Background: Produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission, chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland (former Norwegian PM). Brundtland was appointed in 1983, and the establishment of the committee marked the realization by the UN General Assembly (and amongst people in developed countries) that there was a heavy deteriorating of the human environment and natural resources [arising from economic development], following 2 previous international conferences: the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and the 1980 World Conservation Strategy of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Travelled the world for nearly 3 years, listening. At special public hearings, heard from government leaders, scientists, experts, citizens groups, individual farmers, shanty-town residents, young people, industrialists and indigenous/tribal peoples. The document was the culmination of a 900 day international-exercise which catalogued, analysed, and synthesised written submissions and expert testimony from senior government representatives, scientists and experts, research institutes, industrialists, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and the general public held at public hearings throughout the world.

What is Sustainable Development?

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains 2 key concepts: the essential needs of the worlds poor; the limitations of technology and social organization on the environments ability to meet present and future needs (IIp1). Meeting essential needs [of the poor] depends in part on achieving full growth potential...it can be consistent with economic growth,but growth by itself is not enoughsustainable development requires that societies meet human needs byensuring equitable opportunities for all (IIp6). Critical objectives for environment and development policies that follow from the concept of sustainable development include: reviving growth; changing the quality of growth; meeting essential needs for jobs, food, energy, water, and sanitation; ensuring a sustainable level of population; conserving and enhancing the resource base; reorienting technology and managing risk; and merging environment and economics in decision making (IIp28). Sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development; and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations (IIp15). In its broadest sense, the strategy for sustainable development aims to promote harmony among human brings and between humanity and nature (IIp81). Economic growth that is based on policies that sustain and expand the environmental resource base (p3) Growth is necessary to alleviate deepening poverty in the developing world (p3). Environment and development are not separate challenges; they are inexorably linked. Development cannot subsist upon a deteriorating environmental resource base; the environment cannot be protected when growth leaves out of account the costs of environmental destruction (Ip40). Economy is not just about the production of wealth, and ecology is not just about the protection of nature; they are both equally relevant for improving the lot of humankind (Ip42). Hopethat every human beinghas the right to life, and to a decent life (Ip54). The satisfaction of human needs and aspirations is so obviously an objective of productive activity that it may appear redundant to assert its central role in the concept of sustainable development (IIp42). Anthropocentric. There are thresholds that cannot be crossed without endangering the basic integrity of the system [i.e., survival] (Ip23). Sustainable development implies not absolute limits but limitations imposed by the present state of technology and social organization on environmental resources and the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities. Technology and social organization can both be managed and improved to make way for a new era of economic growth (p27). The history of technological developments also suggests that industry can adjust to scarcity through greater efficiency in use, recycling, and substitution (IIp63) [ie., denial of the absolute limits to growth]. Far from requiring the cessation of economic growth, it recognizes that the problems of poverty and underdevelopment cannot be solved unless we have a new era of growth in which developing countries play a large role and reap large benefits (Ip49). Economic growth always brings risk of environmental damagebut policy makers guided by the concept of sustainable development will necessarily work to assure that growing economies remain firmly attached to their ecological roots (Ip50). Sustainable development involves more than growth. It requires a change in the content of growth, to make it less Material- and energy-intensive and more equitable in its impact (IIp35). rapid growth combined with deteriorating income distribution may be worse than slower growth combined with redistribution in favour of the poor (IIp37). Important point that SD does not advocate unbridled growth, but entertains the possibility of slower and more equitable growth. It also implies that the poor get their fair share of the resources required to sustain growth. This would be aided by equitable political systems that secure effective citizen participation in decision making and greater democracy in international decision making (p28). Sustainable development is highly un-ecological. First, the lack of absolute limits to growth. Second, it upholds democratic decision making processes as opposed to the more autocratic radical green prescriptions. Our inability to promote the common interest in sustainable development is often a product of the relative neglect of economic and social justice within and amongst nations (IIp26). The report defends its emphasis on social justice: a lack of social justice leads to a failure to perceive and promote the common interest which leads to actions that aim at individual short-term gain at the expense of collective long-term benefits (by causing pollution). Development not seen in the restricted context of economic growth, but sustained human progress not for a few years, but into the distant future, and encompassing a global scope, including both developing and developed countries (p10). The idea of long-term benefits over short-term benefits is a dominant theme in sustainable development. It is aimed at ensuring that development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (p27). Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future (Ip49). It also requires that those who are more affluent adopt lifestyles within the planets ecological means (p29). It can only be pursued if population size and growth are in harmony with the changing productive potential of the ecosystem (p29). An expansion in numbers can increase the pressure on resources and slow the rise in living standardssustainable development can only be pursued if demographic developments are in harmony with the changing productive potential of the ecosystem (IIp7). Birth rates declined in industrial countries largely because of economic and social development. Rising levels of income and urbanization and the changing role of women all played important roles. Similar processes are now at work in developing countries. These should be recognized and encouraged. Population policies should be integrated with other economic and social development programmes female education, health care, and the expansion of the livelihood base of the poor (IIp51). In these areas there is strong resemblance to ecologist ideas. As in this area: To successfully advance in solving global problems, we need to develop new methods of thinking, to elaborate new moral and value criteria, and, no doubt, new patterns of behavior (Ip45). Many of us live beyond the worlds ecological means, for instance in our patterns of energy use. Perceived needs are socially and culturally determined, and sustainable development required the promotion of values that encourage consumption standards within the bounds of the ecological possible (IIp5). The implication is that the affluent are the ones whose needs outstrip environmental capacity. The poor also damage the environment, but for different reasons they cannot meet even their basic needs, and thus engage in environmentally destructive activity to try to do so. It is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, orientation of technological development and institutional needs are made consistent with future as well as present needs (p30). Suggests a middle ground between ecologism and environmentalism, or a combination of both.

