Major Players in Sustainable Development

Sustainable development requires the input of all the major stakeholders in
the climate change solution phase.  That means that governments,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other concerned parties cannot
set about on a sustainable course of action until some sort of agreement
is reached with any party that might raise an objection that could put the
project in danger.

Sometimes public input on policy changes can keep the bill that is
politically expedient from becoming a law that appeases everyone and fixes
nothing.  Major stakeholders in the climate debate include just about
everyone, but some special groups that have been very active include
native and indigenous peoples, residents of island nations, commerce and
business groups, environmental activists and human rights campaigners, to
name just a few.

It is very important that these groups have a chance to sit down on a
regular business and state their concerns or compliments about how climate
change mitigation is being handled.

Technorati Tags: climate change, public input, sustainable development

Future Carbon-free International Trade

When and if carbon dioxide emissions are going to be capped at levels
that will do some good and prevent further climate damage, it will put a
real thorn in the side of international trade.  This noble pursuit has
been part of human cultures since there was more than one.  However, it
has only been in the last two centuries that international trade has made
good use of cheap transport to connect the world in commerce.

If no longer using petroleum fuel, these industries will have to change
drasticly if they are to take advantage of the next trade opportunity.
It is likely, for instance, that continually fluctuating fuel costs will
mean that the majority of items transported will have to be smaller and
lighter than was a concern for much of the last century.

Merchants who find ways to use renewable resources in their operations
will find their costs increasing slower than those of the competition and
they’ll be able to deliver what should be highly coveted heavy goods from
overseas.

One thing to consider in the change to renewable energy:  air travel to
transport produce may, however, be a casualty of the 21st century. The
automobile industry gets plenty of press for producing vehicles that run
on renewable energy sources.  But, how often do we read about the airline
industry touting “green” fuel used in their airliners.  What role do the
airlines play in sustainable development.

Technorati Tags: carbon free, international trade, renewable energy, renewable resources, sustainable development

Climate Change And Increased Risk of Toxic Contamination

Looking at areas that have already suffered rampant deforestation and
hurricane damage, such as the island nation of Haiti, it is apparent why
one should not assume that things once buried will stay that way.  In that
nation, the amount of erosion has caused major loss of life and property.

And this is even with the relatively small tropical storms that were
already common.  The island has also already seen a sharp rise in the
number and intensity of named storms over the last 150 years or so that
records have been kept.

In Haiti, erosion has caused items that were once thought buried for good,
such as decades old trash, to reappear on the surface and cause major
pollution concerns.  Of even more concern are the toxins, thought safe in
a by-gone era, are now escaping into the tropical environment.  By way of
comparison, neighboring Dominican Republic has far fewer trees standing
and has a much harder time weathering storms.  Part of sustainable
development to protect areas from toxic releases is the planting and
tending of trees to protect against future disasters.

Technorati Tags: climate change, erosion, sustainable development, toxic contamination

Sustainable Tourism Lessens Carbon Load and Guilt

Did you know that vacation and travel are also some of the areas where
sustainable development can be applied?  One of the largest growth
sectors in the hotel and tourism business is sustainable accommodations
that lessen the carbon load and the guilt of dedicated travelers.  Hotel
owners noted an increase in customer demand for sustainable accommodations
over the last few years.

After doing some studies, it was found that in the case of the hotel
business this can actually save time, labor, money and supplies.
One example: now days most hotels ask that you signify to them if you
would like to wait 2 to 3 days between the times that your linens are
changed by staff. However, sustainable tourism is about more than just
waiting to wash the linens.

This also opens up areas to tourism that can benefit from the added
incentive to preserving wildlife.  This has been especially useful in
areas of Africa that were losing their little remaining wildlife in the
area to habitat encroachment and poaching.  With the money and concern
that is brought in from more developed countries, the people who live
there actually have a chance to change the minds of others who might have
a better chance of helping preserve the local environment.

One notable contribution in this area: The UN has made 2009 the Year of
the Gorilla.  During the UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting,
talks were aimed at turning the intentions of the action plan into firm
measures.  Wendy Elliot (WWF International species program manager) said
at the meeting in Rome, “Virtually all of the 10 gorilla range states have
laws against poaching”.  Germany and Monaco are among countries that
pledged new money at the CMS conference to support the action plan.

The gorilla action plan is designed to tackle the three main threats
facing gorillas - loss of habitat, poaching and the Ebola virus - and all
the 10 range states have signed up.

The Year of the Gorilla (YoG) campaign is spearheaded by a number of top
experts including Jane Goodall, the renowned biologist and conservationist,
and Ian Redmond of the Great Apes Survival Partnership (Grasp).  Redmond
says that in the long run, looking after gorillas can be very beneficial
for local communities.  “In Rwanda and Uganda, tourism, with gorillas as
the star attraction, has become the number one foreign exchange earner.”,
he said.  Redmond also added that the gorilla’s role as “gardeners of the
forest” was also vital to the long term ecological health of Africa’s
tropical rain forest.

Thanks to Wild Singapore News blog for bringing the YoG campaign to
my attention.

Technorati Tags: carbon load, gorilla range states, poaching, preserving wildlife, sustainable accommodations, sustainable development, sustainable tourism, un convention on migratory species, year of the gorilla