Sustainability: a perspective from the south

Abstract

The widespread acceptance of the sustainability concept has not been matched by changes in attitudes and behaviours. The cause might lie in the failure to distinguish a new emerging paradigm from yet another plan to 'solve' the current environmental crisis. Stressing some ethical implications, the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development are reviewed. Perspectives on applying these ideas to developing countries are discussed. It is concluded that these should not be following the same resource-intensive development paths taken decades ago by today's developed nations. Instead, humbler but also more socially and environmentally acceptable alternatives must be found. For this task, disinterested help from Northern countries will be needed and most appreciated.

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