Reasons for Sustainable Development

Humanity's current development trajectory is unsustainable Humanity has enjoyed significant levels of progress and development (life expectancy, literacy, education, food production) (p6). Global economic activity and industrial production have increased exponentially (p13). Industries most heavily reliant on environmental resources, and those that are most polluting have grown the most rapidly. Technological developments have introduced new environmental risks, including new forms of pollution (p14). The world's population is expanding, expected to double in the next century and they will rely on the same environment, which cannot sustain them. (p10). The UN projects that world population will stabilise at 8-14bn in the next century, with 90% of the growth in cities. (p13) Ecological interactions do not respect the boundaries of individual ownership and political jurisdiction (IIp17). Traditional social systems recognized some aspects of this interdependence (IIp18)[but] with this surge of technical progress, the growing 'enclosure' of common lands, the erosion of common rights in forests and other resources, and the spread of commerce and production for the market, the responsibilities for decision making are being taken away from both groups and individuals (IIp19). Each is unwilling to assume that others will behave in this socially desirable fashion, and hence all continue to pursue narrow self-interest. Communities or governments can compensate for this isolation through laws, education, taxes, subsidies, and other methods. Well-enforced laws and strict liability legislation can control harmful side effects. Most important, effective participation in decision-making processes by local communities can help them articulate and effectively enforce their common interest (IIp20). i.e., there is a free rider problem because modern social systems do not recognize/factor into their considerations the damage of individual actions on the common interest (i.e., interdependence). It is a problem of self-interestedness, but created by social arrangements which narrow peoples considerations. There is more urgency for growth. (p14) Countries, especially developing countries, face enormous economic pressure, both domestically and internationally, to overexploit their environmental resource base (p18). The growth in economic interaction between nations amplifies the wider consequences of national decisions (Ip4). The pace of development has however drawn too quickly and too heavily on already overdrawn environmental resource accounts, and threatens to bankrupt them (p25). Until recently, such interventions [human interventions in natural systems in the course of development] were small scale and their impact limited. Todays intervetions are more drastic in scale and impact, and more threatening to life-support systems both locally and globally. This need not happen. At a minimum, sustainable development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on earth (IIp9). The developments have also produced failures in development and failures in the management of the human environment that will exceed peoples' ability to cope with them (p6). Todays environmental challenges arise both from the lack of development and from the unintended consequences of some forms of economic growth (Ip9). There is less capacity to minimise damaging side effects of development. (p14). Environmental, development and energy crises have coalesced into global crises with cross-sector effects and which are of great public concern (p11). These [environmental] pressures are reflected in the rising incidence of disasters (Ip15). Such disasters claim most of their victims among the impoverished in poor nations (Ip16). Economic development is unsustainable if it increases vulnerability to crises (IIp38). Development has been both inegalitarian and unsustainable. Development failures: increased number of people lacking sufficient basic necessities (e.g., food, education, sanitation, safe living environments, fuel). Widening gap between rich and poor nations (p6). Present development trends leave increasing numbers of people poor and vulnerable (p10). "Poverty is a major cause and effect of global environmental problems." (p8) Sustainable Development goes hand-in-hand with the reduction of world poverty and international inequality (p8). The resources gap between developing and industrial nations is widening (p17). There are increasing numbers of hungry people (Ip10) and people with poor living conditions and lack of access to basic amenities (Ip11). The Earth is one but the world is not. We all depend on one biosphereYeteach country, strives for survival and prosperity with little regard for its impact on others (Ip1). The trend is towards a decline in multilateralism and an assertion of national dominance (Ip38). The failures we need to correct arise both from poverty and from the short-sighted way in which we have often pursued prosperityPoor people are forced to overuse environmental resources to survive from day to day, and their impoverishment of their environment further impoverishes themThe prosperity attained in some parts of the worldsecured through farming, forestry, and industrial practicesbeing profit and progress only over the short term (Ip3).[footnoteRef:1] Poverty itself pollutes the environmentthose who are poor and hungry will often destroy their immediate environment to survive (Ip8). Poverty reduces people's capacity to use resources in a sustainable manner; it intensifies pressure on the environment (IIp29). Pressure on resources increases when people lack alternatives (IIp56). Most of the worlds poorest countries depend for increasing export earnings on tropical agricultural products that are vulnerable to fluctuating or declining terms of trade. Expansion can only be achieved at the price of ecological stress [and this is perpetuated by]disadvantageous terms of technology transfer, by protectionism, and by declining financial flows to those countries that most need international finance (Ip13). Within countries, poverty has been exacerbated by the unequal distribution of land and other assets (Ip14). Even the narrow notion of physical sustainability implies a concern for social equity between generations, a concern that must logically be extended to equity within each generation (IIp3). i.e., intergenerational equity [1: As a consequence of this period of slow growth in the world economy together with rising debt service obligations and a decline in the inflow of finance many developing countries have faced severe economic crises (Ip36). The heaviest burden in international economic adjustment has been carried out by the worlds poorest people. The consequence has been a considerable increase in human distress and the overexploitation of land and natural resources to ensure survival in the short term.]

