Human-

Environment
Interactions
Sustainable
Development

Pamela Y. Delos Santos / MADEPOL

DVS 533 M / Dr. Gracia Roldan, Ph.D.
 Common Theme of the
Readings
Understanding Human-Environment
Interactions and its Impact to
Sustainable Development

 In Giddings et al., 2002: Sustainable

Development as A Multi-Layered and Multi-
Faceted Integration of Society, Economy and
Environment
 In Moran, 2010: Environmental Social Science:
Integrating Social and Natural Sciences to
Understand Human-Environment Interactions
and Its Impact to Sustainable Development
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Environment,
Economy and
Society: Fitting
Them Together
Into Sustainable
Development

Giddings et al., 2002

 Defining Sustainable Development
 A contested concept, with theories shaped by
people’s different worldviews that influence how
issues are formulated and actions proposed
 Usually presented as the intersection between
environment, society and economy.

 Classic Definition, Brundtland Report: ‘meeting the

needs of present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their needs’
 WUSB, 2000: SD lacks any clear rigour of analysis or
theoretical framework
 Separate sustainable development into units,
whichever is applicable.
 Faced criticisms by Deep Ecologists
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 UN Photo. (1987). “G.H. Brundtland” Photo retrieved from:
https://www.unmultimedia.org/s/photo/detail/149/0149071.html

Ms. Gro Harlem

Brundtland presented the
Brundtland Report on Brundtland Commission (1987). “Our Common Future Book
Cover”. Photo retrieved from: https://images-na.ssl-images-
Sustainable Development amazon.com/images/I/51i1D6kgSkL._SX322_BO1,204,203,20
0_.jpg
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Environmental, Social and Economic Elements
Three Rings of Sustainable Development

Dopelt, Bob. (2008). “The Power of Sustainable Thinking”. Photo retrieved from:
https://sustainabilityadvantage.com/2010/07/20/3-sustainability-models/
 Dopelt, Bob. (2008). “3 Nested Dependencies Model”. Photo retrieved from:
https://sustainabilityadvantage.com/2010/07/20/3-sustainability-models/
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 Limitations of the models
Three-Ring Model
 Encourages a technical fix approach to sustainable
development issues
 Diverts attention from the more important topics:
 Nature of our society; what the policy priorities are;
how decisions are made; and in whose interest?

Nested Model
 ignore diversity and difference and instead give
precedence to the dominant parts
 The abstraction into three unified entities underplays
the constant change and reinforces the idea of a
static world, where the present dominant structures
and priorities have always existed and will remain.
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 Philippine Case:
Debate over the Kaliwa Dam Project

Novero, Leandro. (2019). Indigenous peoples from Quezon and Rizal march to oppose the Kaliwa Dam project.
Photo retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/237841-schedule-public-hearings-kaliwa-dam-august-2019
 a) integrated view and
reduce the theoretical
justification for trade-offs
between such features as
poverty in society or
depletion of resources
against growth in GDP in
the economy.
b) Defining the aim as
human well being - would
discourage any for of
calculation of costs and
Screenshot from Giddings, et al (2010)’s “Environment, Economy
and Society: Fitting Them Together in Sustainable Development.”
benefits
c) ‘whole systems’
Integrated Approach: approach that appreciates
Multi-layered and Multi- emergent properties,
complexity and interactions
faceted
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 Principles of Sustainable Development

Futurity: Inter-generational equity

Social Justice: Intra-generational equity

Trans frontier: geographical equity

Social Equity: People treated openly and Fairly

Interspecies Equity: Biodicersity

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 Philippine Example:
The Proposed Clark Green City

Rappler News (2019). First Look Poster of the Clark Green City. Retrieved from:
https://assets.rappler.com/612F469A6EA84F6BAE882D2B94A4B421/img/10F7796A491B47
7CA8B9253A1F954FBA/clark-green-city-rappler2014.jpg
 Concluding Points

 Separation of elements was caused

by need for detailed information on
each factor; historical thought; and
alienation of human life from the
environment.
 Sustainable Development is both
a change of ways and mindset.

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 References:

ARTICLES:

⊷Brundtland, G.H. 1987. Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment
and Development. Geneva, UN-Dokument A/42/427.
⊷Condem, Mavic. “Public Hearings for Kaliwa Dam Set for August”, Rappler News, August 15,
2019, https://www.rappler.com/nation/237841-schedule-public-hearings-kaliwa-dam-august-2019
(October 8, 2019)
⊷Giddings, Bob, Bill Hopwood, and Geoff O’Brien. 2002. “Environment, Economy and Society:
Fitting Them Together in Sustainable Development.” Sustainable Development. 10, 187-196.
⊷ Hardin, Garrett. 1968. “The Tragedy of the Commons.” Science, 162, 1243-1248.

⊷IMAGES:
• Novero, Leandro. 2019. Indigenous peoples from Quezon and Rizal march to oppose the Kaliwa
Dam project. Photo retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/237841-schedule-public-
hearings-kaliwa-dam-august-2019
• UN Photo. 1987. Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, addressing the
General Assembly on Environment and Development. Retrieved from:
https://www.unmultimedia.org/s/photo/detail/149/0149071.html

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