When the environmental movement emerged in the 1960s it struggled to gain recognition in a world dominated by economic priorities.
The unending push for economic growth shoved aside those few warnings of pollution and resource depletion that emerged.
But the ecological devastation wrought by more than a half century of industrialization could not continue forever.
Some saw a solution in stopping growth itself. Others were less psessimistic and believed humanity could achieve what they called sustainable development.
The understanding that ecological protection and development could occur simaltaneously finally received global attention in 1987 when by United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development released Our Common Future.
This ground-breaking report advised government to adopt the principles of sustainable development: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
It challenged nations to make fundamental changes in their relationship with the earth, urging them to reduce consumption and the overuse of natural resources.
Government, communities and businesses world wide have slowly heeded the commissions important challenge.
Focus this month casts its spotlight on those in Ottawa who have reduced their impact on the environment and improved their quality of life by incorporating sustainable development into their daily lives.