SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Mee Kam NgMee Kam Ng

Centre of Urban Planning & Environmental Centre of Urban Planning & Environmental ManagementManagement

The University of Hong KongThe University of Hong Kong

5 December 20065 December 2006

ContentsContents

• Ice-breaking gameIce-breaking game• Why sustainable development?Why sustainable development?• What is sustainable development?What is sustainable development?• Sustainable development: key milestonesSustainable development: key milestones• Sustainable development at different Sustainable development at different

geographical scalegeographical scale– From individual to global– China– Hong Kong

• ConclusionConclusion

Ice-breaking gameIce-breaking game

Sustainable developmentSustainable development

Social

Environmental

Economic

1. Do you reduce, reuse & recycle1. Do you reduce, reuse & recycle ？？YesNo

2. Do you use sustainable mode 2. Do you use sustainable mode of transportation such as of transportation such as public transport and public transport and walkingwalking ？？ Yes

No

3. Have you participated in 3. Have you participated in community activitiescommunity activities ？？ Yes

No

4. Do you have a good relationship 4. Do you have a good relationship with your neighbourwith your neighbour ？？

Yes

No

5. Are you concerned about 5. Are you concerned about heritage conservationheritage conservation ？？

Yes

No

6. Do you appreciate local character6. Do you appreciate local character ？？

Yes

No

7. Do you support local economy7. Do you support local economy ？？

Yes

No

Why Sustainable Why Sustainable Development?Development?

Figures:Figures:• Carbon dioxide during 400 000 yearsCarbon dioxide during 400 000 years• Projected changes in global temperatureProjected changes in global temperature• Global fossil carbon emissionsGlobal fossil carbon emissions• CO2 concentration, temperature and sea CO2 concentration, temperature and sea

levellevel• Comparison between GDP and CO2 Comparison between GDP and CO2

emissions for selected countriesemissions for selected countries• World primary energy use and carbon World primary energy use and carbon

dioxide emissions by region from 1971 to dioxide emissions by region from 1971 to 19981998

The Development Gap

0

20

40

60

80

100

% of world

population

% of world

GNP

% of world

trade

% of

commercial

lending

Share of resources

%

OECD

Middle-income

Low income

The Development GapThe Development Gap

OECDOECD

((19%19% population) population)

Middle-incomeMiddle-income

Countries Countries

((60%60% population) population)

Low-income Low-income CountriesCountries

((21%21% population) population)

• 50%50% global grain global grain productionproduction

• 60%60% of artificial of artificial fertilizersfertilizers

•30-40%30-40% foodstuffs foodstuffs • 500-800 million500-800 million chronically chronically undernourishedundernourished

• Limited access to Limited access to fresh waterfresh water

• 92%92% private cars private cars 2 billion2 billion persons with no household electricity or persons with no household electricity or telephonetelephone

• 75%75% of energy use of energy use

• 80%80% of iron & stell of iron & stell

• 81%81% of chemical of chemical productionproduction

• 86%86% of copper & of copper & aluminiumaluminium

• Around Around 10-15%10-15% of of world energy and world energy and industrial productionindustrial production

• Mainly meeting Mainly meeting energy needsby energy needsby cutting fuel wood at cutting fuel wood at higher than higher than replacement levelsreplacement levels

• 100 million100 million without without adequate fueladequate fuel

Christie, I and D. Warburton, 2001, p.7, Table 1.1

• Since 1971, Since 1971, global energy useglobal energy use has increased by has increased by 70% and is expected to rise 2% per year in the next 70% and is expected to rise 2% per year in the next 15 years. This will increase greenhouse gases by 15 years. This will increase greenhouse gases by 50% over current levels. 50% over current levels.

• Increased atmospheric nitrogen from fossil fuel Increased atmospheric nitrogen from fossil fuel combustion and farming of root crops, which combustion and farming of root crops, which release nitrogen, has intensified the occurrence in release nitrogen, has intensified the occurrence in of of acid rainacid rain

• Natural resourcesNatural resources (e.g. soils, forests, fish aquatic (e.g. soils, forests, fish aquatic habitats) continue to decrease in quantity due to habitats) continue to decrease in quantity due to fires, pollution and human influence fires, pollution and human influence

Unsustainable Exploitation of ResourcesUnsustainable Exploitation of Resources

• Loss of biological diversityLoss of biological diversity has resulted from has resulted from human activities such as deforestation and human activities such as deforestation and pollution. pollution.

