Sustainable development must not be allowed to become the domain of one ideology, field of knowledge, or political philosophy. Ethics is often neglected in mainstream approaches to both public and corporate policy. Although difficult to quantify and analyze, these concepts play a critical role in any social or economic transformation. We hold, therefore, that ethics and leadership must become integral parts of the management philosophy of the transition period. With Uncertainty Greater public understanding of science and technology is critical.
Human actions are in part conditioned by our understanding of how the natural world works.
Science is essential in informing decision makers and citizens of the impacts of human activities on the earth's ecosystems. Scientists must effectively communicate not only their knowledge but also their process of discovery is acquiring that knowledge. Scientific inquiry into sustainability is necessarily interdisciplinary. This systems-level perspective lends itself to the design of effective and sustainable development policies. Citizens for their part should not expect definitive answers in all cases, but they must be assured that scientific information is presented in good faith.