Sustainability DiscoursesSustainability Discourses Conceptually linked to the question of obligations/responsibilities to Conceptually linked to the question of obligations/responsibilities to

future generations of people.future generations of people.

Since the early 1970s: Often couched in terms of I = PAT.Since the early 1970s: Often couched in terms of I = PAT.

Since the 1980s: Often couched in terms of sustainable Since the 1980s: Often couched in terms of sustainable development.development.

Since the 1990s: Often couched in terms of weak sustainability and Since the 1990s: Often couched in terms of weak sustainability and strong sustainability.strong sustainability.

Today: There are many, many sustainability discourses. Our Today: There are many, many sustainability discourses. Our textbook textbook Green Development: Environment and sustainability in a Green Development: Environment and sustainability in a developing worlddeveloping world by W.M. Adams is one attempt to sort through by W.M. Adams is one attempt to sort through some of these discourses. some of these discourses.

Obligations to Future Generations:Obligations to Future Generations:Five Central ProblemsFive Central Problems

1. Ignorance Problem: How can we know what future people will really need and want, 1. Ignorance Problem: How can we know what future people will really need and want,

what rights they might insist upon, and what they will blame us for doing right and what rights they might insist upon, and what they will blame us for doing right and wrong?wrong?

2. Typology of Effects Problem: How can we determine which of our actions will really 2. Typology of Effects Problem: How can we determine which of our actions will really have moral implications for the future?have moral implications for the future?

3. Problem of Intergenerational Trade-Offs: How should a particular generation balance3. Problem of Intergenerational Trade-Offs: How should a particular generation balanceconcern for its own moral and prudential concerns with concern for future concern for its own moral and prudential concerns with concern for future generations?generations?

4. Distance Problem: How far into the future do our moral obligations extend?4. Distance Problem: How far into the future do our moral obligations extend?

5. Saving Stuff Problem: What should we save for future generations—actual natural5. Saving Stuff Problem: What should we save for future generations—actual naturalresources or monetary investments? This tracks the distinction between strong and resources or monetary investments? This tracks the distinction between strong and weak sustainability.weak sustainability.

What is development?What is development?

As cited in Adams (pp. 7-11), development is:As cited in Adams (pp. 7-11), development is:

1.1. an ambiguous and elusive concept, a Trojan Horse of a word (L. an ambiguous and elusive concept, a Trojan Horse of a word (L. Frank).Frank).

2.2. a perception which models reality, a myth which comforts societies, a perception which models reality, a myth which comforts societies, and a fantasy which unleashes passions (W. Sachs).and a fantasy which unleashes passions (W. Sachs).

3.3. the colonization and enclosure of debate that limits the extent to which the colonization and enclosure of debate that limits the extent to which alternative futures can be imagined (A. Escobar).alternative futures can be imagined (A. Escobar).

4.4. a word used both descriptively to describe what happens in the world a word used both descriptively to describe what happens in the world as economies, environments, and societies change and normatively to as economies, environments, and societies change and normatively to set out what should happen (D. Goulet).set out what should happen (D. Goulet).

And development is:And development is:

5.5. a duty the United States has to extend foreign aid to a duty the United States has to extend foreign aid to “underdeveloped areas” of the world for humanitarian reasons and “underdeveloped areas” of the world for humanitarian reasons and to prevent communism from expanding (President Harry S. to prevent communism from expanding (President Harry S. Truman, Inaugural Address, 1949)Truman, Inaugural Address, 1949)

6.6. a worldview in which the modern West is recreated across the a worldview in which the modern West is recreated across the globe by industrialization, urbanization, democracy, and capitalism globe by industrialization, urbanization, democracy, and capitalism (G. Aseniero).(G. Aseniero).

7.7. a refiner’s fire though which successful societies emerge singed a refiner’s fire though which successful societies emerge singed but purified, modern, and affluent as they pass through five stages but purified, modern, and affluent as they pass through five stages of economic growth: traditional society, preconditions for take-off, of economic growth: traditional society, preconditions for take-off, take-off, maturity, and a new age of high mass consumption (W.W. take-off, maturity, and a new age of high mass consumption (W.W. Rostow).Rostow).

The Dilemma of SustainabilityThe Dilemma of Sustainability

In order to achieve sustainability, development must In order to achieve sustainability, development must occur to bring people out of poverty.occur to bring people out of poverty.

