John C. Dernbach, Author on Sustainable Development & Climate Change Law
    Sustainable Development

    Sustainable development recasts the role of environment in human affairs—from
    something that can be used and degraded to something that must be protected and
    restored in order to sustain human well-being and quality of life.  The United States, which
    has 5% percent of the world’s population but consumes one quarter to one third of the
    world’s energy and resources, will play a key role in global efforts to achieve sustainability.  
    Dernbach has edited the only comprehensive nongovernmental assessments of U.S.
    efforts.  These are Stumbling Toward Sustainability (2002) and Agenda for a Sustainable
    America (January 2009).   

    Earth Summit

    In June 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or
    Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, the nations of the world agreed to an ambitious and
    unprecedented global plan of action for addressing the related and growing problems of
    environmental degradation and poverty.  "Humanity stands at a defining moment in
    history," they stated.

    These nations based their plan on sustainable development, a framework for achieving
    economic development that is socially equitable and protective of the natural resource
    base on which human activity depends.  In agreeing to this plan, they all agreed to work
    toward sustainability—in both their domestic actions and their international efforts.  These
    nations include the United States.  

    Sustainable development is a response to the deeply held view that environmental
    degradation is the small price we pay to achieve progress; the price is not small, however,
    and environmental degradation prevents or threatens social and economic progress.
    Because of the Earth Summit, sustainable development is also an internationally
    recognized framework for guiding and evaluating the behavior of national governments and
    other actors.

    Sustainable development is a framework for achieving economic development, national
    security, social well-being, and environmental protection at the same time.  In a
    sustainable society, environmental protection and restoration are part of what it means to
    achieve progress.  Environmental degradation would no longer be the price of progress.

    Sustainable Development in the United States
      
    The United States is not just another country in the global effort to achieve sustainable
    development. It has the world’s highest Gross Domestic Product, the most powerful
    military on earth, and is the largest producer and consumer of energy and materials in
    human history. Because of its impact on the world’s environment and its political,
    economic, and military influence, the United States has unparalleled power to lead an
    international effort to achieve sustainable development or to prevent or impede world
    efforts to achieve sustainability.

    Much of American influence around the world, for better and for worse, rests in the example
    it sets. As a consequence, U.S. domestic actions related to sustainability are likely to
    influence other countries as much as, and even more than, anything the U.S. does in the
    international arena. It is highly unlikely that the rest of the world can achieve sustainability
    without the active engagement of the United States.

    But what does sustainable development mean for the United States?  How much progress
    has the U.S. made toward sustainability since its 1992 Earth Summit commitments?  

    Articles and Book Chapters on Sustainable Development

    Dernbach’s writing on sustainable development attempts to work out the practical
    consequences and meaning of the concept, particularly but not exclusively for the U.S., and
    what we must do to achieve sustainability.  The two most important works are Agenda for a
    Sustainable America and Stumbling toward Sustainability.  In addition, he has written many
    articles. Most of the articles below can be downloaded by clicking on the title.  
Agenda for a Sustainable
America edited by John C.
Dernbach Some of the nation's
leading experts report from the
front lines on the quest for
sustainability in the United
States. Published in January
2009.