Book Summary of Choosing a Sustainable Future by National Commission on the Environment
Citation:
Choosing a Sustainable Future, The report of the National Commission on the Environment, (Washington DC: Island Press, 1993), 169 pp.
This Book Summary written by: T.A. O'Lonergan, Conflict Research Consortium
Choosing a Sustainable Future is an examination of the goals and
tools of sustainable development. Additionally, the Commission
catalogues the priority problems facing those advocating sustainable development.
Choosing a Sustainable Future will be of interest to those who seek
to broaden their understanding of sustainable development as a technique
to mitigate further human caused climate change. This work is divided
into three sections, the first of which addresses the goals of sustainable development
wherein, the authors offer a definition of sustainable development.
They also acknowledge the need: to reconcile old conflicts, and for a new
synthesis in US policy.
The second section examines the tools for sustainable development.
In a subsection focused upon technologies for such development
the authors examine: characteristics of the new technologies, obstacles
to the adoption of these superiour technologies, and possibilities for
encouraging the development and deployment of the new technology. An
examination of the economics for sustainable development
includes discussion of: the new economics and measurement techniques for
economic activities. An overview of market mechanisms is also
included in this section. Focus on values of sustainability precedes
explorations of public participation and civic responsibility.
The second section concludes with consideration of the sort of governance
necessary for sustainable development.
The final section is an evaluation of the priority problems which face the
achievement of global sustainable development. This section examines
four areas. First, an examination of the new global role of the US in:
protecting the global environment, as leaders in the formation of international
agreements, and integrating trade and environmental concerns is
offered. The relationship between energy development and
environmental concerns is explored. The monitoring and evaluation of pollution
and the integration of pollution control functions is the third topic of
this final section. The final consideration of the book is land use and
the protection of biodiversity. The text concludes with a statement of
what the authors envision for the future of sustainable development in
the United States.
Choosing a Sustainable Future is a systematic examination of
sustainable development with a focus on the global role of the United
States.
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