Home About IEF Conferences Newsletter Resources PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 8TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM (Thessaloniki, Greece, 15-17 October 2004)

Sustainability has become the major challenge of the 21st Century because the rapidly rising human population, combined with the impacts of modern industrial technologies, are straining planetary limits. From the individual perspective, more than 6 billion of us are consuming more and generating more wastes, whether from over-consumption by the rich or environmental degradation by the poor in a desperate struggle to survive. The environmental threats from climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, water shortages, food insecurity and natural disasters, combined with social and economic instabilities, could compromise our future civilization and well-being. Since we are the cause of the problem, we must take some responsibility for the solution through individual and collective action. This will require a convergence in our disparate lifestyles, with those who are well-off reducing their consumption to free resources so that the poor can raise their standard of living.

Since sustainable development is fundamentally an ethical concept of justice within and between generations, individual action should address not only the material dimension of lifestyles, but also the moral, ethical and spiritual dimensions. What is our responsibility as individuals, and in our families and communities? Education has a fundamental role in preparing each person for action through both scientific knowledge and ethical perspectives. A transformation of values will provide the motivation to lead to action, driving an organic change in society. Leadership in the transition to sustainability must come from the actions of each one of us.

Sustainability
Major challenge of the 21st Century
Population growth, ca. 9 billion
Technology impacts
Planetary limits
Extremes of wealth and poverty
Environmental, economic and social vulnerability

Individual perspective
> 6 billion of us
Excessive consumption
Increasing wastes
Resource shortages
Rising costs
Insecurity
Health risks
Loss of amenities

Environmental threats
Climate change
Natural disasters
Ozone depletion
Biodiversity loss
Water shortages
Land degradation
Food insecurity
Health impacts

Social and economic threats
Terrorism
Fanaticism
Conflict
Isolationism, intolerance
Economic instability
Unbalanced globalization
Poor governance

We are the cause of the problem
As consumers
As citizens
As parents
As teachers

We must be part of the solution
Inform ourselves
Take responsibility
Re-examine our lifestyles
Take action
Involve others

Convergence of lifestyles
Reduce excessive consumption
Increase efficiency
Live within environmental limits
Protect the biosphere, biodiversity
Redistribute resources
Eliminate poverty
Encourage diversity
How?

Sustainable development is an ethical concept
Justice for this generation
And for future generations
Aiming at:
Ecological viability
Economic efficiency
Social equity

Individual action
Material dimension: adopting a sustainable lifestyle
Social dimension: living in a sustainable community
Moral/spiritual dimension: practicing sustainable values

Values for sustainability
Dignity for all: human rights
Unity in diversity
Balance of material and spiritual
Respect for nature
Economic justice
A culture of peace
Responsibility
Spirit of service
Moderation

Education for sustainable development
Preparation for action
Scientific knowledge
Ethical perspectives

Values as the catalyst
Transformed values
Motivation
Individual action
Community solidarity
Transmission of values
Organic change in society

Leadership in the transition to sustainabilty
Must come from the actions of each one of us