'Sustainable Development'

Sustainable development is the current ‘catch-cry’ and a ‘fashion statement’ of governments, business, academics, and non-government

organisations.

The concept, developed over the last 35 years, has undergone many changes of personality and perception.

What do we understand it to mean?

'Sustainable Development'

Pacific Island Case Study: Human Waste Disposal‘the solution to pollution is dilution’

Pre World War II

Geographic Characteristics:Low population numbers, dispersed in small extended family village unitsSettlement confined to coastal fringe of islandVillagers wade into the lagoon to defecate

Cultural Characteristics:Melanesian social and cultural morality still very strongSome European influence in the past through colonial or missionary contacts

Environmental Characteristics:Highly dispersed waste, readily broken down and dilutedMinimal impact, no obvious site of waste ‘build up’

During World War II

Cultural Characteristics:Japanese occupation for 3-5 years, viewed Melanesians as ‘uncivilised’Melanesians forced into labouring and subservient rolesSome Melanesians actively worked against occupation forces 

Environmental Characteristics: Concentration of waste lessens the opportunity for faecal breakdown, leading to build up of wasteLoss of ‘amenity’ as the area surrounding the communal shelters becomes smelly and putridIncreased eutrophication of the immediate surrounds affecting marine life in the immediate vicinity [and migratory forms that pass through?]

Geographic Characteristics:Each village required to build a raised platform out to an enclosed shelterWhole community use the one facility Disposal of waste from village concentrated in one localised area

Post World War II

Cultural Characteristics:USA ‘manages’ the island as part of one it’s ‘Trust Territories’ having liberated them from Japanese occupationViewed the Melanesians as ‘undeveloped’, requiring benevolent assistance 

Geographic Characteristics:Villages sewered and all connected to central treatment plantEffluent disposed via a single ocean outfall pipe that deposited treated sewerage outside the reef

Environmental Characteristics:Waste treated prior to disposalThe entire volume of waste from the Island disposed from a single locationTreated waste [in large volumes] collects outside the reef and on severe storm days is swept back into the lagoon side of the Island reef

Sustainable Development and Cultural Carrying Capacities

Problem of definition

What is Sustainable Development?

1970’sThe world's attention began to focus on sustainable development. There was great debate on what it actually meant, and numerous interpretations. In the early days the definition of sustainable development was based on the 'wise management of resources'. Over time and analysis, this was felt to be too narrow.

1980’sThe concept of sustainable development evolved to encompass three major points of view: economic, social and environmental, and came to mean: 'improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems'. 

Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals that can be supported by a given area ... the optimum numbers a resource can sustain (upper limits) without the environment deteriorating

What is Sustainable Development?

What is Sustainable Development?

1990’sMore recently sustainable development has broadened to be one "that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Bruntland Report, 1987) - the concept of 'intra-generational equity'.

Sustainable Development – Competing ImperativesLow Priority ENVIRONMENTAL EMPHASIS

High PriorityLow

Priority

ECONOMICEMPHASIS

High Priority

• Nuclear power

• Wind power

• Public transport

• Private cars

• Whaling

• Melbourne 2030 [high density living]

• National Parks [Kakadu]

• Suburban homes

FIN