• 40% of40% of our global economy is dependent on our global economy is dependent on biologically derived products.biologically derived products.

• 17 million hectares17 million hectares of tropical forest destroyed of tropical forest destroyed each yeareach year

• 70-100 70-100 species disappear every dayspecies disappear every day• Water, soil and air have been strained due to Water, soil and air have been strained due to

high pollution levels. high pollution levels.

Unsustainable Exploitation of ResourcesUnsustainable Exploitation of Resources

What is Sustainable What is Sustainable Development?Development?

Key elements of sustainable development and Key elements of sustainable development and interconnectionsinterconnections

• Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChanSource: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changege

http://www.ipcc.ch/present/graphics.htmhttp://www.ipcc.ch/present/graphics.htm

Principles of Sustainable DevelopmentPrinciples of Sustainable Development

• Ecologically ethical utilization of natural rEcologically ethical utilization of natural resourcesesources

• Inter- and intra-generational equityInter- and intra-generational equity• Precautionary principlePrecautionary principle • Subsidiarity principleSubsidiarity principle • A sustainable processA sustainable process • Partnership among stakeholdersPartnership among stakeholders

Sustainable Development: Sustainable Development: key milestoneskey milestones

• 1962 – Silent Spring (by Rachel Cars1962 – Silent Spring (by Rachel Carson)on)

• 1969 – Friends of the Earth1969 – Friends of the Earth• 1970 – Celebrate Earth Day 20041970 – Celebrate Earth Day 2004• 1970 – The limits to growth1970 – The limits to growth• 1972 – Only one Earth1972 – Only one Earth• 1972 – United Nations Environment P1972 – United Nations Environment P

rogrammerogramme• 1976 – UN-HABITAT1976 – UN-HABITAT• 1983 – Our common future1983 – Our common future

The Intergovernmental Panel on The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by WMO and UNEP to established by WMO and UNEP to assess scientific, technical and socio- assess scientific, technical and socio- economic information relevant for the economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It is open to adaptation and mitigation. It is open to all Members of the UN and of WMO.all Members of the UN and of WMO.

Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change

• 1992- Earth Summit: Is development 1992- Earth Summit: Is development sustainable?sustainable?

• 1993- UN Commission on Sustainabl1993- UN Commission on Sustainable Developmente Development

• 1997 – Kyoto Protocol1997 – Kyoto Protocol• Earth Summit 2002: Building partnersEarth Summit 2002: Building partners

hips for sustainable developmenthips for sustainable development

Sustainable development Sustainable development at different geographical scaleat different geographical scale

From individual to globalFrom individual to global

Do you reduce, reuse & recycleDo you reduce, reuse & recycle ？？

Are you using sustainable mode Are you using sustainable mode of transportation such as public of transportation such as public transport and walkingtransport and walking ？？

Sustaining the EnvironmentSustaining the EnvironmentWhat?What? Who?Who? What level?What level?

‘‘Lasting Lasting value’ value’ economy: economy: low waste, low waste, low carbon low carbon emissions, emissions, high value, high value, high high innovationinnovation

• International International agenciesagencies

• Governments Governments at different at different levelslevels

• Private sectorPrivate sector• WorkersWorkers• NGOsNGOs• ConsumersConsumers

• Changing Changing international international governancegovernance

• Changing Changing market market framework framework (different levels)(different levels)

• Tax good not Tax good not bad (national/ bad (national/ local)local)

Have you participated in Have you participated in community activitiescommunity activities ？？

Do you have a good relationship with youDo you have a good relationship with your neighbourr neighbour ？？

Sustaining the CommunitySustaining the Community

What?What? Who?Who? What level?What level?

• The Charter The Charter of the United of the United NationsNations

• The The Universal Universal Declaration Declaration of Human of Human RightRight

• How to How to organise organise local local activities?activities?

• GovernmentGovernment• NGOsNGOs• Business!Business!• Local Local

communitiescommunities

• Supranational Supranational democratic democratic communitiescommunities

• National National government’s government’s supportsupport

• Participatory Participatory democracy at the democracy at the local levellocal level

Are you concerned about heritage Are you concerned about heritage conservationconservation ？？

Do you appreciate local characterDo you appreciate local character ？？

Do you support local economyDo you support local economy ？？

Sustaining the EconomySustaining the Economy

What?What? Who?Who? What level?What level?

