Sustainable development - lessons from success

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Environment; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1989.9929948· OSTI ID:5224904

Reid, W V.C. ^[1]

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1. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC (USA)

This article examines the push of development agencies and multilateral development banks in developing countries to achieve economic, political and social sustainability without considering long-term environmental costs. A case in point is dams built for irrigation and hydroelectric power; the benefits are outweighed by the environmental costs of salt intrusion, delta erosion, drying of downstream lakes and channel deepening as well as the effects of displacement of people. The information and technologies that form the basis of ecologically sustainable development already exist. Energy efficiency projects could reduce the balance of trade deficits in developing nations. In addition, great advances in agricultural, forest and range productivity could be achieved at very low capital costs through soil and water conservation techniques, intercropping, agroforestry and organic fertilization.

• OSTI ID: 5224904
• Journal Information: Environment; (USA), Vol. 31:4; ISSN 0013-9157
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
LAND USE
AGRICULTURE
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
DAMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FORESTRY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
PESTICIDES
QUALITY OF LIFE
SOIL CONSERVATION
INDUSTRY
POWER PLANTS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
290400* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety