ABSTRACT
In certain respects, the environment is more than just one of the three pillars of sustainable development, it is the biophysical basis that supports the other two. Ecological processes ‘keep the planet fit for life’ (IUCN/UNEP/WWF 1991: 9) and provide ‘the foundation for social and economic development’ (World Bank 2005a: 53). These points are not new; they have been made regularly and are encapsulated as Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7 — to ensure environmental sustainability — recognising the importance of ecosystem goods and services as a source of wealth and livelihood for the world's poor (WRI et al. 2005; also Daily 1997). Much of the analysis and discourse on the environmental dimensions of sustainable development reflects a long-standing concern with the state of the biosphere. This is documented in numerous reports such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005a, 2005b, 2005c) and the Global Environmental Outlook (UNEP 1997, 1999b, 2003b, 2007a, 2012b).
