Global efforts at sustainable development

Sustainable development is as much about economic and social development as it is about environmental protection, says this MIT professor. But he also offers hope that all three are possible. One such solution is a process unfolding in northern Sweden, which is trying to cut itself from fossil fuels. One such person helping the cause is a car dealer who became immersed in the issues of population growth, resource distribution and carbon emission and asked himself what he could do about it. his program took office and next year Sweden will offer the only bio-region in the world where transportation, heat, and electricity will be powered entirely by ethanol which is made from timber waste. The MIT professor’s book cites other global examples of similar initiatives. The British government hopes to join those ranks and Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans to build thousands of wind turbines and move the UK towards 15% renewable energy by 2020. the UK also knows their population has to be on board. This UK official says what’s needed is bold thinking by heads of state. The MIT professor says to get people on board there needs to be a massive shift of mind.