ABSTRACT
With ‘sustainability’ a fashionable word, there is a general understanding of the need to consider the long term consequences of our present urban ‘lifestyle’. This is a good thing, although it comes somewhat late in the day. The problem is though, that there is no clear view as to the meaning of ‘sustainability’, nor the manner in which it can be attained. In the UK, government interest has focussed on ‘economic’ sustainability, which is translated into attempts to encourage commercial ventures with new, cleaner technology products, and to promote energy savings, waste recycling and charging full economic costs for things. While in themselves such initiatives are probably beneficial, as regards long term sustainability of our system, it rather misses the point that it might be the market system itself that is the greatest threat, in that it forces a decision making perspective on human activities which is characterized by a priority for short term high economic returns.
