Deck 22: Visions of the Future Revisited

Question 1

One of the toughest problems in achieving sustainable development is ensuring that the environmental problems are not solved at the expense of the poor. Higher resource prices, for example, could simply make key resources available only to those who can afford them. Thinking back over the course, what specific approaches that we discussed allow sustainable development to be achieved in an equitable manner? Can you think of other approaches that meet the test of fairness?

Answer 1

Specific approaches that allow sustainable development to be achieved in an equitable manner are as follows -
1. Sustainability Criterion - According to this approach, on a minimum level, future generations should not be left worse off than the current generations. This implies that future generations should also have the same level of resources at their disposal as the current generation has. Any allocation that impoverishes the future generation and enriches current generations is unjust and unfair.
2. Hartwick rule - This rule suggests that current generation should treat environment and associated resources as endowment and thus live off on the returns of endowment and not on the endowment itself. Such behavior produces sustainable outcome in the sense that total capital stock remains intact and future generations get adequate resources and do not have to fend for themselves.
3. Economic incentives could be used to achieve the sustainable development in an equitable manner but while using economic incentives appropriate standards should be formulated so that economic incentives get appropriately applied rather than misapplied.
4. Effluent or emission charges approach could also be utilized for achieving sustainable development in an equitable manner. These charges offer realistic opportunity to government to reduce environmental degradation and have revenue to promote energy efficiency and conservation thus ushering in an era of sustainable development.
Other approaches are as follows -
1. Public - Private Partnership mode - This mode by providing greater flexibility to businesses within regulatory framework can harmonize the private and social costs in feasible and effective manner and thus can lead to sustainable development in fair manner.
2. Voluntary Compliance approach - If people themselves respect the environment and try to protect and preserve it in voluntary sense then sustainable development could be achieved in most fair manner. Integrity cannot be substituted by any law or economic approach and voluntary compliance can solve environmental problem in more comprehensive manner.

Question 2

In his book Catastrophe , Professor Jared Diamond argues that many societies throughout history, when confronted by resource scarcity problems, failed to respond appropriately and ultimately collapsed. Our society faces challenging problems such as the future energy choices, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. Do you think we will prove equal to the challenge or will our institutions fail to meet the test? Why? Is democracy part of the problem or part of the solution? Why?

Answer 2

In our views, we will prove equal to the challenge. In the past as well societies have successfully confronted the environmental problems and there should not be any apprehension with regards to why future be different.
It could also be stated that whenever confront with scarcity society adjust itself in terms of reduction in population growth and technological advancement that will not only negate the scarcity but will also bring in abundance.
It is true that our society faces challenges in terms of future energy choices, loss of biodiversity, and climate change but equally true are steps taken to meet these challenges in terms of cost - efficient development of alternate energy resources, protection of biodiversity by establishment of natural parks and protection of wetlands, and international agreements regarding reduction of ozone - depleting gases and green house gases.
It is also true that frictions emerge in negotiations regarding environmental issues both at national and international level but that does not mean that we are doomed to be fail on the contrary this friction provides us an opportunity to assess situation in more comprehensive manner and transform our approach so that give and take principle could be applied in better way.
Our future does not hold the decline of civilization but the transformation of civilization. These issues are hitting us hard and compel us to bring out innovative solutions and around the world many innovative solutions have, in fact, propped up already.
Thus, we should believe that we can and we will overcome this challenge and make our earth once again a beautiful place to live in.
Democracy is part of the solution because democracy gives voice to the general public and chance to majority to air their views. Since, environmental degradation hurts majority and benefits minority.
In absence of democracy, majority will not be able to register their opposition and hence have to succumb to the exploitation by minority whereas in democracy through their votes, majority can influence the political power and thus compel them to address their concern and in this way breaks the shackles put up by the minority.
Also, there is place for special interest groups in democracy as well. It is seen that environmentalist by actively voicing their concern (which is mainly possible in democracy) has compelled the governments around the world to enact environmental regulations and has also led to the formulation of international agreements as well.