| The
model of sustainability presented here relies on the intrinsic premise
that human beings interact with the natural resources (physical, ecological
and raw biodiversity of our world) and we are now effectively controlling
them or influencing them signfiicantly - ie. distribution and quantum
(eg. amount of carbon in atmosphere, how many species survive in any
one place and the environmental space we leave for them to evolve).
The
model demonstrates this being done through individual and collective
decision making of people via the varying realms of environment,
social, and economic. These realms of decision making and interactivity
with the natural resources base are in turn intriniscally linked
and mixed at any one time. That is for example, that in any one
decision the mix of social, economic and environmental influences
can be highly variable in percentage amount (ie. 100% of this area
will be national park, or we develop this business despite the loss
of vegetation and habitat).
Ecologically
Sustainable Development strives as an idea to deliver a balance
between these decision making realms. As stated sometimes a decision
may reflect a greater amount of one realm as compared to another.
Up until recently this has been the economic one. Some hold the
view that now it is the environmental realm and it is time to take
into account the social decision making realm too and not forget
the economic realm.
In
this model it holds that culture (often referred to as the fourth
pillar of sustainability) is in fact integral to all decision making
(ie. our sense of belonging and place influences how we react and
decide in each realm and how we mix and balance decisions which
effect the natural resources base
itself).
The
model intends to demonstrate that all the decision making realms
are integrally linked with not only each other but also the natural
resources base of earth itself. The supposition and theory of life
itself is that we need to leave enough of it (the nrm base) that
we neither extinguish ourselves, make it too hot or cold, or remove
too many other plants and animals which form part of the greater
web of life itself.
ESD
is then either individual realm decisions or a combination or mix
of them (for the good or the bad of it)
Environmental
Decision Making Realm
Represents
the individual and collective decisions of people and society's
in the way they see and manage natural environments.
Social
Decision Making Realm
Represents
the individual and collective decisions of people and society's,
in the way they see and manage their social environments and interactions
with the natural world.
Economic
Decision Making Realm
Represents
the individual and collective decisions of people and society's,
in the way they see and manage their economic environments in relationship
to the natural world.
Contact
for more details:
If
you would like to know more about the perception of sustainability
discussed you are welcome to contact:
Manager
Environmental
Management Services
Townsville
City Council
Tel:
4727 9310, or
gab@townsville.qld.gov.au
5 October
2003
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