Title: A Critique of the Influence of Sustainable Development on Ecological Sustainability: A New Zealand Application
Abstract: This thesis proposes a method to critique whether introducing sustainable development concepts into a planning process enables decision-makers to effectively address ecological sustainability. The method is trialed by assessing the adoption of sustainable development concepts by the central Government of New Zealand.
A Sustainable Development Assessment Framework is proposed, allowing users to judge what kind of sustainable development is being applied and, consequently, how ecological issues are likely to be assessed against economic and social needs. An Ecological Assessment Matrix is also proposed. This identifies the key ecological issues that need to be addressed, and suggests the management responses required to address them. The key issues identified are: ecosystem disturbance, modification and fragmentation; the accumulation and synergistic effects of contaminants; the accumulation of physical change on ecosystems; and biodiversity decline. In combination, the Framework and Matrix assist in making judgments as to whether and how the ecological sustainability component of sustainable development is being addressed.
A critique is then undertaken of the New Zealand Government???s Economic Transformation environmental sustainability actions/action areas and, in more detail, the influence of introducing sustainable development requirements into the transport sector. The critique includes reviewing aspects of resource management and local government legislation. The focus is on the adoption of sustainable development concepts from the year 2000.
Conceptually, ecosystem sustainability is increased by halting or reversing the negative trends associated with the key ecological issues. This contributes to creating robust social-ecological systems. Whether and how sustainable development is addressed is influenced by existing ecosystem resilience (a system???s ability to cope with perturbations, including development), the ability of human society to influence resilience (society???s adaptability), and the capacity to create a fundamentally new system when economic, ecological or social conditions require it (transformability). The critique process contributes to assessing ecosystem resilience and a society???s level of adaptability. It concludes that incorporating sustainable development concepts has enabled decision-makers to address the key terrestrial and freshwater ecological issues in ways that were not available prior to the concepts being adopted.
However, analysis also indicates the guiding rationale for decision-makers remains economic, despite intentions to the contrary. This suggests that existing net negative ecological trends may continue. Indigenous biodiversity is a particular case in point. Relevant guidelines and goals are required to address this situation. Also, while ecological issues could be addressed through the Resource Management Act 1991, other research demonstrates the intent of the Act has not been realized. Contributory reasons include a failure to adequately resource key central…
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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