The sustainability debate

As part of the review we set up an online Sustainability Forum, which closed in September 2007. Participants' feedback contributed to the final report. Below are the topics that were discussed.

We began by posing these comments and questions:

The "unsustainable way of life of developed nations like ours" points to a great environmental challenge (Prime Minister Helen Clark on 28 October 2006.)

How should New Zealand prepare? What are your views about sustainable development?

Background papers

Twenty-three background papers written for the review added to its breadth and depth. Topics range from housing, corporate reporting, fisheries, biodiversity, climate change, nature-based tourism and measuring real wealth to studies from Lyttelton, Kaikoura, North Shore and Christchurch.

The Issues

These topics were discussed as the forum ran:

Issue 1 - Pushing the limits

Can humans live beyond the planet's ecological limits? Sustainability has as much to do with economics and politics as it does the environment, says Parliamentary Commissioner Dr Morgan Williams.

Issue 2 - Losing sight of the food chain

Eighty-seven percent of New Zealanders now live in towns and cities: have we lost our connection with the natural capital that ultimately sustains us? Pursuing cheap and reliable food supplies and a high standard of living has a cost, says PCE principal investigator Philippa Richardson.

Issue 3 - Trade-offs: lifestyles vs environment

What lifestyle tradeoffs would you be prepared to make for the environment? Does sustainable development have to be a compromise or trade-off between environmental, social, cultural and economic interests? If so, why?

more about Trade-offs: lifestyles vs environment

Issue 4 - Making sustainable decisions

What are the merits and drawbacks of sustainable development as a basis for decision-making? How well understood is sustainable development anyway? Because sustainable development is not well understood, or it has multiple interpretations, is that a barrier to applying it in decision-making?

more about Making sustainable decisions

Issue 5 - Learning for sustainability

What has been learned by those who have adopted sustainable development principles? What else do we need to learn? Are the principles underpinning sustainable development still relevant for addressing global issues such as climate change? If not, what are the alternatives?

more about Learning for sustainability

Issue 6 - Kaitiakitanga and sustainability

Should New Zealand embrace the Maori concept of kaitiakitanga? What similarities/differences are there between sustainable development and kaitiakitanga?

more about Kaitiakitanga and sustainability