Future generations and the environment

Abstract

Concern is expressed for the welfare of future generations in a number of general areas. One list of areas of concern is - - war - overpopulation - pollution - resource depletion - sociocultural institutions - physical structure and infrastructure - knowledge and research capability. Of course these areas overlap, for example, wars are often fought over access to resources. Areas of concern may also conflict. For example, existing sociocultural institutions have many guardians, but safeguarding the status quo may harm the interests of future people. Environmental decision makers are, presumably, primarily concerned about resource depletion and pollution. Of course, these are two sides of the same coin; when we deplete, we generally pollute. In this chapter I look at the conservation/development debate which lies behind the "future generations problem" in its global context and in its New Zealand context.