Ecology matters: sustainable development in Southeast Asia

Based on empirical evidence in Southeast Asia, this paper critically evaluates the concept of sustainable development based on four themes: population growth and distribution, the capitalistic system, ecological systems and the nature of development. It argues that the development of capitalism took place in both Europe and Asia and is thus culturally neutral. Capitalism, however, is associated with materialistic values and the growth of consumption, and hence is a major social process and structure in undermining ecosystems and biodiversity. While the concept of sustainable development has varied interpretations, this paper asserts the need to contextualize sustainable development with an ecosystem paradigm, whether qualified as cultural, human, political or cultural. Given that cities are likely to be the norm of living in the future, it is imperative that governments focus on sustainable urban development. Cities have two very different environmental contexts. The intra-urban area is a human engineered landscape that is confronted by 'brown issues.' These brown issues are exacerbated by the lower circuit of urban dwellers, the poor slum and squatter dwellers. The upper circuit of wealthy, urban residents contribute to the wider extra-urban ecological implications due to their high consumption patterns. They are the major contributors to the size of the ecological footprint. The paper concludes that though there are many prescriptions to curb environmental deterioration and ecological degradation, the long-term solutions will lie in changing consumption habits, lifestyle goals and value systems. These require an ecological prescription in political thinking, economic activities and educational systems.