Verified Document

Sustainable Design Sustainable Development Searching For Sustainability Essay

Sustainable Design Sustainable Development

Searching for Sustainability

When researchers analyzed the global resource flow trends that emerged between 1980 and 2002 they found a 25% worldwide increase in material extraction and natural resource use (Behren, Giljum, Kovanda, and Niza, 2005). The increased material extraction rates were attributed to growing economies in developing nations like China and the growing size of the consumer class in these countries. When compared to trends in economic activity in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the percent generated by material extraction shrank by 25% during the same study period. The rapid growth in the size of the less resource-intensive service sector was blamed for this finding.

The growing size of the service sector has some advantages in terms of sustainability, including lower resource utilization...

In essence, the growing size of the consumer class in developing nations continues to worsen the outlook for eventually achieving an environmentally-sustainable global economy, despite the growing service sector.
The above research study revealed that material extraction activities are greatest in places like South America and Asia, regions where the consumer class is growing the fastest (Behren, Giljum, Kovanda, and Niza, 2005). China represented 30% of new consumers by 2000 and this growth was at the expense of the environment. Estimates published in 2006 suggested that pollution stripped approximately 3% to 13% from China's GDP, which Behren and colleagues…

Sources used in this document:
References

Behren, Arno, Giljum, Stefan, Kovanda, Jan, and Niza, Samuel. (2007). The material basis of the global economy worldwide patterns of natural resource extraction and their implications for sustainable resource use policies. Ecological Economics, 64, 444-453.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Sustainable Building Promoting Sustainability Through
Words: 2547 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

The local community will know that the library and the campus in general support local businesses and local efforts. They have an excellent opportunity to build community support and rapport through purchasing locally as a part of the sustainability plan. Community Leadership The campus library has many reasons to commit to sustainable building design. Aside from the apparent environmental reasons, the long-term benefits to their financial well-being and contribution to the

Brazil: Sustainable Development in the
Words: 5100 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

" One would think, then, that in light of these glaring disparities, the environmental movements in Brazil would be perceived as indigenous, as indeed they are, fostered by FUNAI (National Foundation of Indians) and "famished peasants." However, they are regarded as more unwanted imports from the "owners of power," in this case, the United States. This is problematical, considering that the environmental movement, "composed of some 800 organizations stirred into being

Leadership Sustainability in Leadership Current Global Occurrences...
Words: 2770 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Leadership Sustainability in Leadership Current global occurrences have posed a great challenge to the continued existence of living things on earth. At this stage in the history of man, humanity is struggling with a lot of challenges; and these challenges are not restricted to region or race. Problems associated with climate change, increased rate of poverty, inconsistent democracy, and lack of justice and fairness in society are common to all nations. At

Local Participation in Tourism Development
Words: 7386 Length: 23 Document Type: Multiple Chapters

Successful sustainable development also requires an evaluation of major trends and problems in the tourism industry rather than focusing on minor new developments that may have localized impact only (Butler, 1998). Taken together, the foregoing indicates that irrespective of the precise definition that is used, sustainable tourism development is based on three main principles, economic, environment and social which are described below: 1. Economic: This principle refers to something that affects

Community Development in Practice the
Words: 4061 Length: 12 Document Type: Case Study

The significant natural deposits in rural areas are water, wildlife, woodlands and the environment as a whole. Rural areas like Bulilima-mangwe in Matabeleland, Mutoko and Kariba have actually had effective ecological plans that have actually brought to life the Communal Areas Management Program for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) which has concentrated on the development of neighborhood organizations particularly in rural areas for the management and sustainable usage of communal wildlife

Agger, A. 2010 . Involving Citizens in Sustainable
Words: 1500 Length: 5 Document Type: Annotated Bibliography

Agger, A. (2010). Involving Citizens in Sustainable Development: Evidence of New Forms of Participation in the Danish Agenda 21 Schemes. Local Environment, 15(6), 541-552. Agger (2010) reiterated that Scandinavian countries hold in high regard the dictates of Agenda 21 and that's why they have been so fast to implement it. This is because these countries have institutional capacity that makes it easy for them to apply the principles of LA21. Agger

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now