There is an enormous discrepancy between the ideals of individuals and what they are actually prepared to do, since individuals are rarely confronted with the consequences of their unsustainable consumption . Sustainable development as a concept is still perceived as dealing primarily with environmental protection and has not been integrated into social development. There has been a lack of public dialogue on these issues. Voluntary programs in the private sector have generally produced good results and have provided good complementary approaches to mandatory measures.
Incentive programs are often better suited to investment cycles.
Finding the right mix is always a challenge, but the usefulness of voluntary measures lies in the flexibility that is given to industry to meet requirements in a manner that is best suited to their individual constraints and capacities. Local Agenda 21 efforts are still embryonic, since only 140 out of 650 local municipalities have implemented local Agenda 21. The challenge is to ensure that these efforts incorporate all the dimensions of sustainable development. There have also been considerable efforts to develop environment and sustainable development education programs. The pricing of natural resources is critical for encouraging more sustainable consumption patterns.