“We Do Not Inherit the Land from our fathers, We Borrow It from Our Children”
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Native...
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Transcript of “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Native...
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Native American Proverb
"Give a man a fish, and he can eat for a day. But teach a man how to fish, and he'll be dead of
mercury poisoning inside of three years."Charles Haas
Economic Sustainability
Addressing material security and well being through ensuring and maintaining sufficient living standards for a population.
(Robinson and Tinker 1997)
Social Sustainability
Attending to social issues such as political freedom, equity, rights, education, and healthcare through effective and stable democratic governance.
(Fiorino 2010)
Environmental Sustainability
Resource Efficiency: How natural resources, water, and energy are used
Human Health and Well-Being: The need for clean air and water, adequate sanitation
Ecosystem Vitality: Protecting habitats and maintaining biodiversity
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Two Approaches:Limiting resource consumption
Environmental management
Managing Human Consumption
Renewable resources should not be consumed in excess of the rate they can be regenerated (sustainable yield)
Renewable substitutes need to be developed to replace non-renewable resources
Generation of waste should not exceed the capacity of the environment to withstand it safely
(Daly 1990)
Environmental Management
Addresses issues like:Climate change
Air pollution
Safeguarding freshwater
Protection of natural habitats and biodiversity
(Daly 1990)
Economic Sustainability Objectives
To provide economic growth without sacrificing environmental protection
Avoiding the “tragedy of the commons” (humans acting in their own self interest collectively depleting limited resources even though it is ultimately not in everyone’s best interest)
(Hardin 1968)
Social Sustainability Objectives
Ensuring equal access to good food, clean water, and appropriate housing at reasonable costs
Protecting human health through clean environments
Limiting pollution
Valuing and protecting diversity and cultural identity
Providing access to health care
Empowering members of the community to be involved in decision making
(DETR 1978)
Historical Development in the United States
1969 - The National Environmental Policy Act
1970 - Formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
1970 - Clean Air Act
1972 - Federal Water Pollution Control Act
International Historical Development
1972 - United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (The Stockholm Environmental Summit) → United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
1987 - World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) → The Brundtland Report
1992 - The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) → Adoption of Agenda 21
Sustainability Examples
Successful sustainability measures and programs take into account a city’s size, population, environmental needs and concerns, and local industries, among other factors.
Northampton County Virginia
One of the poorest counties in the stateDeveloped a proposal to protect coastal habitat and
support economic developmentNatural and cultural assets include marshes, beaches,
tidal creeks, woodlands, barrier islands, historic villages and farms, and over 260 species of birds, fish, and wildlife
Sustainability plan focuses on encouraging money making industries (heritage tourism, seafood and aquaculture industries, agriculture, etc) while protecting environmental habitats
(Lachman 1997)
Celebrates local bird habitats and annual fall migrations as well as brings in several hundred thousand dollars
(ESVA Festivals)
Founded in 1990
Started as a grassroots organization
Noted for the development of environmental sustainability indicators as well as metrics intended to gauge the economic and social quality-of-life of residents
Primary Goals of Sustainable Seattle
Social Justice: Equal access to resources and opportunity
Collaboration: Shared decision making, expanding each other’s capacity, and building on past positive action
Stewardship: Conserving and restoring our natural environments in a way that cares for all in our systems
(Sustainable Seattle)
Presidio National Park has been designated as a Center of Environmental Innovation
Example of environmental remediation of a former military base
Sustainability focuses: historic building rehabilitation, waste prevention, natural habitat preservation and restoration, and transportation concerns
(Environmental Remediation Program)
International Sustainability
Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy’s 2010 Environmental Performance Index
Uses 25 performance indicators to rank 163 countries on ecosystem vitality and environmental health
Top four countries achieving scores of 85-100: Iceland, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Sweden
The United States ranks at 61 with an EPI score of 63.5
(Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy 2010)
Implications for Public Administration
Sustainability issues are to complex to be addressed by one level of government- local, state, and federal governments must be involved
Sustainaibility requires both horizontal and vertical intergovernmental relations (IGR)
(Zeemering and Romero)
Vertical IGR
Requires cooperation between local, state, and federal governments
Local, state, and federal initiatives may present overlap- focus on reducing redundancy and reconciling conflicting policies
Sustainability measures may be too expensive for local governments, may need financial support from state and federal governments
Horizontal IGR
Importance of the planning process
Social and political problems may exceed physical boundaries of communities
Identifying and involving external stakeholders
(Zeemering and Romero)
Future Viability
Sustainability efforts rest on human perception; if people perceive an unlimited amount of resources or that evolving technology will solve environmental problems they will be less inclined to recycle or limit their consumption. But if people feel that their actions will have a lasting negative impact and perceive that resources are indeed limited they will be more inclined to make responsible decisions
(Goffman 2005)