The Ladder of Sustainable Development

Baker et al(1997) developed a ladder, mentioning the different policies options that are
associated with sustainable development. This ladder is very handy for the government, any
NGO, for the people interested in Green technologies or any activist. There are some
modifications done in the ladder for writing this book.

There are basically two views, Anthropocentric, tells about how nature is beneficial for the
human kind ,and use the natural resources in the benefit of human kind. Author has mentioned an
example of USA. And second view is Ecocentrics , which emphasizes on building a partnership
between nature and human beings and maintains social and communal harmony.

In the Ladder, the pollution control approach is considered as the base. In Rio Earth Summit,
Heidelberg Appeal tells about it. This appeal says that protection of environment is integral part
of development but it also tells that environment concern should not be in between development
nor it should become our foremost priority. Supporters of pollution control say that at the
beginning of any industry the pollution level is high and it gradually decreases when any
industry shifts its focus from using more natural resources to end product finishing. One more
theory is that pollution in industries follows “Kuznets Curve”, that means at the starting pollution
is less but increases gradually and after peak achieving it falls back. However this theory gained
lots of critics also. Japan uses this phenomena , it urge other countries to deforestation and make
foods for Japanese people and left their own forest untouched or unharmed.

Then comes weak sustainable development, which focuses on growth of economy along with
taking environment protection seriously. According to cost-benefit-analysis if the profit is
greater than losses than one should use natural resources, but gained huge critics.

Strong Sustainable development is the next, which elaborates that taking environment concerns
are prerequisite and after that economics comes into the picture. It got shifted from quantitative
to qualitative development. Herman Daly’s economic models includes the cost of pollution,
unemployment and inequality.

The ideal way for sustainable development is mentioned at top, it says about structural change in
society , the economic and political system.

Comment: (1) Kuznets curve is same as Gussain curve.(2)I am not totally agree with Heidelberg
Appeal, according to me as we have two eyes and both have equal importance ,same is the case
with development and environment.