Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability Policies and Principles for a Durable Equilibrium

by Belt, Tamar; Furtado, Jose I. dos R.

• ISBN13: 9780821345733
• ISBN10: 0821345737
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-03-27
• Publisher: World Bank Publications

Summary

More than one billion people around the world still live in acute poverty and the earth's population is likely to double in the next forty years. Therefore, far more economic development will be required in order to achieve acceptable minimal standards of living for everyone.However, in the attempt to improve living standards, little attention has been paid to the negative effects of economic development on the environment. The challenge is to ensure that development strategies for economic growth are implemented jointly with environmental sustainability. This book explores a broad range of practical issues related to environmental management, including wealth creation, institutions, equity, energy, trade, human health, and ecological sustainability.'Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability' was developed as part of a five-year program of policy seminars on economic development and environmental management, as well as economic globalization and environmental sustainability. The seminars were held in several regions including South and East Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia and were conducted by the World Bank Institute in collaboration with the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development, Japan, and with the support of the governments of Japan and the Netherlands.This book is intended for decisionmakers, policy analysts, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, and all those interested in understanding and contributing to environmentally sustainable development.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability: An Overview	1	(6)
Economic Development and the Environment	1	(1)
Organization of the Book	1	(6)
Policy Implications for Sustainable Development	7	(14)
Human Society and the Environment	7	(1)
Sustainable Development	8	(3)
Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Development	11	(3)
Conclusion	14	(1)
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development	14	(4)
Agenda 21, Chapter 1	18	(3)
Ecological Basis of Environmental Sustainability	21	(10)
Sustainability from the Ecological Perspective	21	(7)
Policy Implications of the Axioms	28	(1)
Conclusion	29	(2)
The Dynamics of Creating and Maintaining Wealth	31	(10)
Expanded Wealth Accounts	31	(1)
Eco-Domestic Product	32	(1)
Genuine Savings	33	(2)
Social Capital	35	(3)
Integrating Genuine Savings, Human Capital, and Social Capital into Policy	38	(1)
Conclusion	38	(3)
Institutions for Environmental Stewardship	41	(8)
Developing the Knowledge Base	41	(1)
Setting Priorities	42	(1)
Building Consensus	42	(1)
Promoting Coordination	42	(1)
Carrying out Implementation	43	(1)
Involving Local People	44	(2)
Conclusion	46	(3)
Poverty, Income Distribution, and the Environment	49	(8)
Links between Poverty and the Environment: The Mainstream View	49	(3)
Links between Poverty and the Environment: An Alternative View	52	(1)
Conclusion	53	(4)
Population, Natural Resources, and the Environment	57	(10)
Trends in Population Growth	57	(1)
The Links between Population and Environment	58	(2)
Population and Consumption Patterns	60	(4)
Policy Recommendations	64	(1)
Conclusion	65	(2)
Energy Consumption and the Environment	67	(8)
Energy Use	67	(3)
Policy Options	70	(2)
Conclusion	72	(3)
Trade and the Environment	75	(8)
Links among Trade, Economics, and the Environment	75	(3)
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, World Trade Organization, and Environmental Management	78	(1)
Policy Implications of Trade and the Environment	79	(2)
Conclusion	81	(2)
Global Environmental Issues	83	(10)
Developing Markets for Global Issues	84	(2)
International Transfer of Funds	86	(1)
International Agreements and Conventions	87	(3)
National Policy for Global Issues	90	(1)
Conclusion	91	(2)
Human Health and the Environment	93	(12)
Household Environment	93	(3)
Occupational Environment	96	(1)
Ambient Environment	96	(1)
Measuring and Valuing Environmental Effects on Health	97	(2)
Priority Setting for Policymaking	99	(1)
Conclusion	100	(1)
Appendix: Disability-Adjusted Life Year	100	(5)
Planning and Environmental Indicators	105	(7)
Measuring Progress toward Sustainability	105	(2)
Indicators	107	(2)
Information Requirements	109	(1)
Temporal and Spatial Dimensions of Indicators	110	(1)
International and National Projects to Develop Indicators	111	(1)
Conclusion	111	(1)
Appendix: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Mountain Areas	112