Assignment 11

1. How do you believe sustainability should be defined for policy-making?

In "Sustainability: An Economist's Perspective," Robert M. Solow points out the values that are associated with sustainability. "Pretty clear is the notion of sustainability is about our obligation to the future. It says something about a moral bokigation that we are supposed to have for future generations." (Sorow 180) This notion of moral obligation must be translated into a modernized, rational, and systemic definition that can be applied to the various areas of policy-making. Sustainability in terms of policy and program implementation must be exact, measureable, and clearly demonstrate a commitment to uphold the moral obligation to future generations.

In terms of policy-making, it is imperative to include both short and long term approaches, or definitions, to sustainability. A short term, strong sustainabilty definition would be appropriate in order to achieve immediate environmental goals such as air, water and land pollution. Restrictions need to be set in order to protect the physical resources that are currently endangered. A weak sustainability definition could be used to plan for long-term, politically feasible sustainable practices that allow room for change in order to adapt to new knowledge.

2.) What are the difficulties associated with making sustainability a policy goal?

It is evident by the multiple definitions of sustainability offerred in the Wheeler text that it is difficult, to say the least, to identify the best methods to approaching comprehensive sustainable practices. This complex concept must be appropriately defined in order to meet the demands raised by the various issues currently plaguing our environment today. Also, it is difficult to gather all of the information associated with a problem in order for policy-makers to make informed and correct decisions.

Because of the relative vagueness associated with sustainable policy-making, it is rather easy to debate the restrictions set by policy-makers by those who are more focused on economic development. Conflict among policy-makers may also arise due to various and conflicting ideas of what sustainability means. Wheeler points out the varying problems policy-makers might associate with sustainability, such as land growth management, automobile dependence, energy and resource use, pollution, inequality and poverty, and sense of community.

3. If you had to design a practical framework to help a state environmental agency achieve ecological, economic and social sustainability, what would that framework look like?

A practical framework for achieving comprehensive sustainability must involve a multitude of political, expert and civil strategies in order to achieve optimal results. Civic engagement must be implemented in order to inform and educate the public on the status and importance of sustainable practices. Political debate must take place in order to ensure that the voice of the public is heard and the democratic process is maintained. This should only take place, however, once the public has been informed on the summaries, findings, and proposed solutions assembled by experts in the various fields of the environment.

Experts should set the parameters on which policy can be debated on in the public. A certain level must be maintained, and it would be the administrators of the agency that would need to define these standards before debate on the specifics of sustainable policy are discussed. This would gaurantee civic participation while ensuring a level of rational via expert analysis.

4. Voters and politicians often want short term results, but many argue that sustainable development calls for a long-term policy plan. How do we take the long term view that sustainable development requires in this political environment?

It is imperative to the sustainable movement that short term results are strived for in order to stress the importance of the deteriorating health of the environment. Policies, however, need to acknowledge the need for consistant re-evaluation to account for the arrival of new knowledge, problems, issues and concerns. As hare as adopting a long-term view in the political environment, it is important that the focus be placed on the immediate and permanent subscription to the mission of sustainable practices. This ensures istantaneous action at the same time as it adopts a long term approach to the sustainable movement.