Strong socialist tones, especially in the critique of wealth/resource inequality. Seems to suggest (esp Ip3) that poor people might be responsible for environmental damage, but they are less accountable for it because they are being exploited by the rich. Many problems of resource depletion and environmental stress arise from disparities in economic and political power (IIp16). The enforcement of common interest often suffers because areas of political jurisdiction and areas of impact do not coincideNo supranational authority exists to resolve such issues, and the common interest can only be articulated through international cooperation (IIp22) [International anarchy is partly to blame for the inability to centrally regulate environmental impacts]. If economic power and the benefits of trade were more equally distributed, common interests would be generally recognized. But the gains from trade are unequally distributed (IIp23). The industrial world dominates the rule-making of some key international bodies (p17). International economic relationships perpetuate poverty and ecological damage in developing countries: they face tremendous economic pressures both internationally and domestically to overexploit their environmental resource base through export of natural resources and engaging in environmentally pollutive industries (e.g. agriculture, forestry, energy production and mining) (p18). The global economic system takes out more from poor continents (e.g. Africa) than it puts in, partly through trade barriers (p19). The international response to the Latin Americas debt crisis (i.e., structural adjustment) has required poor countries to accept growing poverty while exporting growing amounts of scarce resources (p20). Developing countries have suffered declining per capita incomes (p21). Clearly resembles the dependency critique The industrial world has already used much of the planets ecological capital (p17). Environmental crises and scarcity of resources have fuelled political unrest and international tension (p22). Emphasis on military expenditure and arms races have comes at the expense of societies development and poverty alleviation efforts. The development of potentially planet-destroying nuclear weapons systems creates a great potential threat to plant and animal ecosystems. (p23-24). Perhaps the greatest threat to the Earths environmentis the possibility of nuclear war, increased daily by the continuing arms race and its spread to outer space (Ip33). A pacifist position Environmental failures: accelerating desertification, destruction of forests, acidification, global warming due to burning of fossil fuels, ozone depletion. Where economic growth has led to improvements in living standards, it has sometimes been achieved in ways that are globally damaging in the long term (Ip9). Many of the products and technologies that have gone into this improvement are raw material- and energy-intensive and entail a substantial amount of pollution (Ip18). The use of fossil fuels has grown nearly thirtyfold, and industrial production has increased more than fiftyfold (Ip19). Environmental stresses also arise form more traditional forms of productionMassive damsimpound a large proportion of the river flow (Ip20). These changes have a negative impact on human development. They impact agricultural production, threaten urban development (flood low-lying cities), disrupt national economies, create health risks (cancer due to ozone depletion), disrupt the food chain and pollute water (reducing human access to food and water) (p7). "Many forms of development erode the environmental resources upon which they must be based, and environmental degradation can undermine economic development." (p8) Ecology and economy are becoming more interwoven at local and global levels. (p15). Impoverishing the resource base can impoverish other areas as well (side-effects; e.g., deforestation by highland farmers causes flooding on lowland farms). (p16). Environmental stresses are linked one to another (Ip41). Environmental degradation can dampen or reverse economic development (Ip34).

