Ecologically sustainable economic development in aquatic ecosystems: from theory to environmental policy

Abstract

Ecologically sustainable economic development (ESED) is considered to be a priority axis for policies designed for the preservation of ecosystems. In this context, the ESED concept has been operationally defi ned through several distinct approaches. Nevertheless, no consensus has been reached between and among approaches as to an operational interpretation and practical application of ESED. The present paper examines and evaluates the operational appeal of certain ESED approaches within the current policy framework regarding aquatic ecosystems. To this purpose, the paper investigates the relationship between representative approaches to ESED and the current policies for aquatic ecosystems in the European Union and the United States of America. These relatively mature policies offer operational grounds on which the operational dimensions of ESED approaches may be evaluated. Analysis focuses on the crucial question of to what extent the current major policies for aquatic ecosystems refl ect the rationale and conditions of the prevailing ESED scientifi c approaches.In this context, the concept of ecologically sustainable economic development (ESED) is considered an evolutionary path that may potentially pave the way to combating the environmental decay affl icting our planet.Many have been the scientifi c approaches proposed in dealing with ESED. They have arisen mainly from the variety of assumptions regarding the needs and preferences of future generations. However, the concept of sustainability 'remains ambiguous and widely abused even more than one and half decade after the Brundtland Commission coined it' (Meadows et al., 2004). The present paper examines to what extent the representative ESED approaches are operational and, subsequently, appealing at policy-making level. To this purpose, two policies regarding aquatic ecosystems have been selected: the Clean Water Act (CWA), which originated in the United States of America (USA), and the Water Framework Directive (WFD), which originated in the European Union (EU). On the one hand, the CWA was enacted in 1972. After this, it was signifi cantly strengthened in 1977, 1981 and 1987. The CWA is a mature policy, which has a long history of practical implementation and can be used as an indicative example of water policy-making worldwide. On the other hand, compared with the CWA, the WFD is a relevant new legislative framework. However, the WFD incorporates the experience and knowledge of a 12-year essential planning process.Taking the advantage offered by the maturity of both policies, the paper aims at identifying whether CWA and WFD do refl ect conditions, assumptions and policy frameworks proposed by the different ESED approaches. To this purpose, four major dimensions have been selected. They underlie and differentiate ESED approaches and will be used as the basis for evaluating these approaches' operational appeal in the content of the CWA and WFD. These are (i) the relationship between the natural and socioeconomic systems, (ii) the relationship between the h...

A conceptual model of a sustainable system based upon observations of biodegradable plastic packaging film experiments and material flow

“…But opinions about the value of and distribution between the various capitals lead to what is referred to as the weak and strong sustainability paradigms [28], generally aligned with neoclassical and ecological economics [29][30][31]. Weak sustainability allows man-made capital substitution of natural capital to a high degree, whereas the strong position is that fundamental services provided by nature cannot be replaced by man-made capital [29].…”