Governing an ecological transition - Ecological Governance - page 121

4.4.3 A coordinating state
The objective of ecological governance would be to reduce the stresses
that human activities place cumulatively on the functionality of ecosys-
tems. As these stresses stem both from disparate activities and, ulti-
mately, from patterns of consumption distributed throughout society,
the question of how they could be reduced can best be addressed by a
coordinating body which is able to take an overview of: the demands that
economic and social practices make on the natural world; the different
optionsbywhichthesedemandscanbemet;and,basedonthisinfor-
mation, the most effective means by which ecological objectives might be
advanced.
The state, with its position at the centre of government and its respon-
sibility, on which its legitimacy rests, to act for the common good, is well
placed to take on this role of coordinator and overseer. 51 It can, from its
' vantage point, work with regions and localities to explore how the

ecological stresses that they generate can be set on a downwards trajectory
over the timescales that ecologically oriented policies and plans for their
implementation would cover. The state

national '

s role in this respect would be to act
as the nerve centre of the governance system with responsibility for coor-
dinating its disparate parts so that these are able to take collective action
against the shared problem of ecological degradation.
There are two main respects in which a coordinating body would
assist with identifying solutions to problems that extend beyond regional
boundaries. The

'

rst would be to take a critical overview of the ability of
regions to provide resources and meet demands using the ecologically
preferred ways identi ed through the policy-making process. Regions

are blessed with resources to differing extents. The potential ecological
consequences of exploiting themwill also vary. Some regions will be able
to meet needs from their own resources whilst others, and particularly
regions containing urban centres, will make demands that extend far
beyond their borders. The state

rst instance, is to work with
regions and localities as necessary to identify whether resource needs can be
met in ways which allow the progressive reduction of ecological stresses,
and, if so, how this would best be achieved. This would involve drawing
from possibilities for resource provision and reductions in resource con-
sumption that are identi

' s task, in the

ed in local and regional plans.

51 Hirst,

' Democracy and Governance ' ,pp.30 - 1; Eckersley, ' The Green State ' ( 2004 ), p. 6.