Sustainable Solutions GOVERNMENT
Development is a primary principle around which much of
contemporary human civilization is based. One of the great questions and dilemmas
of our time is finding a way to create “sustainable development”. Many that
have studied sustainability will say that in contemporary culture, sustainable
development is an oxymoron.
Government is a complex but central force influencing the broad spectrum of development issues. Government includes political strategies, management, and leadership. Given that the baseline purpose of government is to protect and promote the best interests of the people governed it makes sense that it is necessary that government invest in strategies that in every possible way promote sustainable development. As we negotiate the various economic, social, and environmental influences and demands of our times we constantly find investing philosophically and institutionally in sustainability is fundamental, critical, and highly consequential action.
Government v. Business
Economic politics are focused intensively on running government like a business. Certainly we live in challenging times and trying to find ways to be more efficient economically are issues that both businesses and governments face. However it is important to realize that the objectives of business are significantly different, or should be, than the objectives of government. Principally, business is about creating profit. Government must be more about creating and protecting wealth. Sustainable governance looks at wealth beyond the singular province of profit. Learning Sustainability teaches us that wealth comes from the environment and people as well as the profit sector. Governance must find ways to deliver equitable services and wealth to those that are governed. Business is also by its nature a private enterprise. Business is accountable only to shareholders and those shareholders demand profit. Democratic government is accountable to shareholders with different values. Public values. Social well-being. Environmental and ecological integrity. Security.
How Does Government Promote Sustainability?
Government does not and cannot stand-alone with the responsibility that will guide us to a sustainable future. Society, culture, humanity, which include the political realities of economic policy and religious and other organized beliefs are also responsible. Government does play an important and even critical role if we are to have a sustainable future. Good government can provide vehicles for informed decision-making and invest in and maintain the checks and balances of a democratic system. Good government can develop and maintain strategies, policies, and programs that will help us all find a future that works.
One of the challenges of good government is to find the political and bureaucratic flexibility to create and maintain accountable policies and programs. The ability to adapt constantly to new circumstances is fundamental. Good leaders have to find ways to maneuver through the checks and balances that good governance requires. To our way of thinking, promoting sustainability through government means continuously and proactively investing in democratic principles. Good government can promote sustainable economic strategies. Good government can provide for safety and security, promote well-being, education, and understand that the bottom line is a healthy environment.
Government is a complex but central force influencing the broad spectrum of development issues. Government includes political strategies, management, and leadership. Given that the baseline purpose of government is to protect and promote the best interests of the people governed it makes sense that it is necessary that government invest in strategies that in every possible way promote sustainable development. As we negotiate the various economic, social, and environmental influences and demands of our times we constantly find investing philosophically and institutionally in sustainability is fundamental, critical, and highly consequential action.
Government v. Business
Economic politics are focused intensively on running government like a business. Certainly we live in challenging times and trying to find ways to be more efficient economically are issues that both businesses and governments face. However it is important to realize that the objectives of business are significantly different, or should be, than the objectives of government. Principally, business is about creating profit. Government must be more about creating and protecting wealth. Sustainable governance looks at wealth beyond the singular province of profit. Learning Sustainability teaches us that wealth comes from the environment and people as well as the profit sector. Governance must find ways to deliver equitable services and wealth to those that are governed. Business is also by its nature a private enterprise. Business is accountable only to shareholders and those shareholders demand profit. Democratic government is accountable to shareholders with different values. Public values. Social well-being. Environmental and ecological integrity. Security.
How Does Government Promote Sustainability?
Government does not and cannot stand-alone with the responsibility that will guide us to a sustainable future. Society, culture, humanity, which include the political realities of economic policy and religious and other organized beliefs are also responsible. Government does play an important and even critical role if we are to have a sustainable future. Good government can provide vehicles for informed decision-making and invest in and maintain the checks and balances of a democratic system. Good government can develop and maintain strategies, policies, and programs that will help us all find a future that works.
One of the challenges of good government is to find the political and bureaucratic flexibility to create and maintain accountable policies and programs. The ability to adapt constantly to new circumstances is fundamental. Good leaders have to find ways to maneuver through the checks and balances that good governance requires. To our way of thinking, promoting sustainability through government means continuously and proactively investing in democratic principles. Good government can promote sustainable economic strategies. Good government can provide for safety and security, promote well-being, education, and understand that the bottom line is a healthy environment.
Paul Hawken
Paul Hawken, is well known and respected author, entrepreneur,
and sustainability thinker. His work helps us to understand more about how government
planning and strategies are linked to society, politics, business and
economics, education, and the environment. He is famous for stating that the
real bottom line is the environment. Government, as it tries to balance
economic development with environmental consequences needs to remember this. This
helps us to define and characterize sustainability. Hawken is a good place to
begin to think about sustainable solutions for government.
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Links
Paul Hawken Website Governing, Connecting America's Leaders home Sustainable Government is Attainable Government Sustainable Government Blogspot United Kingdom, Sustainable Development US Department of State Sustainable Development Partnerships Home Links to Related Sites United Nations Division for Sustainable Development UNCSD 2012 White House Leading by Example US Green Building Council Roadmap to Green Government Buildings SustainLane Government Homepage |