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Sustainability as a Bridging Concept
Author(s) -
PAEHLKE ROBERT
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00426.x
Subject(s) - bridging (networking) , library science , sustainability , citation , computer science , ecology , computer network , biology
My view of sustainability differs from that of Newton and Freyfogle because for me, as a social scientist, the con- cept is centered in economics, public policy, and ethics rather than in the biological sciences. From a social sci- ence perspective, I agree that sustainability is an amor- phous concept with multiple meanings, but for me it is important and provides a conceptual basis for integrating the natural and social sciences. Thus, in my mind sustain- ability has a natural science component that is important, but part of a larger whole. Agreement on this view of sus- tainability is not universal, but it is probably a wider view than Newton and Freyfogle would have. This view of sustainability, as largely a concept in the social sciences, involves the reconceptualization of eco- nomic efficiency and productivity and helps advance, as Carley and Spapens (1998) elaborate, the idea of material sufficiency. I believe that Newton and Freyfogle would be comfortable with at least some of these outcomes. The efficiency aspect of sustainability assesses the production of human well-being (not necessarily material goods) per unit of extraction from, or imposition upon, nature (in terms of air and water emissions, ecological impacts, land use, or whatever measures natural scientists deem to be important as the science and art of sustainability analysis evolves). Efficiency in this context is very different from eco- nomic efficiency as one would ordinarily think of it. It is in addition to, and arguably more important than, the effi- cient use of labor (productivity) or even the effective and efficient use of capital. This concept is important because it establishes a systematic point of entry into economics, policy analysis, politics, and public administration for eco- logical considerations. Currently, these latter realms are largely dominated by economic considerations. Ecology takes up only a small corner in selected agencies with minimal power. Only the natural sciences can measure extractions from, impositions upon, and capacities of nature. I con-