Digital Commons Network^™

Policy Support For Sustainable Development In An Uncertain Future, Hedwig Van Delden

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Sustainable development requires an approach that values and assesses society, economy and the environment in a holistic and integrated way. When looking at developing countries, the solutions to environmental challenges often go hand in hand with poverty alleviation. Unsustainable land management is likely to lead to environmental decay and losses in ecosystem services, making it hard for subsistence farmers to escape the poverty trap. Policy incentives that focus on long-term development of environmental assets as well as improving livelihoods can therefore create synergies in reaching sustainable development goals. Acknowledging that understanding the socio-ecological system with its inherent feedback processes is …