NSDSs differ from conventional (top-down,
sectoral) policy
have focussed ronmental
able development,
ber of important
conservation
First, they should economic,
environmental
social objectives; preparation
possible
Each
natural
future
to reach it. That is why this
to the
guide encourages
on the
described
capital,
Chapter
able development
strategies
sectors across Canada. This NSDS or guide builds on the considerable
work under
way at all levels of government, First Nations and the business and NGO communities (Chapter 2). Ongoing initiatives
such as the National
Biodiversity emerging
sectoral
the
and the various municipal
strategies
and
5. They will involve
should
speeds
and directions,
depending
be handed
“development”
on local circumstances. -Commission on Conservation, Ottawa, 1915
was perceived
Almost
all of this development
should
be quite sustainable,
but some will not be.
Even the 1992 Earth Summit by some
Because
large, complex
to focus on environmental
societies
cannot
be trans-
issues, such as biodiversity
formed
overnight,
special
and climate
attention
change.
This
will be needed
to
was due in part to the even-
ensure that any unsustainable
lower
development
levels of consensus
on development
issues,
such as consumption and population.
federal sustainability
framework provincial,
Strategy,
tools
in more detail in
in many forms,
has already enabled
at many levels and in many
people
to use the transition
on unimpaired.
of sustain-
steps needed
considerable
Public concern about the
the development
on the
but the principal
assessment
of the current situation.”
get to
in a single step,
is focussed
intermediary
generation
interest
and
third, they should be based on a “thorough
action plans.
is entitled
the “widest
participation;”
we cannot
sustainability attention
should be under-
taken through
Because
and
and
second, their
it.
notably
strategies
environmental
integrate
could take but
how we might achieve
aspects of sustain-
making and planning in a numrespects,
society
on the envi-
not have irreversible
levels
effects:
the parking lots of suburban
This guide tries
to take a more comprehensive approach by projecting
that occurs will
shopping
malls can be restored
to agricultural
not only
the shape that a sustainable
land, but extinct
species cannot be brought back to life. This underlines
will also
need to be incorporated.
We
are faced with the constant challenge various
of weaving
these
pieces into a coherent
national strategy, the international facilitating
linking it to agenda and
the transitions.
1.5 Transitions Many international
sociallv,,. economicallv
and environ-
The Convention on ClimateChange aims to stabilize and reduce greenhouse gases so as to prevent dangerous human interference with the global climate system. The Convention on Biological Diversity requires that countries adopt appropriate way? and means of conserving the Earths biodiversity and of ensuring that its benefits are equitably shared.
to
sustainability responses
to the 1987 Brundtland
21 is a blueprint for making development AGENDA : mentally sustainable..
Report
Canadian Choices for Transitions
The RioDeclaration on Environment and Developmentis a statement of 27 principles defining the rights and responsibilities of nations as they pursue human development and well-being. The Statement ofPrinciples on Forestry advocates a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
to Sustainability
-. Final Draft
May 1995
7