Causes of Sustainable Scale Problems 

 

Sustainable Scale problems are caused by:

• Excess Throughput   Biophysical limits of ecosystems have been exceeded by the material throughput in the global economy.
• Driven by Economic Growth  Economic growth inevitably involves material throughput; global trade increases throughput.
• Supported by Obsolete Public Policies  Growth oriented policies either support ecosystem degradation or fail to conserve critical ecosystem functions.
• Informed by Defunct Economic Theories  The most policy relevant conceptual framework, modern economics, also ignores the impact of economic activities on ecosystem functioning.
• Encouraged by Dominant Myths  Cultural myths about progress, science and humanity's relationship with nature all conspire to make ecosytem degradation acceptible.
• And Managed by Vested Interests  Individuals and institutions in a position to make decisions about sustainable scale issues generally have a vested interest in the status quo .