Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
human health and environmental perspectives.
138
These allow for time-
tables to be set for their removal from the market and the allocation of
permissions for limited continued use enabling adjustment to with-
drawal. Whilst decision-making under these structures is highly techni-
cal, the legal frameworks under which they operate might be applied
and adapted for the identi
cation of activities that present too high a
threat to ecosystem health and to establishing a timetable and measures
for their reduction or withdrawal. To use the energy example again, an
obvious focus would be to devise a
rm strategy for the reduction of
carbon-emitting energy generation in favour of combinations of energy
sources whose collective impacts are less likely either to reduce systemic
resilience or create conditions that signi
cantly increase risks of a regime
shift.
The concept of
'
need
'
, as I note above, would not, because of the dif
culty
with giving it de
nition, provide a suitable basis for a generally applicable
principle of decision-making on whether activities are ecologically appro-
priate. It can only be given concrete form, because of its indeterminate
nature, through public debate. That said, it would also be important under
a programme of stress reduction to consider if it is essential for
'
human
wants
, as opposed to desired
outcomes, are in a modern society. I argue in
Chapter 3
that re
'
to be met, and, indeed, to explore what
'
needs
'
ection on
how consumption can be reduced should be a primary concern of policy-
making. In addition, the alteration of patterns of living with a view to
alleviating the pressures that these place on natural systems is a key aim of
the system of governance I propose in
Chapters 4
,
5
and
6
.However,
reductions in consumption under this system would be a product both of
discussion and agreement with those whom proposed changes affect, and,
ultimately, of their own willingness to change their lifestyles. The question
of whether current practices are necessary or whether people would be
willing to abandon them should be examined in deliberative processes of
the type called for in
Chapter 6
.
It is hoped that the application of macro-level principles will secure
reductions in the cumulative ecological impacts of human actions. Even
so, as any activities that are conducted may have some erosive effects
on systemic resilience, it is desirable that the focus at the micro-level of
regulation (e.g., planning and development controls) should be on the
138
See for example Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing
of plant protection products on the market [1991] OJ L 230/1. See also the discussion of
Swedish chemicals policy and law at Chapter 3,
Section 3.3.2.3
.