We need the resources to sustain not just this, but also the coming generations (p4) We have depleted our environmental resource accounts too quickly. We are borrowing environmental capital from future generations with no intention or prospect of repaying. Our children will inherit the losses (p25). Present profligacy is rapidly closing the options for future generations (p26). We act as we do because we can get away with it: future generations cannot challenge our decisions (p25).

How to implement Sustainable Development

The report provides not a detailed blueprint, but an urgent notice, and a pathway to increase spheres of international environmental cooperation (p4)

Sustainable development must rest on political will, because painful choices need to be made (p30). Major institutional development and reform are required, on the part of all countries, rich or poor. Poor/small countries who have limited managerial capacity must be aided (p39). Governments must close institutional gaps change themselves to face interdependent and integrated challenges which require comprehensive approaches and popular participation (p31). The detachment of growth from environmental concerns in government: Presently, institutions responsible for managing resources are institutionally separated from those responsible for managing the economy. This must change (p32). Environment ministries and agencies must also not merely be responsible for cleanup and after-the-fact repair of damage. They must make bodies whose policy actions degrade the environment (e.g., transportation, energy, forestry, agricultural, industrial bodies) responsible for ensuring that their policies prevent that degradation (p34). These ministries are often too concerned with production and growth (p36). If not, the presence of these environment agencies only serve to give the government and citizens the false impression that the environmental resource base is protected (p35). The ecological dimensions of policy should be considered at the same time as the economic, trade, energy, and others (p38). Economics and ecology must be completely integrated in decision making and lawmaking processes not just to protect the environment, but also to protect and promote development (Ip32). Economic and ecological concerns are not necessarily in opposition.. But the compatibility of environmental and economic objectives is often lost in the pursuit of individual or group gains, with little regard for the impacts on others, with a blind faith in science's ability to find solutions, and in ignorance of the distant consequences of today's decisions (IIp73). International cooperation to manage ecological and economic interdependence needs to be strengthened, and declining confidence in international organisations must be remedied (p33). International agencies concerned with development lending, trade regulation, agricultural development etc must take the environmental effects of their work into account (p37). Environmental and economic problems are linked to many social and political factorsnew approaches must involve programmes of social development, particularly to improve the position of women in society, to protect vulnerable groups, and to promote local participation in decision making (Ip43).

Specific policy recommendations directions and recommendations

Population and human resources (p41-46) In many parts of the world, population growth outstrips reasonable expectations of improvement in living standards. While numbers must be controlled, provision of resources must also become more equitable (i.e, where lacking it must increase). Education must also increase to enable people to better manage these resources. Restrictions to population growth comes up against the protection of peoples (esp. womens) rights to self-determination and rights to plan their family size. Governments need to pursue demographic goals through long-term multifaceted population policies and campaigns to motivate citizens to support the policy; resources for family planning, including education, contraceptives and necessary services must be provided Individuals and nations must be empowered to cope with rapid social, environmental and developmental changes through the sharing of technical knowledge and understanding, while being encouraged to share resources globally. Indigenous peoples should be given rights and a decisive voice over resource development in their areas to reduce its disruption to their lifestyles.

