Question

(a) Why is it important for economic growth to be environmentally sustainable?

(b) Explain the main differences between weak and strong sustainability, and why these matter for government policy on sustainable development.

Answer 1

Ans (a)

It is important for economic growth to be environmentally sustainable due to the following reasons:

1. Conserve and protect the environment.

To protect and conserve the environment it is required to minimize the use and means of natural resources for maximum benefit without any wastage.

2. Long lasting development.

It aims at achieving the economic development without destroying the natural resources that is conserving the natural resources for the future generation.

Ans (b)

The major differences between the weak and strong sustainability are:

1. Strong sustainability emphaise on ecological scale over economic gains whereas weak sustainability emphasise on economic gains over ecologcal scale.

2. Strong sustainabilty assumes that human capital and natural capital is complementary and not interchangeable whereas weak sustainability assumes that human and natural capital are interchangeable.

3. Example of strong sustainability is that ozone layer a part of natural capital is important for human existence but it is difficult for human beings to duplicate it.

Example of weak sustainability is that  mining coal and using it for generation of electricity.

The analysis of strong and weak sustainability helps the government in framing the policy on sustainable development . Since for weak sustainability in the economy government will implement the policy for turning the weak sustainability in to strong sustainability whereas in strong sustainabilty government will frame the policy for maintaining the strong sustainability in the economy.