• CommunityCommunity-based -based economyeconomy

• Bulk-Bulk-buying buying schemesschemes

• Community Community currencycurrency

• New New products? products?

• NGOsNGOs• Local Local

communitiescommunities• Financial Financial

sector? Trust sector? Trust fund for fund for socially socially responsible responsible investmentinvestment

• Local levelLocal level• Needs Needs

legislative legislative support?support?

• Could be Could be international!international!

Sustainable development in ChinaSustainable development in China

China’s Agenda 21China’s Agenda 21

• 1978 Open Door Policy1978 Open Door Policy, rapid industrialization & ur, rapid industrialization & urbanization banization serious environmental problemsserious environmental problems

• June 1992: UN Conference on Environment and DeJune 1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeirovelopment in Rio de Janeiro

• July 1992: the State Development Planning CommiJuly 1992: the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) & the State Science & Technology Cossion (SDPC) & the State Science & Technology Commission (SSTC)mmission (SSTC) were appointed as the leading in were appointed as the leading institutions for co-ordinating all ministries, departmestitutions for co-ordinating all ministries, departments and non-government organizations to work tognts and non-government organizations to work together to formulate ether to formulate China’s China’s Agenda 21—’White PapeAgenda 21—’White Paper on China’s Population, Environment and Developr on China’s Population, Environment and Development in the 21st Century’ ment in the 21st Century’

China’s Agenda 21China’s Agenda 21

• SDPCSDPC: socio-economic planning: socio-economic planning

• SSTCSSTC: research and development: research and development

• ACCA21ACCA21: The Administrative Centre : The Administrative Centre for China’s Agenda 21—secretariat set for China’s Agenda 21—secretariat set up in May 1994up in May 1994

• March 25, 1994: March 25, 1994: China’s Agenda 21China’s Agenda 21,, the first national agenda 21 formulated the first national agenda 21 formulated after the 1after the 1stst Earth Summit Earth Summit

China’s Agenda 21China’s Agenda 21• Meaning of sustainable development:Meaning of sustainable development:

– Economy: material foundation; cornerstone of sustainable development; poverty alleviation; improving living standards of the people; protection of the environment

– Rational utilization of natural resources and environmental protection

– The planned economy needs to be transformed into a socialist market economy

– Change of attitudes and behaviour: new awareness, concepts and knowledge of SD

• Agenda 21Agenda 21: a guide document for drawing up : a guide document for drawing up medium & long-term plans on socio-economimedium & long-term plans on socio-economic development: Five Year Plans & sectoral plc development: Five Year Plans & sectoral plans at different levelsans at different levels

Strategic SD Concepts:Strategic SD Concepts:• To promote the shift in economic structure & the mode oTo promote the shift in economic structure & the mode o

f economic development: improving quality of developmf economic development: improving quality of development in growthent in growth

• Relying on science and technology: integrating science, Relying on science and technology: integrating science, education & the economyeducation & the economy

• To promote moral & ethical development & to strengthen To promote moral & ethical development & to strengthen democracy & legal systemsdemocracy & legal systems

• Control population growthControl population growth• Policies and laws on utilization & protection of natural rePolicies and laws on utilization & protection of natural re

sourcessources• Controlling pollution & preventing soil erosionControlling pollution & preventing soil erosion• ‘‘Help the poor’ programmesHelp the poor’ programmes• National policy, legal system, decision making and manaNational policy, legal system, decision making and mana

gement coordination mechanisms for SDgement coordination mechanisms for SD

SD & Development Planning: SD & Development Planning: Institution & ProcessInstitution & Process• SD strategies were incorporated into tSD strategies were incorporated into t

he he FYPsFYPs, various , various cross-sectoral and scross-sectoral and sectoral plansectoral plans and and local plans local plans (Local A(Local Agenda 21 Pilot Programme, Priority Prgenda 21 Pilot Programme, Priority Programme and Experimental Sustainabogramme and Experimental Sustainable Community)le Community)