Food Security (p47-51) There is more than enough food to meet world needs, but food is often unavailable where it is needed. Food producers in developed countries are highly subsidized, and thus overuse soil and chemicals, causing environmental damage. Food producers in developing countries are under-supported, being given inadequate technology, few economic incentives and being pushed onto marginal land. To encourage producers in developing countries, the terms of trade need to be turned in their favour. Industrialised nations must reduce their surplus production and adopt ecologically sound farming practices to reduce unfair competition with nations that may have real comparative advantages. Again, dependency critique Purchasing power of the poor must be increased through land reforms, policies to protect vulnerable subsistence farmers/landless people and integrated rurual development to increase work opportunities. Again, quite socialist

Species and Ecosystems: Resources for Development (p52-57) Growing scientific evidence shows that species are disappearing at unprecedented rates. Species diversity is essential for the normal functioning of the ecosystems and biosphere. Wild species hold genetic material that has to potential to improve crop species, create new drugs and raw materials for industry. There are also moral/cultural/aesthetic reasons for conserving wild beings. {The loss of plant and animal species can greatly limit the options of future generations (IIp13).} The problem must first be established on the political agenda. Governments can reform forest revenue systems and concessions to develop tropical forests and other reservoirs of biological diversity, making their use more long-term and efficient while curtailing deforestation and generating revenue. Much larger areas must be given protected status in the long term, the increased opportunities for development will outweigh the costs of conservation. International development agencies must pay attention to species conservation. Governments should try to develop a Species Convention as well as international financial arrangements to support it. Note that significant emphasis is placed on governments, probably because this is a UN document (but does this mean that individuals are neglected; or that individual actions are seen in terms of government empowerment and constraints?) This has been created: CITES/Washington Convention (and it was done even before the report was produced???)

Energy: Choices for Environment and Development (p58-65) A safe and sustainable energy pathway is crucial, but has not been found yet. Industrialisation, agricultural development and rapidly growing populations in developing nations promise to increase energy requirements significantly up to five times current usage. This is unsustainable, especially if energy continues to be derived mostly from non-renewable fossil fuels. Even a doubling of energy output would cause excessive global warming and acidification. Thus, economic growth must become less energy intensive, and national energy efficiency strategies are of paramount importance modern appliances can be redesigned to use less energy, and often in a cost-effective way. Yet energy efficiency is not an end, it is only a stopgap measure to buy time while we develop alternative clean energy. {But with the increase in population and the rise in incomes, per capita consumption of energy and materials will go up in developing countries, as it has to if essential needs are to be met (Ip22).} This idea is more environmentalist in nature, because it does not deal with reducing energy requirements by reducing growth and needs, but instead focuses on improving clean energy generation to meet the needs. Nuclear energy has become more widely used, but its costs and risks have also become more apparent, sparking controversy and different positions among countries. Nuclear power is only justifiable if there are solid solutions to unsolved problems. Research should therefore focus on ecologically viable alternative energy, as well as making nuclear energy safer. Renewable energy can be made viable, but only if coordinated research and development is undertaken, and sufficient funding is provided. Developing countries must be assisted. Fuelwood/plant fuels are a main source of energy in the developing world. Wood-poor nations must reorganize their agricultural sectors to meet this need. Market forces alone cannot change the global energy use pattern governments need to influence energy pricing to encourage energy-saving measures. New mechanisms for encouraging consumer-producer dialogue over oil prices should be explored. Political will and institutional cooperation is necessary.

Industry: Producing More with Less (p66-70) Anti-pollution technology can mitigate the effects of rapidly expanding manufacturing output, and make industries more cost-effective and resource-efficient. Again, the idea of growth and expanded manufacturing output is not questioned. Furthermore, the report explicitly justifies it: Many essential human needs can only be met through goods and services provided by industry. Sustainable development must be powered by a continuing flow of wealth from industry. Assistance and information must be provided by industrialised nations and TNCs to maximize technology use. Not enough is being done to adapt recent innovations in materials technology, energy conservation, information technology, and biotechnology to the needs of developing countries (IIp66). The export of hazardous industrial and agricultural chemicals which are developed as a result of new technology must be more tightly controlled. There is a convention Stockholm

The Urban Challenge (p71-74) The proportion of city-dwelling population is increasing the capacity to produce and manage urban infrastructure, services/facilities and shelter must keep pace (currently, they have not, and there is overcrowding and an urban crisis). An ecological alternative would be to reverse urban migration Governments need to develop explicit settlements strategies to guide urbanization, spreading it out. This includes tax, food pricing, transportation, health, industrialization changes. Good city management requires decentralization of funds to local authorities, as well as close cooperation with neighbourhood groups and the urban poor.

