Three Steps towards Global Environmental Sustainability (Part I)

Abstract for Part I: We publish in this issue of the journal the first part of Robert Goodland and Herman Daly's article on "Approaching Global Environmental Sustainability". The second part which gives the operational guidelines for Environmental Sustainability will be published in 1992-3 section on "SID Debates Sustainability and Environment" which will be devoted to the implementation of the results emerging from the Earth Summit UNCED '92. In this article Goodland and Daly take the first three related steps in an approach towards environmental sustainability. The first and probably easiest step is to use sound economics. The second is to differentiate between growth and development. The third is to use environmental assessment as a relatively easy means to approach sustainability. The fourth, operational guides for sustainability will be dealt with in Part II. In addition, they add that enforcement and institution strengthening are necessary conditions. Abstract for Part II: Robert Goodland and Herman H. Daly in the second and final part of their article on three steps towards global environmental sustainability look at the operational guidelines for environmental sustainability. They give both the output and input guide, priorities for institutional strengthening and argue that such environmental principles which can be agreed on must be acted on now. Clearly, they conclude, the globe will have to take account of the ability to pay for the transition to global sustainability.