Positive aspects
- The protection of the environment has become a political issue. The governments of numerous countries dispose of departments for the environment and environmental protection has been imposed by the legislation.
- Collective awareness for the necessity of getting involved in environmental protection: the degree of popularity of non-governmental organisations has increased. For example, the membership of Greenpeace has increased since its foundation in Canada in 1971 to 2,74 billion (110 000 members in France and 558 500 in Germany (2006), source: Greenpeace France and Germany).
- Today, we dispose of energy-saving technologies and we have developed ways for a better exploitation of renewable energies such as hydraulic and wind power. Therefore, we can use renewable energies for treating solid waste, waste water and air pollution. Furthermore, avoiding waste production and pollution of our environment becomes feasible through new technologies. Public services and private companies invest in research and development of products suitable for the future. Consumers will be able to contribute to sustainable development when such products arrive on the market and the ecological awareness of the consumer has been sufficiently raised.
Negative aspects
- On average, today’s lifestyle has a strong impact on the environment as it is highly demanding for water and fossil energies and goes with pollution of air, water and soil. Extensive land use threatens wildlife and biodiversity and pushes forward desertification. The production of greenhouse gases accelerates climate change. Globalisation has made environmental issues very complex. Environmental threats have developed from individual problems to complex issues with a context difficult to understand.
- Consumers’ behaviour is worrying. Working and living conditions of employers as well as ecological aspects of production such as energy input and pollution need to become consumer criteria to choose fair and ecological products. Still a lot has to be done to raise the awareness for sustainable consumption and for critical evaluation of production processes.
Constraints
- Today’s economic situation is mainly the result of a rapid development without environmental constraints and issues. A central question to adress for our future is therefore: How can an environmentally friendly and sustainable economy develop from an economy of consumption, and which investments are necessary for this?
- The media often states that the protection of the environment is expensive and that a rigorous pro-environmental legislation threatens the national economy and jobs. What could be the guidelines to reconcile environmental issues, politics and economy? What are the public spendings of the actual government and its ecological department?
- The constraints for a sustainable development differ between countries and their political situations. However, topics such as energy saving and environmental sustainablility are universal issues, which require a shared international policy. How can international organisations put pressure to push forward international agreements, which are only false compromises?
Thinking about it
- Revising one’s lifestyle and changing habits can certainly be a way of getting started right away. Keeping in mind the motto Think global - Act local, you may realise that your own behaviour can change things. Consuming local and regional products, consuming better but less (recycled or recyclable products, fair trade and bio products) can be two points to start with. Labelled products can serve as indicators to find one’s way through the jungle of new products and to guarantee their environmental compatibility.
- On a longer term, there is a strong necessity of reconciling environmental issues, our responsability towards future generations and commercial practices of companies.
- International agreements need to be further developped concering the reduction of greenhouse gases and the protection of climate and environment
- New technologies such as renewable energies, hydrogen run cars, waste water treatment plants need to be promoted, accessible and affordable for a larger public.
- Investing in national education can have a large positive impact on "unecological" habits. How to save energy? What is the ecological footprint of my lifestyle? Which are its consequences for future generations?
Perspectives
- In France, the current government presented a programm, the so called "Grenelle de l’Environnement" to describe the perspectives of the french policy for sustainable development.
The organisation of the Grenelle de l’ Environnement gathers representatives of public services and the people (NGOs, companies, labour unions, employes). Six working groups were constituted to elaborate proposals for an environmentally friendly policy and for sustainable development.
"Fight climate change and control energy demand"
"Preserve biodiversity and natural resources"
"Create an environment conducive to health"
"Adopt sustainable modes of production and consumption"
"Construct a green democracy"
"Promote green development favouring employment and competitiveness"
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