Lecture 4 focus today we begin the practice part of

LECTURE 4: FOCUS
• Today we begin the practice part of the course with a lecture on how SD
is investigated and addressed at the international level
• Why the international level?
• Because SD is a global task,
• Directed towards more equity between global North & South, rich and poor,
present and future generations
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LECTURE 4 FOCUS
• SD has therefore embedded on global environmental
governance:
• What is the challenge of global sustainable governance?
• What are the principles is establishes?
• How has global sustainable governance developed ?
• Which are the major UN SD landmarks and their
significance?
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• Our Common Future (Brundtland Report 1987):
• Sets an international political agenda to promote SD
• Calls for international cooperation to manage ecological and
economic interdependencies
• Calls for new international institutions for global environmental
governance (GEG)
• Calls for broadening existing international institutions established
on narrow/sectoral agendas (i.e. agriculture, trade, urban development,
etc…)
THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE
GOVERNANCE
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THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBAL
SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE
Our Common Future (1987) also calls for:
• Getting at the source : supporting development that is ecologically and
economically sustainable
• Dealing with the effects : set measures and management of protection
• Assessing global risks of damage : effects on survival, security and well-
being of world community
• Making informed choices : involving informed communities (scientists,
public, NGOs)
• Investing in our future : World Bank projects, are they sustainable?
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THE ESSENCE OF THE BRUNDTLAND REPORT
(READ VERTICALLY)
Development Failures Environment Failures Policy Directions Responses from Govt &
ML Agencies
More hunger 6 mill ha desert/yr Population : family planning? Recognize environment affects
economy/ affects environment.
More illiteracy 11 mill ha destroyed/y~ low
grade farmland
Food : subsidized vs. non-
subsidized farmers/ Enough
food vs. affordable food
1983 establishment WC Env
and Development
More people w/o water &
homes
Acid rain ~forests/lakes Species & Ecosystems :
protect at all costs?
Recognition of interlocking b/t
energy, env and development
Less people w/ fuel Acid rain~ historical
architecture
Energy : lessen intensity,
increase nuclear? Or low
energy use or increase
renewables?
World pop: 8-15 bil (21 st cent)
World econ: US$3 trill
Military spending: US$1 trill
Gap b/t rich & poor Burning of FF~CO2~global
warming ~ shift agricultural
production~ raise sea level
Industry : produce more with
less
Main env and dev problem:
inequality b/t polluters and
polluted
Burning other gases ~ozone
depletion~ cancers
Urban development :
decentralize funds, power, and
personnel.
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THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL
SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE
• Traditions:
• Stewardship : rights of humans to exploit the nonhuman world but not
to the exclusion of all else. Humans caring role.