Promoting environmentally sound economic growth

Sustainable development is defined by the Brundtland Report as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Economic growth has been achieved at the detriment of the environment. Environmental degradation in turn has lowered our resource base and led to the lowering of the well-being of significant numbers of people. This relationship is not sustainable. To pursue sustainable economic growth requires necessarily environmentally sound economic growth. Environmental deterioration has not in general reached such a point that it will bring growth to a halt or even reduce the rate of global growth substantially, though some countries may already reach this point. The continued loss of natural resources is definitely costly in the broadest sense and represents a gross misallocation of scarce resources. An immediate danger is that, while development on average proceeds, the poorest sections of the community might be faced with falling incomes, and consequently, greater pressure upon those parts of the physical environment to which they have access and, finally, still lower incomes in subsequent periods. A vicious spiral of environmental degradation and falling income for the poor is certainly possible.

Sustainable development and the process of economic reform require concern for the environment to be integrated into virtually all policy-making by government ministries and agencies. Environmental policy should be the concern of the entire government. Environment ministries have a particular responsibility to ensure that this principle is put into practice. The level of integration needs to be assessed in national environmental performance reviews. Further, all levels of government need to set an example and reduce the adverse environmental impact of their own activities. Environmental assessment provides an effective means of integrating environmental considerations into all levels of decision-making by administrators.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Article 2 of the Amsterdam Treaty (1977) provides that it will be the European Community's task to promote the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities, environmentally-friendly growth, a high degree of convergence of economic performance, a high level of employment and social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, economic and social cohesion and solidarity among Member States.

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research and policy institute founded to help societies meet human needs and nurture economic growth without destroying the natural resources and environmental integrity that make prosperity possible; generate information about global resources and environmental conditions, analyse emerging issues, develop policy responses, provide technical support and other services to governments, environmental and development organizations and businesses that are trying to manage natural resources sustainably; bring the insights of scientific research, economic analysis and practical experience to political, business and other leaders; WRI focuses on six broad areas – climate, energy and pollution; forests and biodiversity; economics; technology; resource and environmental information; and institutions – and augments policy recommendations with field services and technical support for groups working in natural resource management. In 1993 its main concerns were: promoting transition to a sustainable society; safeguarding the Earth's atmosphere; charting the path to sustainable energy; preventing biological impoverishment; conserving global forests; gaining ground on sustainable agriculture; including natural resources in economic signals; revealing trends and indicators; triggering technological revolution; promoting equity within and among countries. The WRI conducts objective policy research; publicizes new policy options and encourages their adoption; provides technical support to developing countries to help implement policies that sustain healthy economic development.

The Action Plan Sustainable Netherlands, developed by Friends of the Earth Netherlands, envisages production and consumption in an industrial society when kept within the limits of environmental space. Environmental space is the sum total of what the Earth can provide (present and future generations) without over stressing its carrying capacity. If the Netherlands reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60% by the year 2010, reduces the use of mineral resources by 80 - 90%, reduces the use of fresh water by 40%, reduces the use of timber by 60% and reduces the use of agricultural land by 45%, while at the same time making the maximum use of already-existing technologies, then it is possible to maintain a reasonable standard of living in the Netherlands, but not at the cost of other countries.