Vital GEO Graphics

Credit: Jim Wark/Still Pictures

and too few signs of environment for development. For example, sustainable use of energy resources is vital not only in order to tackle environmental problems but also for economic development. A number of pan-regional plans have been initiated to develop common energy policy objectives, promote more sustainable energy production and consumption and ensure stability of supply. Howev- er, the emergence of new markets, such as for the use of wind and solar energy, requires political will, a long-term and integrated strategy and favourable conditions such as for innovation. Both poverty and consumption are factors in envi- ronmental degradation. All people – rich and poor, urban and rural, and in all the world’s regions – depend on environmental goods-and-services. The over-arching objective is to decouple economic growth from environmental damage in both the developed and developing countries. The chal- lenge is to foster “environment for development” in the developing world, while simultaneously slowing consumption in the developed world. One of the main messages in developing policies for SCP is that one single instrument will not fix the problem; it is necessary to design a package of dif- ferent instruments, including regulatory frameworks, voluntary measures and economic instruments. Likewise, it is important to actively involve all stake- holders: government, industry, business, advertising, academia, consumer associations, environmental NGOs, trade unions and the general public. In addition, there is a need for sectoral approaches in order to modify the unsustainable systems of con- sumption and production. Identifying interlinkages offers opportunities for more effective responses at the national, regional and global levels and provides the basis for applying measures where they are most effective, based on trade-offs among different interests in society and in a complementary manner. Such measures may facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable society.

The emergence of lead markets, such as for the use of wind energy, requires political will, a long-term and integrated strategy and favourable conditions such as for innovation. Credit: Jim Wark/Still Pictures

Innovative solar power has promoted the use of renewable energy. Credit: Frans Ijserinkhuijsen

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64 V I TAL GEO GRAPH I CS