Even though India has a small per capita footprint, it is also in a deficit situation, because it imports food and other products, acts as a carbon sink, and is depleting its natural capital. Sustainability Need to balance the consumption and natural capital throughputs of the Earth. Western nations will have to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate the needs of the majority of the world s population. Technology is not sole the answer- see Box 4.1 Efficiency gains form technology can only work if those gains are removed from the economic circulation. More efficient cars has led to more driving and therefore a net increase in fuel consumption.
Sustainability means achieving a social well being as well as an economic one.
People need to have the basics of food, shelter, health care, education, clothing. More efficient use of materials and energy to allow increased consumption by the poorest, while reducing energy and material use. Denser cities, less urban sprawl. Planning at government and private sector levels needs to consider the energy and material throughput of any decision before it is taken.