PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 8TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM
(Thessaloniki, Greece, 15-17 October 2004)
Leading the Transition to Sustainability: Global Challenges and Individual Action
Arthur Lyon Dahl
International Environment Forum
Geneva, Switzerland
POWERPOINT (52k)
ABSTRACT
Sustainability has become the major challenge of the 21st Century because the rapidly rising human population, combined with the impacts of modern industrial technologies, are straining planetary limits. From the individual perspective, more than 6 billion of us are consuming more and generating more wastes, whether from over-consumption by the rich or environmental degradation by the poor in a desperate struggle to survive. The environmental threats from climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, water shortages, food insecurity and natural disasters, combined with social and economic instabilities, could compromise our future civilization and well-being. Since we are the cause of the problem, we must take some responsibility for the solution through individual and collective action. This will require a convergence in our disparate lifestyles, with those who are well-off reducing their consumption to free resources so that the poor can raise their standard of living.
Since sustainable development is fundamentally an ethical concept of justice within and between generations, individual action should address not only the material dimension of lifestyles, but also the moral, ethical and spiritual dimensions. What is our responsibility as individuals, and in our families and communities? Education has a fundamental role in preparing each person for action through both scientific knowledge and ethical perspectives. A transformation of values will provide the motivation to lead to action, driving an organic change in society. Leadership in the transition to sustainability must come from the actions of each one of us.
OUTLINE
from Powerpoint presentation
Sustainability
• Major challenge
of the 21st Century
• Population
growth, ca. 9 billion
• Technology
impacts
• Planetary limits
• Extremes of
wealth and poverty
• Environmental,
economic and social vulnerability
Individual perspective
• > 6 billion of
us
• Excessive
consumption
• Increasing wastes
• Resource
shortages
• Rising costs
• Insecurity
• Health risks
• Loss of amenities
Environmental threats
• Climate change
• Natural disasters
• Ozone depletion
• Biodiversity loss
• Water shortages
• Land degradation
• Food insecurity
• Health impacts
Social and economic threats
• Terrorism
• Fanaticism
• Conflict
• Isolationism,
intolerance
• Economic
instability
• Unbalanced
globalization
• Poor governance
We are the cause of the problem
• As consumers
• As citizens
• As parents
• As teachers
We must be part of the solution
• Inform ourselves
• Take
responsibility
• Re-examine our
lifestyles
• Take action
• Involve others
Convergence of lifestyles
• Reduce excessive
consumption
• Increase
efficiency
• Live within
environmental limits
• Protect the
biosphere, biodiversity
• Redistribute
resources
• Eliminate poverty
• Encourage
diversity
How?
Sustainable development is an ethical concept
• Justice for this
generation
• And for future
generations
Aiming at:
• Ecological
viability
• Economic
efficiency
• Social equity
Individual action
• Material
dimension: adopting a sustainable lifestyle
• Social dimension:
living in a sustainable community
• Moral/spiritual
dimension: practicing sustainable values
Values for sustainability
• Dignity for all:
human rights
• Unity in
diversity
• Balance of
material and spiritual
• Respect for
nature
• Economic justice
• A culture of
peace
• Responsibility
• Spirit of service
• Moderation
Education for sustainable development
• Preparation for
action
• Scientific
knowledge
• Ethical
perspectives
Values as the catalyst
• Transformed
values
• Motivation
• Individual action
• Community
solidarity
• Transmission of
values
• Organic change in
society
Leadership in the transition to sustainabilty
• Must come from
the actions of each one of us
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Last updated 19 October 2004