ISSUES

THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PLANET (Biophysical environment)

The environmental aspects of sustainable development require that we find a balance between protecting the physical environment and its resources, and using these resources in a way that will allow the earth to continue supporting an acceptable quality of life for human beings (some would say all beings). To achieve this the following overlapping principles need to be followed:

Protect the earth's life support systems (air, water, soil).
Protect and conserve the earth's vitality and diversity.
Use renewable resources no faster than nature can replenish them.
Minimise the use of non-renewable resources through the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Respect the load capacity of ecosystems and minimise pollution and damage to the environment and health of all living creatures.
Encourage the development of circular metabolisms in our industrial and settlement development.
Recognise that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings (from the Earth Charter) or: Follow a holistic approach that recognizes the systemic relationships between humans and the greater community of life.
Conserve the cultural and historic environment (e.g. sacred places and areas of historical importance).
Instill environmental awareness in all sectors of society.

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