Newsletter

Spring 2001: Board Notes

Comments on Sustainable Development
by Ross S. Whaley

Sometimes a title on the door opens opportunities for engagement in social issues not afforded to others. For sixteen years I was fortunate to serve as President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. This enabled me to be involved in environmental policy issues from local to international levels. Mostly my involvement was on issues focusing on use of the world's forests. I have listened to rancorous debates between the environmental community, corporate leaders and government officials over the impacts on the environment from economic growth or the impacts on economic growth from environmental regulations. There were times when I wasn't an innocent bystander, but was right there in the middle of the debate. I must confess to either being, or at least perceived as being, a schizophrenic or a hypocrite as I moved from discussion to discussion over time. At times I was adamantly decrying the impact of government policies or corporate practices on the environment. The next time I might be criticizing the environmental community for extreme positions that simply could not be supported by good science. Whatever my position, there was always a serious desire to under gird my professional position with a commitment to be a responsible steward of God's creation. I have cherished the opportunity of having such a close link between my professional life and my spiritual life. Serving on the Au Sable Institute Board has been a wonderful part of that link.

Last May I abandoned my administrative duties to wrestle full time as a teacher/scholar with policy issues affecting the environment and the quality of life of the world's citizens now and in the future. How does one reconcile two societal objectives--care for the environment and economic development when at times the two clash? These conflicts led me to the exploration of sustainable development as an approach that attempts to meld these concerns when it comes to choices about individual behavior, corporate strategies, or public policy. The operative word is choice. How do we choose the path that neither destroys nor significantly impoverishes the natural environment on which our current or future welfare depends? How do we approach the gargantuan task of combining our knowledge of the biophysical sciences, policy, ecology, and ethics toward rational choices when it is so difficult to think across disciplines? Where are the conflicts between society's objectives and God's will for his creation? Pursuit of these questions has me learning to swim in some rather deep water, but the temperature is fine and I encourage all of you to jump in.

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