The Government wishes to optimise both economic growth and environmental protection. The two goals have sometimes been presented as incompatible, and the argument put that negative growth is the only way to save the environment, However both goals can often be pursued simultaneously, and this can be facilitated if, as issues arise, an integrated approach is taken.

The issue is not whether there should be economic growth but rather what kind of growth should be encouraged. The rate of growth may, of course, be uneven across industry sectors as they move towards sustainability,

Because of the inter-relationships between the economy, the environment and the community's standard of living, ecologically sustainable development requires non-economic factors such as environmental values to be taken into consideration in economic policy and in other decisions. At present, many of these values are not adequately incorporated into decision making by governments or in the economy generally. Ecological sustainability needs to become an integral consideration when economic choices are made by governments, industry and consumers.

Development is more likely to be sustainable if resources are used as efficiently as possible while meeting the community's social goals, such as those relating to employment and income distribution.

Choosing the most cost-effective means of implementing environmental standards will also allow higher levels of environmentai protection for a given level of expenditure.

If resources are used inefficiently, not only wll income levels be lower than they otherwise might be but the environment is more likely to be damaged. Efficient resource use and environmentally friendly processes promote sustainable development.

The Commonwealth is also committed to ensuring that ecological processes and a full range of species are preserved. Ecological species depend on each other for sustenance and survlval. As well as conservlng specles, it is important to ensure the diversity of the gene pool of the species over its distribution range. And most people also have aesthetic and ethical reasons for wanting to see plants and animals survive. Ecological, aesthetic and ethical considerations apart, malntainlng species keeps economic options open.

Sustainable development wlll be facilitated by a diverse and flexible economy which is able to withstand internal and external shocks. Such an economy needs investment in capital, skills, research, and in the case of raw materials, exploration and sustainable development of new sources or substitutes to replace sources currently being used.

Improving environmental quality will also require investment, including in research, analysis and management regimes.

Additional investments cannot readily be facilitated in a stagnant or declining economy.

Irreconcilable goals

There will be some cases, however, where economic and environmental goals cannot be pursued simultaneously, at least not wlth our present knowledge and technology. In these cases, the choices will be clearer if they are based on the best available information and assessment of the full costs and benefits of alternative courses of action.

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