What is sustainable development?
The common definition, from the Brundtland Report of sustainable development is "development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
Brundtland argued that overcoming poverty and inequality required sustained economic growth both North and South. By growth she meant the capitalist definition – increase in Gross National Product (GNP) – not what a socialist would use – improved quality of life and access to use values.
New Labour, therefore says in its sustainable development strategy: "Our economy must continue to grow. We need increased prosperity, so that everyone can share in higher living standards and job opportunities in a fairer society." Their main indicator of sustainability is GNP.
Ultimately, New Labour relies on technology and the market to deal with the environmental crisis. A good example is Eggborough, which was to use a new process to burn willow and produce electricity.
After the building of the plant and using government grants to get farmers to plant the crops, the government allowed its closure with the loss of 40 jobs on August 8, when its backers, Yorkshire Water, decided it was not financially viable.
New Labour’s approach has angered many environmentalists, for example Friends of the Earth, who have an alternative sustainability indicator, which can be studied interactively at their web site ( http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/sustainable_development/progress/ ).