III.
Support and improve the rules of governance
Growth management planning, community design, green
building practices and environmental mitigation all play
a role in maintaining the quality of life while
accommodating growth through sustainable development
strategies. It is imperative that our societies develop
an informed democracy. The practice of publishing
reports on the state of the environment, and of
indicators of environment and social quality, used
effectively by the proponents of sustainability should
allow citizens to view the risks and threats to their
lifestyle and to demand political honesty and
accountability. Good decision making by government is
imperative on all four scales: global, national,
regional, and local.
PRINCIPLES
| 1. |
An Informed Democracy Poor or absent decision making is at the heart of the failure of governments worldwide to initiate significant change towards sustainability. In situations of high or growing population and accompanying destruction of environmental resources, there is a heightened government responsibility to both the population and the environment. Although competitive nature of democratic government can impede consensus on the urgency of sustainability problems, judgment at the polls generally means that it is possible to achieve some level of political accountability. |
| 2. |
Government accountability Government accountability ultimately depends upon informed public opinion regarding environmental risks, and on moving human development assessment beyond the economic bottom line as the primary determining factor. |
| 3. |
Good environmental standards, policies and
management objectives are vital Effective environmental legislation should be promoted. Environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and developmental context to which they apply. Standards applied that are inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost should be changed. |
| 4. |
Cooperation to develop good environmental law
should be embraced Cooperation in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop laws regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction should be embraced. |
| 5. |
Governments should take a proactive rather
than reactive role Rather than allowing developer-initiated, piecemeal development, governments should take charge of planning processes. General plans should designate where new growth, infill or redevelopment will be allowed to occur. |
| 6. |
Warfare is destructive to sustainability Warfare is inherently destructive to the environment. Nations shall respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict, and cooperate in its further development, as necessary. |