ENVIRONMENTAL DECISON MAKING

Across the world, environmental decisions are constantly being taken. Their settings vary, as do the people and groups involved. Environmental decisions occur within neighborhoods, small businesses, corporate boardrooms, and in the offices of local, state and national governments. They involve different people with different backgrounds. There is a constant need for understanding the various processes, actors and preconditions of decision-making processes for environmental management.

Environmental decisions anchor themselves on three entities - businesses, government, and the civil society at large. Facilitating interaction between them, and focusing on sustainable use of earth's resources, have been key challenges for developed and developing countries alike. What directions should research and development take? What specific roles should be played by the different actors so that innovation and creativity in environmental decisions can be fostered? How can environmental decision-making at various levels be supported and promoted?

It is clear that a culture of study, research and pedagogy needs to be developed, that is primarily focused on the earth, and on man's environmental footprint. Environmental research needs to be geared towards mitigating current problems, and securing the earth for future generations. What changes, modifications and adjustments are necessary for a turn-around to refocus our efforts on sustainable lifestyles?

Research insights, monitoring and evaluation results, and information dialogues need to be incorporated into environmental projects, so that demonstrable successes can be an inspiration for further action and replication. What concrete steps should be taken? What is the nature of partnerships and networking that need to be put in place for sharing of knowledge gained?

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