Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
It goes without saying that the introduction of constraints on eco-
nomic practices and on peoples
lifestyles, which the framework for
governance I present is intended to support, would encounter signi
'
cant
obstacles. There is a high degree of pessimism that state-based reform to
improve the protection of ecosystems would be suf
'
cient to
counteract
the (global) market approaches which currently dominate
to for-
mulate ways in which citizen-consumers can be successfully discouraged
from market-based behaviour patterns
'
or
'
.
1
These anticipated dif
culties
have led some to argue that existing political arrangements must be
discarded if sustainability is to be achieved. However, that would be to
discount the ability of democratically organised political systems to
engender, through open discussion and debate, a transformation in the
public
'
s perception of what is in individual and collective interests and a
corresponding appreciation that these would be better served by
enhanced environmental protection than by the continued provision of
unrestricted access to opportunities for wealth accumulation.
The model of governance I propose is intended to encourage such a shift
in the way people see themselves in relation to the environment. It makes
provision for discourse, cooperation and collaboration between all levels of
government and non-governmental actors. Crucially, it also allows for
collaborative exploration of whether it would be possible for a modern
society to pursue economic and social objectives in ways that would not
result in ecological degradation. This process of experimentation may of
course lead to the conclusion that such coexistence is not possible and that
more fundamental reforms of the society/environment relationship are
required. In these circumstances, a preceding process of deliberation
would at least make it more likely that the need for stronger solutions
would be recognised and accepted. In contrast, it is highly doubtful that
the extreme proposals which have been made for an immediate scaling up
or down of governance would be realisable without conclusive evidence that
an environmental cataclysm would otherwise occur.
'
4.2 Designing a system of ecological governance
A framework for collective decision-making must empower actors possess-
ing appropriate capacities to address the causes of ecological problems if it is
1
M. Stallworthy, Sustainability, Land Use and Environment (London: Cavendish Publishing,
2002), p. 292. See also A. Giddens, The Politics of Climate Change,2nded.(Cambridge:Polity
Press, 2011), pp. 76
-
7.
