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Rather than making a necessary trade off thus, we can create a future that accommodates the compatibility of both concepts. The issue is not about ecology versus economy, neither is it environment versus development nor rich versus poor; both spheres have a clear interest in preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development. Instead the integration of ecology and economy provides new insights about the linkages between ecological and economic systems, and further suggests some broad policies concerning how to achieve sustainability. They include:
1. “A natural capital depiction tax aimed at reducing or eliminating the destruction of natural capital.” It would be passed on to consumers in product prices and would send the proper signals about the relative sustainability of each product, thereby moving consumption toward a more sustainable product mix.
2. “The precautionary polluter pays principle (4P)” applicable “to potentially damaging products to incorporate the cost of the uncertainty about ecological damages as well as the cost of known damages.” Producers would then have a firm and instantaneous inducement to develop their environmental performance so as to lessen the amount of the environmental bond and tax they would have to pay.
3. “A system of ecological tariffs” which permits “individual countries or trading blocks to apply” both above “without forcing producers to move overseas in order to remain competitive.” The proceeds from the tariffs could then be reinvested in the world’s environment, “rather than added to general revenues of the host country. (Costanza R. 1994).
In addition to these, coal and oil must be phased out so greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced rapidly. A substantial carbon tax can be introduced while investing in renewable energy and rigorously pursuing conservation and efficiency.
Ancient forest logging too must end, if not for protecting remaining intact natural habitats, then, at least, to ensure that carbon sinks are not destroyed. The Amazon, for example, is reported to contain some 90 billion tonnes of carbon; more logging will mean more release of carbon and, in this case, it could be more than the Earth can handle. Hence the protection of large, connected ecosystems over much of the land and sea too (think of industrial fishing) must be established. Too many ecosystems have already been lost and diminished for humanity to persist. Achieving sustainability depends upon targeted restoration of important ecosystems.
Priorities for ecological restoration include watersheds, establishing ecological core areas and urban environments. Other chances for an ecologically sustainable future can be harnessed by restricting excessive resource use to meet frivolous human wants. This can be done by simply promoting a sense of sufficiency amongst all peoples, especially those of the industrialized West.
V. CONCLUSION
So take the potential for innovation inherent in economism; add it to the wisdom for conservation conveyed via ecologism; minus every tendency to make a necessary swap between them; multiply that by the power of collaboration which any viable 21st century program must possess; and divide all by a non-negotiable obligation to achieve sustainability of the ecological kind; now, what we get must resemble “a global change to sustainability,” otherwise, I beg to add that the prospects of man relocating to Mars will begin to get really attractive.
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Writer Profile
Terhemba Aindigh
Terhemba Aindigh is currently with the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps. Having obtained a first degree in International Relations at Covenant University, Nigeria, with a flair for writing professionally, Terhemba enjoys making commentaries on issues that command worldwide relevance.
His essays have earned him an enviable reputation both nationally and internationally. Some of his writings have ensured his active participation in international conferences like the prestigious St. Gallen Symposium, South American Business Forum, and the Model World Trade Organization. He has also been awarded for exceptional writing by the World Bank and the World Federation of United Nations' Associations.
Most recently, Terhemba was announced as one of the 15 winners of an international essay, video and poster competition sponsored by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. This ensured his participation in the Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World Seminar, held at the United Nations Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. Consequently, he and the other winners were inspired to birth a global anti-nuclear weapons youth network.
As a founding member of the Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World Youth Initiative, Terhemba and his colleagues have taken up the immense responsibility to help in realizing a world free of nuclear weapons.
At present, he is doing what he loves to do best: writing more essays to compete in the likes of the Japanese Foreign Trade Council and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library essay competitions, amongst others.
His ultimate ambition is to attain the heights of great men like Kofi Annan, who have made no little contribution to ensuring that our world is peaceful and just.
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