Constructing Sustainable DevelopmentThrough a critique of the economic, technological, political, and ethical theories that are the basis for current policy, this book shows that sustainable development proposals are at least incomplete or impractical and at worst dangerously misleading. The concept of sustainable development presents a problem for theorists and policy makers because it cannot be objectively defined and subjective understandings vary widely. For the capitalist, sustainable development is a problem of production efficiency and technological innovation; for the environmentalist, a more appropriate ethic is a necessity; and for the developing country policy maker, a more equitable distribution of power over resources is imperative. Harrison shows how sustainable development can be constructed from policy principles derived from ongoing adaptations to changes in values, beliefs, and scientific knowledge, and applied in both developed and developing nations and communities large and small. |
Contents
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND UNCERTAINTY | 11 |
ECOEFFICIENCY THROUGH MARKETS | 19 |
ORGANIZING A TECHNOLOGICAL | 37 |
1 | 47 |
CONSIDERING EQUITY | 51 |
11 | 55 |
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM | 67 |
A PROBLEM OF CONSCIOUSNESS | 81 |
POLICY PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 99 |
NOTES | 119 |
REFERENCES | 141 |
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accepted action activity argues assumed behavior beliefs and values benefits Brundtland Commission capital chapter climate change collective common pool resource communitarian complex adaptive systems constructed consumers consumption of natural cooperation cost Daly decision deep ecology defined demand developed countries dominant eco-efficiency Ecofeminism Ecological economics ecological limits ecological techno-economic paradigm economists ecosystems effective efficiency narrative encourage engineering ENGOs enhance environmental equity narrative ethics narrative evolutionary economics example firms future global goal green growth human society ideas increase individual influence interaction interests international system Kymlicka LDCs liberalism ment metanarrative moral natural environment needs nomic nonhumans optimal organizations outcomes ozone policy narrative predict preferences principles problem production radical rational choice rational choice theories reduce requires result scarcity rent scientific knowledge scientists selection self-interest sinks social adaptive capacity solution specific structures sustainable development policy techno-economic paradigm shift technological innovation tion tive University Press utility