Great start defining SS. I missed the meeting, but here is some belated input. At the 1992 Rio Eart Summit, I presented a holistic framework for making development more sustainable, called SUSTAINOMICS -- the basic principles are very consonant with the concepts of SS. It is taught in several universities and practiced worldwide.
Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:SimSun;
panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1;
mso-font-alt:宋体;
mso-font-charset:134;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 135135232 16 0 262144 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times-Roman;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:auto;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@SimSun";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:134;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 135135232 16 0 262144 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
The sustainomics framework draws on the following basic principles and
methods (Munasinghe 1992a, 1994, 2002a, 2007) -- for details, see:
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sustainomics_and_sustainable_development
(a) Making
development more sustainable (MDMS)
The step-by-step approach of “making development
more sustainable” (MDMS) becomes the prime objective, while sustainable
development is defined as a process (rather than an end point). Since the precise definition of sustainable development remains
an elusive and perhaps unreachable goal, a less ambitious strategy that merely
seeks to make development more sustainable does offer greater promise. Such a
gradient-based method is more practical and permits us to address urgent
priorities without delay, because many unsustainable activities are easier to
recognize and eliminate. Although MDMS
is incremental, it does not imply any limitation in scope (e.g., restricted
time horizon or geographic area – see item (c) below). MDMS also seeks to keep
future options open and identify robust strategies which meet multiple
contingencies and increase resilience. Thus, while implementing short and
medium term measures, we also follow a parallel track by continuing efforts to
better define and achieve the long term goal of sustainable development.
(b) Sustainable
development triangle and balanced viewpoint
Sustainable
development requires balanced and integrated analysis from three main
perspectives: social, economic and environmental. Each view corresponds to a domain (and
system) that has its own distinct driving forces and objectives. The economy is
geared towards improving human welfare, primarily through increases in the
consumption of goods and services. The environmental domain focuses on
protection of the integrity and resilience of ecological systems. The social
domain emphasizes the enrichment of human relationships and achievement of
individual and group aspirations. Interactions among domains are also
important.
(c) Transcending
conventional boundaries for better integration
The analysis transcends conventional boundaries
imposed by discipline, space, time, stakeholder viewpoints, and operationality.
The scope is broadened and extended in all domains, to ensure a comprehensive
view. Trans-disciplinary analysis must cover economics, social science and
ecology, as well as many other disciplines. Spatial analysis must range from
the global to the very local, while the time horizon may extend to decades or
centuries. Participation of all
stakeholders (including government,
private sector and civil society) through inclusion, empowerment and
consultation, is important. The
analysis needs to encompass the full operational cycle from data gathering to
practical policy implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
(d) Full cycle application of
practical and innovative analytical tools
A
variety of practical and novel analytical tools facilitate governance over the
full cycle from initial data gathering to ultimate policy implementation and
feedback.