SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: BROADING THE NOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY

 

Based on An Interview with Dr. Nola-Kate Seymoar, Deputy to the President of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in
Winnipeg, Manitoba

May 14, 1997

 

Since world leaders earnestly began discussing sustainable development, beginning with the Brundtland Commission's report in 1987, the main focus has been on regulation and policy as it relates directly to environment. More recently, social aspects have also been included as vital components of sustainability in such areas as population, health, education, human rights and equity.

Dr. Nola-Kate Seymoar of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, feels this is a vital step in enhancing the well being of the economy and the environment now, and for the future: "I think if you look at [industrial] development as we do human development we develop our level of knowledge, improve our quality of life or improve our degree of skill. In that sense we are talking about continuous improvement and in such a way allows sustainable development to include learning communities and societies." In order to accomplish sustainability, a community (especially in mainstream North America) requires a change in its perception of development. "I think economic well-being may require a rethinking of our consumer societies", contends Dr. Seymoar. "The idea is that we begin re-thinking our concept of economic growth as being balanced and integrated with environmental enhancement."

Communities themselves must be sustainable if they wish to promote sustainable livelihoods that include environmental protection and sustainable harvesting. But in order to accomplish a restructuring of goals and ideals needed to attain sustainable development, a strong community is essential. The UN, in its search to identify 50 communities around the world that were examples of successful sustainable livelihoods (We the Peoples: 50 Communities Awards), defined community as "any group that had a sense of common unity and that had a sense of place". Dr. Seymoar defines a sustainable community as "[a community] where people feel that they belong. So it's inclusive. It's also a community that's economically able to support the livelihoods of the people, whether by wage-work or other kinds of work."

The We the Peoples: 50 Communities Awards included 40 nominations for Canadian communities. Interestingly, all three communities in Canada that received an award, were native communities. According to Dr. Seymoar, a 50 Communities Awards panel member, these communities appealed to the selection panel because they were innovative in taking traditional knowledge, and an awareness of environmental issues and combining them with modern science. "These people are rebuilding their pride and identity and that of their community." Surprisingly, most of the selected communities had also gone through a period of turmoil or hardship at some point in the recent and/or distant past. "Those that were successful, had all responded to an adverse situation. Whether it was drought, famine or poverty, some kind of really harsh reality led communities to pull together, and in so doing, they began to solve a whole variety of different problems. People come together to fight certain adverse situations, but what's important here are the relationships and the respect that develops as a result."

If communities require a sense of belonging and unity in order to combat adverse situations such as environmental degradation, the new millennium presents additional challenges. Through the growth of communications technology and economic cooperations, people are beginning to loose their sense of local community as they become engulfed by the "global community". This presents yet another challenge, but provides new hope for achieving globally, what smaller communities have proven can be done locally.

 

PROFILE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD):

 

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) was established in 1990 with continuing financial support from Environment Canada, CIDA and the Province of Manitoba. It is a non-profit institute, knowledge-based, action-oriented, delivering sustainable options to decision-makers in government, business, and the home.

For more information check-out the IISD Homepage: http://iisd1.iisd.ca

 

PROFILE OF DR. NOLA-KATE SEYMOAR:

Dr. Nola-Kate Seymoar serves as Deputy to the President of the IISD, Canada. Prior to this she served as Executive Director of the We the Peoples: 50 Communities Awards, a citizens' initiative in honor of the 50th anniversary of the UN. Dr. Seymoar's career has spanned areas of public policy, academia, business, and non-governmental organizations. She has recently written a paper entitled Equity and Sustainable Development: Community Self-Empowerment in Three Indigenous Communities.

 

For more information on the We the Peoples: 50 Communities Awards see: http://iisd1.iisd.ca/50comm/default.htm

 

Click here for a Glossary of Words