In order to achieve sustainability, development must be In order to achieve sustainability, development must be slowed or halted to protect nonhuman nature.slowed or halted to protect nonhuman nature.

““Feeding People vs. Saving Nature”Feeding People vs. Saving Nature”Holmes Rolston IIIHolmes Rolston III

1.1. If persons widely demonstrate that they value many other worthwhile things If persons widely demonstrate that they value many other worthwhile things over feeding the hungry (Christmas gifts, college educations, symphony over feeding the hungry (Christmas gifts, college educations, symphony concerts),concerts),

2.2. And if developed countries, to protect what they value, post national And if developed countries, to protect what they value, post national boundaries across which the poor may not cross (immigration laws),boundaries across which the poor may not cross (immigration laws),

3.3. And if there is unequal and unjust distribution of wealth, and if just And if there is unequal and unjust distribution of wealth, and if just redistribution to alleviate poverty is refused,redistribution to alleviate poverty is refused,

4.4. And if one-fifth of the world continues to consume four-fifths of the production And if one-fifth of the world continues to consume four-fifths of the production of goods and four-fifths consumes one-fifth,of goods and four-fifths consumes one-fifth,

5.5. And if escalating birthrates continue so that there are no real gains in And if escalating birthrates continue so that there are no real gains in alleviating poverty, only larger numbers of poor in the next generation,alleviating poverty, only larger numbers of poor in the next generation,

6.6. And if low productivity on domesticated lands continues, and if the natural And if low productivity on domesticated lands continues, and if the natural lands to be sacrificed are likely to be low in productivity,lands to be sacrificed are likely to be low in productivity,

7.7. And if significant natural values are at stake, including extinctions of species,And if significant natural values are at stake, including extinctions of species,

Then one out not always to feed people first, but rather one ought to sometimes save Then one out not always to feed people first, but rather one ought to sometimes save nature.nature.

Protecting Nonhuman Nature: Protecting Nonhuman Nature: Some ProblemsSome Problems

Failure to actually protect natural areas because local Failure to actually protect natural areas because local people exploit natural resources, kill animals and plants, people exploit natural resources, kill animals and plants, encroach upon habitat, and/or denude or destroy habitat.encroach upon habitat, and/or denude or destroy habitat.

Worries that local people will put their own interests Worries that local people will put their own interests above the goal of protecting local natural areas.above the goal of protecting local natural areas.

Worries that local people will make bad management Worries that local people will make bad management decisions about how to protect natural areas.decisions about how to protect natural areas.

Ironically, attempting to protect natural areas might Ironically, attempting to protect natural areas might hasten their demise.hasten their demise.

““Nature as Community: The Convergence of Nature as Community: The Convergence of Environmental and Social Justice”Environmental and Social Justice”

Giovanna Di Chiro: Giovanna Di Chiro:

1.1. Traditional environmental groups (TEGs) have focused too heavily Traditional environmental groups (TEGs) have focused too heavily on wilderness preservation and protecting endangered species and on wilderness preservation and protecting endangered species and too little on urban and rural environmental problems.too little on urban and rural environmental problems.

2.2. With their focus on protecting nature (wilderness) and species “out With their focus on protecting nature (wilderness) and species “out there” in the wild, TEGs have denied human-nature relationships there” in the wild, TEGs have denied human-nature relationships and perpetuated past colonial injustices by alienating people from and perpetuated past colonial injustices by alienating people from nature.nature.

3.3. TEGs typically advocate top-down nature management at the TEGs typically advocate top-down nature management at the expense of local communities.expense of local communities.

4.4. In terms of their leadership and concerns, TEGs have practiced In terms of their leadership and concerns, TEGs have practiced discriminatory environmentalism.discriminatory environmentalism.

Therefore, TEGs have contributed to injustices suffered by Therefore, TEGs have contributed to injustices suffered by marginalized urban and rural peoples.marginalized urban and rural peoples.

Protecting Nonhuman Nature:Protecting Nonhuman Nature:Some ProblemsSome Problems

Forced removal of local people to create protected Forced removal of local people to create protected areas.areas.

Torture and intimidation of local people to enforce Torture and intimidation of local people to enforce protection policies.protection policies.

Restricting access of local people to local natural Restricting access of local people to local natural resources.resources.

Excluding local people from participating in decision-Excluding local people from participating in decision-making and management of local protected areas. making and management of local protected areas.