ConclusionConclusion• SD in China: still economics firstSD in China: still economics first• Translating strategy into policies & programmTranslating strategy into policies & programm

eses• China’s Agenda 21China’s Agenda 21 through various directiv through various directiv

es & circulars es & circulars different ministries and gove different ministries and governments at different geographical scalernments at different geographical scale

• FYPs, local agenda 21 and actions plans, priorFYPs, local agenda 21 and actions plans, priority programmes, experimental projectsity programmes, experimental projects

• Top-down, technical approach, with little partiTop-down, technical approach, with little participationcipation

• Rhetoric vs actions, esp. at the local levelsRhetoric vs actions, esp. at the local levels

Hong KongHong Kong

SusDev 21: conclusionsSusDev 21: conclusions• Existing Existing institutional mechanismsinstitutional mechanisms do not fully do not fully

promote the development of holistic views about promote the development of holistic views about issues in a way which recognises sustainable issues in a way which recognises sustainable development.development.

• Communication barriersCommunication barriers exist among different exist among different Bureaux and Departments, which results in Bureaux and Departments, which results in decisions being taken without the full benefit of decisions being taken without the full benefit of inputs from across the range of sectoral interests.inputs from across the range of sectoral interests.

• The existing The existing operational cultureoperational culture is is not conducive not conducive to greater integration and accountabilityto greater integration and accountability. This in . This in turn creates turn creates a resistance to institutional changea resistance to institutional change..

• Policy formulationPolicy formulation in key areas which impinge on in key areas which impinge on sustainability issues are sometimes sustainability issues are sometimes ad-hoc and ad-hoc and slow.slow.

1997-2000

SusDev 21: conclusionsSusDev 21: conclusions

• Roles and responsibilities are at times unclearRoles and responsibilities are at times unclear and this and this detracts from transparency and accountability. detracts from transparency and accountability. Incentives to take the lead and make decisionsIncentives to take the lead and make decisions are are not not in the right placein the right place..

• Whilst the concept of sustainability has broad support Whilst the concept of sustainability has broad support within the Administration, it within the Administration, it has not reached far has not reached far enough at all levelsenough at all levels (as it must if it is to be (as it must if it is to be meaningfully pursued).meaningfully pursued).

• There is There is no existing, forward looking strategy for no existing, forward looking strategy for sustainable developmentsustainable development. Certain Bureaux and . Certain Bureaux and Departments are uncertain about introducing Departments are uncertain about introducing mechanisms to make sustainable development mechanisms to make sustainable development operational in the operational in the absence of a government strategy on absence of a government strategy on sustainable developmentsustainable development..

Sustainable Development UnitSustainable Development UnitThe Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) is The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) is under the Administration Wing of the Chief Sunder the Administration Wing of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office since Apecretary for Administration's Office since April 2001. Our main tasks are to facilitate the iril 2001. Our main tasks are to facilitate the integration of sustainable development into nntegration of sustainable development into new Government initiatives and programmes ew Government initiatives and programmes and in the community generally, and to proviand in the community generally, and to provide support to the Council for Sustainable Dede support to the Council for Sustainable Development.velopment.

Sustainable Development CouncilSustainable Development Council• to advise the Government on the priority areas it to advise the Government on the priority areas it

should address in promoting sustainable developshould address in promoting sustainable development; ment;

• to advise on the preparation of a sustainable deveto advise on the preparation of a sustainable development strategy for Hong Kong that will integrate lopment strategy for Hong Kong that will integrate economic, social and environmental perspectives;economic, social and environmental perspectives;

• to facilitate community participation in the promotto facilitate community participation in the promotion of sustainable development in Hong Kong thrion of sustainable development in Hong Kong through various means, including the award of grantough various means, including the award of grants from the Sustainable Development Fund; and s from the Sustainable Development Fund; and

• to promote public awareness and understanding to promote public awareness and understanding of the principles of sustainable development. of the principles of sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Strategy:Sustainable Development Strategy:First Engagement ReportFirst Engagement Report

Sustainable Sustainable Development Development

Strategy: PopulationStrategy: Population

Sustainable Development:Sustainable Development:from THEORY to ACTIONfrom THEORY to ACTION

• Environmental, Environmental, social, economic & social, economic & INSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONAL dimensionsdimensions

• At different levels: At different levels: INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL TO GLOBALGLOBAL

• PROCESS & PROCESS & PARTNERSHIPPARTNERSHIP drivendriven