How is sustainable development in practice?

There are a number of examples of sustainable development strategies around the world.

• Cities use ecological principles and systems to minimize their ecological footprint and resource use
• Systems for recycling energy and water
• Wetlands for wastewater treatment, natural drainage systems, rain gardens, green roofs
• Alternative energies
• Resource recycling in closed systems

But how does sustainable development framed or measured?

A sustainable developed country or society should have 80% lower emissions and resource consumption targets or goals achieved. Citizens should have secure, stable and meaningful employment. It would be self-reliant, and not dependent on outside sources. It should be self-actuating and not regulated, controlled, mandated or moralistic. It would honour human nature, restoring degraded habitats and ecosystems to optimal productivity and biological capacity. It would honour market principles. It would be a desirable place to live; fun, engaging, pleasing, and fulfilling. It would rely on current solar income, which means the energy from the sun as the primary provider. (Ling, 2011)
The ten or so steps: (Ling, 2011)

Incorporation is a privilege, not a right, and products and services should reflect the authority of the citizen, not the other way around

Prices of all externalities should be included in the cost of production, manufacture and consumption.

The tax system should encourage good behaviour, such as subsidizing and conservation, and discourage bad behaviour, such as consumption and environmental and social destruction. The lower middle class should be able to afford sustainable behaviour.

Resource companies should be utility companies, investing in conservation projects.

Use cyclical systems, like ecosystems, reflect continual sustainability, where energy and resources are cycled.
Not linear systems, which only profit the middleman, degrading the beginning and the end.
•Cradle to Cradle – creating systems that are efficient and waste free through;
•Bio-mimicry – mimicking biological and natural systems
•Dematerialization – reduction or eliminations of the quantity of materials used
•Minimization – minimal inputs and outputs

Voting creates citizens, where buying creates consumers. Vote, even if you don’t agree with everything they stand for, but for what it right.
Government should be a guardian to society, which does not profit from business or influence business.

Education should include biological life, ideals and systems. Currently people can recognize 1000 brand names and logos, but only 10 local plants and animals. There are currently only about 1.500 people in the world that have the skills to catalogue all of the life on Earth (Ling, 2011)

Take care of human health through clean water, food, and air, etc.

Respect humans, nature, and the future.



Reference:

Ling, C. (2011) Personal Communication: ENSC 301 - Lecture Notes – Saving the Enchilada. Royal Roads University, Victoria, B.C.http://www.trendbird.biz/4149