Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
interests will tend to see themselves as citizens who bear a common
responsibility for maintaining the conditions that provide a foundation
for the quality of everyone
s lives rather than as consumers whose primary
interest lies in the satisfaction of personal preferences.
111
I agree that creating dialogical spaces in which people can debate and
discuss how the places they live in might develop and also how they
themselvesmightaltertheirlifestylesaspartofthisprocessprovidesone
way in which governments can nurture a shared consciousness of the
need for human activities to be conducted within ecological bounds. In
particular, participation through deliberative fora has the potential to
make participants aware of the impacts that unsustainable (or sel
'
shly
parochial) behaviours can have not only on their own communities and
the quality of local environments, but also on others and on the environ-
mental health of distant places.
The reform of structures for governance is also important for creating
a sense amongst participants and non-participants alike that everyone
has a role to play in the process of building a better society and with
addressing matters that are
not because they are the concern
of central government alone, but becausetheyhavethepotentialtoaffect
the different populations of the UK indiscriminately. The creation of
decision-making structures in which there is a transparent and purposive
provision of pathways by which public input can in
'
national
'
uence outcomes
would promote acceptance of decisions as legitimate even amongst non-
participants. Further consideration is given to the role of deliberative
processes and institutional design in the cultivation of new environmental
perspectives and a corresponding willingness by people to change their
own behaviours in
Chapter 6
.
4.6.4 Constructing a sense of sustainable places
I have concentrated in this section on public participation which is organ-
ised by, and conducted through, the institutions of local government.
In making participation at local levels my focus, I am not suggesting that
direct participation in decision-making at higher governmental levels
would be inappropriate. However, I do suggest that involvement with
governance at a level where decisions would have a material effect both
111
Barry,
'
Rethinking Green Politics
'
, pp. 106, 228
-
30; Jacobs,
'
Environmental Valuation
'
,
pp. 217
-
22; Smith,
'
Deliberative Democracy
'
,p.64;Stallworthy,
'
Sustainability, Land
Use
'
,pp.309
-
10.