International Cooperation and Institutional Reform

The systemic features operate not merely within but also between nations (Ip44). Many environmental economy links also operate globallyno nation alone can devise policies to deal effectively with the financial, economic and ecological costs of the agricultural and trade policies of other nations (Ip45).

The role of the international economy (p75-81) Ecosystem sustainability and equitable exchange are both necessary for a beneficial system of international economic exchange. Poverty and low growth must be alleviated by eliminating depressed commodity prices, protectionism, debt burdens, and low flows of development finance. The World Bank, IMF and International Development Association bears a heavy responsibility to make this happen. Again, a dependency critique. Its clear that the report has two main goals: eliminate poverty and reduce environmental damage. Ecologism seems more concerned with the latter only (it acknowledges that the poor suffer more from environmental damage, but places less emphasis on poverty alleviation) MNCs can contribute to this, but developing countries must be able to negotiate with them on better terms. More effective cooperation in the international economic system is necessary to eliminate world poverty.

Managing the commons (p82-85) Efforts to manage the global commons oceans, outer space, Antarctica are problematized by traditional forms of national sovereignty (e.g., sea boundaries). UNCLOS was an ambitious attempt to manage the oceans and all nations should ratify it ASAP, as well as strengthen fisheries agreements, and regulate hazardous waste dumping at sea. There should be a space regime to limit the production of space debris through orbiting and testing weapons in space. The Antarctica Treaty system is too limited in both participation and scope.

Peace, Security, Development and the Environment (p86-88) Environmental stress must be factor into considerations of threats to national security governments and international agencies should assess military spending and national security requirements against the need to reduce poverty and restore a ravaged environment. The most important need is for improved relations among major nuclear powers and agreement on tighter control of WMDs, especially those with grave environmental costs.

Institutional and legal change (p89-100) Getting at the sources: The environment must be integrated into the considerations of national agencies, regional organisations and international agencies. Dealing with the effects: Governments should strengthen environmental protection and resource management agencies, especially developing countries; the UN Environmental Programme should also be strengthened. Assessing Global Risks: The ability to identify, assess and report in risks of irreversible environmental damage and their impact on the world community must be strengthened, at both national and international (i.e., UNEP) levels; NGOs, scientific bodies and industry groups should also cooperate to provide independent assessment of these risks where issues are politically sensitive. Making informed choices: the public, NGOs, the scientific community and industry should be more involved in development planning, decision-making and project implementation. Providing the legal means: Governments need to fill in major gaps in existing national and international law related to the environment; a universal Declaration on environmental protection and sustainable development, and a convention should be prepared, and environment and resource management dispute settlement mechanisms should be strengthened. Investing in our future: Multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank, regional development banks, the IMF and bilateral aid agencies should make a fundamental commitment to sustainable development; proposals for securing additional revenue from the use of international commons and natural resources should be seriously considered by governments. Carbon tax is an example

A call for action (p101-109) In the course of the past century, human numbers and technology have gained the power to radically alter planetary systems. Major unintended changes are occurring in the environment beyond the ability of scientific disciplines and political and economic institutions to adapt and cope. This has created deep concern, and a desire for these issues to be placed on the political agenda. The onus for action lies with no one group of nations all nations would suffer from environmental damage, and thus all nations have a role to play in changing trends, as well as righting an increasingly inegalitarian international economic system. { Many of the risks stemming from our productive activity and the technologies we use cross national boundaries; many are globalthe risks are shared by all, rich and poormosthave little influence on the decision processes that regulate these activities (Ip31).} In the next few decades, it is crucial for us to break out of past patterns old approaches will only increase instability. Yet, the Commission realizes that this drastic reorientation of approaches to development and environmental protection is beyond the reach of current decision-making structures and institutional arrangements: while it has tried to be realistic in its recommendations, it has also tried to keep options open for future generations. Active follow up of this report is imperative the UN must transform this report into the UN Programme on Sustainable Development. Regional follow-up and an international conference could review progress, set benchmarks and maintain human progress. Foremost, peoples attitudes must change, and this is only possible through a vast campaign of education, debate and public participation which must start now. {Little time is available for corrective actionin many cases we already known enough to warrant action (Ip32)} The security, well-being and survival of the planet depend on such changes, now.