Climate Change: Development, Equity and Sustainability

Abstract

Global development is characterized by inequities within and across countries, non-sustainable dependence on resources (such as water, forests and fossil fuels), and the degradation of local and global environments. National and global attention on environmental issues although increasing, remains inadequate, particularly with regard to environmental conservation. According to UNEP (2000), firstly, environmental issues need to be integrated into mainstream decision-making about agriculture, energy, trade, investment, infrastructure, finance, research and development. Secondly, environmental policies need to move away from a strictly sectoral approach to include broader social (equity), economic and environmental considerations in planning. Thirdly, international action to manage global environmental problems such as climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and prevention of desertification (land degradation) need to be pursued with the full participation of all countries.