoulder this  Role of sovereignty

help or hinder global efforts on environmental issues?

World Charter for Nature, 1982

 Goal: set forth principles of conservation by which

all human conduct affecting nature is to be guided and judged symbolic expression
 Non-binding, differs from Stockholm in substance

and form an ecological instrument  Biocentric protection of nature as end itself  Strongly supported by GS (developing countries) which differs from Stockholm  Many treaties thereafter incorporated its ethical components

Major Environmental Treaties Stockholm to Rio

 1973 CITES: Conv on Int l Trade of Endangered Species  1973 CLRTAP: Conv on Long Range Transboundary Pollution  1982 UNCLOS: UN Conv on the Law of the Sea (entered force 1994)  1985 Vienna Conv on the Protection of the Ozone Layer  1987 Montreal Protocol (Ozone)  1989 Basel Convention: control of hazardous waste & disposal  1991 GEF created

Brundtland Commission Our Common Future

1987

 World Commission on Environment and Development seminal report in 1987 chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland  Built on the foundations of sustainable development  SD (def n): meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations to meet their own needs  Environmental Degradation and Poverty inextricably linked:
the environment is where we live; and development is what we all do in attempting to improve our lot in that abode. The two are inseparable Many of the development paths of the industrialized nations are clearly unsustainable. And the development decision of these countries, because of their great econ and political power, will have a profound effect on the ability of all peoples to sustain human progress for generations to come. these links between poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation (require) a new era of economic growth that is social and environmentally sustainable.

UNCED, Rio 1992 ( Earth Summit )

 Dealt extensively with difference

between GN and GS (as in Stockholm)

 Tough Qs:
Who was more to blame for rise in pollution and depletion of natural resources GN because of profligate consumption or GS for population explosion? Which enviro issues deserved prioritization: climate change and biodiversity or livelihood issues such as access to freshwater, desertification, and food security?

UNCED, Rio 1992 (Earth Summit)

Four Institutional Results Rio Declaration Agenda 21 (Non-binding Action Plan) Nonbinding Stmt of Principles for Global Consensus on Management, Conservation and SD of Forests Ceremonial signing of UNFCCC (climate change) and CBD (conv on biodiversity)

1. 2. 3.

4.

Rio Declaration
 Replaced the Earth Charter not binding but seen as affirming Int l Environ Law (IEL). 

Set a dubious foundation for IEL (reversing many ideas in Stockholm)

 Some scholars even suggested Rio undermined the autonomy of IEL and its future application  Built on compromises between EP (environ protection) and economic development  More specific than Stockholm, but controversial

Key Principles of Rio

 

Principle 1: Reflects an anthropocentric approach to environment are at the center of concerns for SD no rt to clean environ

human beings

Principle 2: Nascent rt to wholesome environment (Stockholm) replaced by rt to development

Duty not to cause TB harm (Principle 21) was weakened by Principle 2 allowing states to exploit their own natural resources pursuant to their environ and develop policies

Principle 3&4: Reformulation of obligation to conserve (for future generations) changed to right to consume and develop (3) GS; while (4) states that EP shall constitute an integral part of the development process not isolated from it (GN) Principles 4, 11, 12: advocate open economic trade system premised on economic growth and SD as platform for econ growth Principle 13: States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for victims of pollution and other environ damage (Nat l juris; indiv rts)

 

Effects of Rio
 Balances EP v. Development, or does rt to development weaken

environmental concerns?

 First int l environment document based on true collective effort

compromise between GN and GS

 Agenda 21 (Action Plan) implemented by the creation of CSD

(Commission on Sustainable Development) long on dialogue, short on action however

 Enshrines distinct principles of IEL  GEF (Global Environment Facility) provides financing as supplement to

broader (than national) environmental goals and projects

 Helps to move GEP from normative features to techniques of

implementation

Rio Momentum: More Enviro Agrs

 1994 - UN Conv to Combat Desertification: aimed at desertification and drought, particularly in Africa  1997 Kyoto Protocol: Individual nations to reduce emission of GHGs by 2008-12 (5% below 90 levels)
Entered into force 2005 (13 years after agreed to)

 1998 Rotterdam Conv on Prior Informed Consent: trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides  2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: regulate trade in living GMOs (genetically modified organisms  2001 Stockholm Conv on POPS (persistent organic pollutants): release of POPs is known to harm human health

WSSD (2002) Jo burg Goals

World Summit on Sustainable Development

 Triple bottom line calculus: economy, enviro, and

society so, added social develop as part of SD

 Focus on UN Millennium Development

Goals (sanitation, effects of toxic chems, restore fish stocks, water, and BD) as fall back position
 Implement Agenda 21 and Rio Framework  Reversing agriculture from desertification

WSSD Problems
 Plan of Implementation silent

on follow-up mechanisms
 No fresh contributions; no leadership  Fading recognition of Precautionary Principle (strongly

estab at Rio)

 Almost made environ treaties subservient to WTO rules  Growing doubt (GS) that treaty system works (lacks

accountability and credibility)

WSSD Outcomes
 Increasing direct participatory role for NGOs and nonstate actors  Increasing partnerships among diversified groups  Galvanized like-minded countries on climate change and BD loss  Ironically, more willing to discuss economic/social pillars of SD than the environment  Failed to advance new goals to protect environment  Large countries resisted specific goals/targets, showing a great divide between GN/GS

Environmentalism After WSSD

 Global N v. S have arrived at a sense of understanding that environment and

development are connected

 Environmentalism v. Environment--where environmentalism may not be

enough to combat environ harm, b/c

9/11 US has disengaged on environ issues Environ agrs trumped by trade agrs ( 94 GAAT & 95 WTO creation) Little support for environ orgs and institutions

 Future
Sustainable Development: great vision, untenable policy? Too much on environmentalism s plate? Most effective when aligned with main engines of environ degradation: unmindful affluence, pop growth, inappropriate technology, and ideological worldview

Speth s 8 Transitions for SD

1. Smaller global population 2. Alleviate mass poverty 3. Ecological technological revolution 4. Environmentally honest prices 5. Sustainable Consumption 6. Education 7. Effective Government Action 8. Conscious Citizenry

Sustainable Development
 Addresses the need to reconcile economic

development with protection of the environment Gabcikovo-Nagymaros case

 Complex matter 4 different approaches
Preserve natural resources for future gens Sustainable Use of natural resources equitable use of resources Development needs in applying environ objs