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Sustainable Development |
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Definitions ... Various governmental, academic, institutional and professional groups offer somewhat varying definitions for the concept of sustainable development. Most seem to agree however that sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present societies without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs... Put another way, sustainable development seeks to improve the quality of human life on earth now but seeks to accomplish this within a growth framework which deliberately takes into account the ecological capacity of our natural environment. |
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TOOLS KITS & PROGRAMS The basic principles of sustainable development have been well analyzed, discussed and generally agreed upon within many local, state and national as well as international organizations throughout the world. The European Union has been especially active in promoting and seeking to implement many of these fundamental principles in their EU wide policy guidelines as well as individual member state action programs. Also, many US states and numerous academic institutions throughout the world are examining and promoting action programs addressing sustainability. For much of the developing world, however, sustainable development remains more an agreed-upon goal than an active component of public sector or private sector projects and programs. Most decision-makers will now agree that programs to promote environmental protection and public health must be addressed alongside those promoting economic development, poverty reduction, social cohesion and political acceptability. These various factors are essentially intertwined within the concept of sustainability. While there are no quick cures for moving public and private sector decision-makers within a village, town or region toward sustainability, there is now a beginning set of widely-available tools believed useful for assisting stakeholders in moving toward sustainable development programs and projects. Below are links to some of the more useful sustainable development programs and tool kits accessible through the internet. If you know of others, or have comments on those listed here, please email us.
Tool Kits & Program Links
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