Solving the Dilemma of Sustainability? Solving the Dilemma of Sustainability? Subaltern EnvironmentalismSubaltern Environmentalism

Focus on livelihood issues: A local community’s struggle Focus on livelihood issues: A local community’s struggle to gain access to and control over natural resources to to gain access to and control over natural resources to support itself.support itself.

Provide critiques of modern, capital-intensive Provide critiques of modern, capital-intensive developments that increase export revenues, displace developments that increase export revenues, displace local people and knowledge, and usurp subsistence local people and knowledge, and usurp subsistence production.production.

Combat structural forces that marginalize and Combat structural forces that marginalize and subordinate people subordinate people and that and that produce environmental produce environmental degradation. degradation.

““Caribbean” Caribbean” Barbara Deutsch LynchBarbara Deutsch Lynch

The Green and the Brown:The Green and the Brown:

International tourism requires a supply of iconic island landscapes; the International tourism requires a supply of iconic island landscapes; the development community seeks to maintain the renewable resources development community seeks to maintain the renewable resources and ecosystems of the region. Residents worry about natural and ecosystems of the region. Residents worry about natural disasters; urban services; water; pollution from military, mining, and disasters; urban services; water; pollution from military, mining, and manufacturing activity; the health effects of pesticide-intensive manufacturing activity; the health effects of pesticide-intensive agriculture; urban sprawl; and access to land and resources. The agriculture; urban sprawl; and access to land and resources. The locus of environmental decision making also is contested. (p. 130)locus of environmental decision making also is contested. (p. 130)

““Caribbean”Caribbean”The GreenThe Green

[T]ourism requires “an endless supply of ‘pristine’ beaches, ‘untouched’ [T]ourism requires “an endless supply of ‘pristine’ beaches, ‘untouched’ coves, and ‘emerald’ pools,” whereas many islands struggle with the coves, and ‘emerald’ pools,” whereas many islands struggle with the water and sewage demands of the hotel industry. Ecotourists want water and sewage demands of the hotel industry. Ecotourists want to visit national parks that have lush vegetation, well-marked trails, to visit national parks that have lush vegetation, well-marked trails, and folklore displays but are free of local human economic activity. and folklore displays but are free of local human economic activity. The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) emphasize international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) emphasize biodiversity and forest and coral reef conservation. This preference biodiversity and forest and coral reef conservation. This preference is reflected in the ornithologist Jared Diamond’s is reflected in the ornithologist Jared Diamond’s CollapseCollapse (2005), (2005), which argues in favor of the repressive forest policies of the former which argues in favor of the repressive forest policies of the former Dominican president Joaquin Balaguer, which were condemned by Dominican president Joaquin Balaguer, which were condemned by human rights and environmental justice groups. (p. 131) human rights and environmental justice groups. (p. 131)

““Caribbean”Caribbean”The BrownThe Brown

In contrast, brown issues such as waste management and pollution In contrast, brown issues such as waste management and pollution often top local agendas…. Real estate markets consign poor often top local agendas…. Real estate markets consign poor people to polluted areas. Pollution is aggravated in countries where people to polluted areas. Pollution is aggravated in countries where cars, busses, and trucks run on dirty petroleum fuels. Land markets cars, busses, and trucks run on dirty petroleum fuels. Land markets also encourage sprawl, which raises the cost of urban services and also encourage sprawl, which raises the cost of urban services and takes land out of agricultural production, making it harder for takes land out of agricultural production, making it harder for families to find affordable food. (p. 132)families to find affordable food. (p. 132)

DiscussionDiscussion

““Protecting Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Promoting Tourism Protecting Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Promoting Tourism in ‘The Back Patio of the United States:’ Thoughts about Shared in ‘The Back Patio of the United States:’ Thoughts about Shared Responsibilities in Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection” by Colin Responsibilities in Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection” by Colin CrawfordCrawford

““The Rich, the Powerful and the Endangered: Conservation Elites, The Rich, the Powerful and the Endangered: Conservation Elites, Networks and the Dominican Republic” by George HolmesNetworks and the Dominican Republic” by George Holmes

““One Island, Two People, Two Histories: The Dominican Republic One Island, Two People, Two Histories: The Dominican Republic and Haiti” by Jared Diamondand Haiti” by Jared Diamond

Colonial District, Santo DomingoColonial District, Santo Domingo

El CercadoEl Cercado

Who are these guys?Who are these guys?