Grass Root Movement

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VI. Sustainable development, national and grass root movements

There have, however, been some positive national and local developments that have been implemented since the introduction of sustainable development to the political arena. In Germany, the renewable energy sector is booming, with plans to transition to ‘a nuclear-free and low-carbon energy system’. Japan too has demonstrated preference for a transition away from fossil fuels and nuclear energy, although whether this policy will actually be implemented is questionable. Another promising development has been China’s recent issuing of tariffs on Australian coal imports. Even domestically, despite the hackneyed federal political position, South Australia has made it clear that it is within the state’s mandate to work toward ambitious renewable energy targets. Further, a recent increase in environmental NGOs and grass-root movements in both the global North and the global South demonstrate a growing thirst for change. The focus on NGO involvement and the strengthening of local communities in the 1992 Earth Summit may partially be responsible for such developments. Additionally, some international treaties have shifted focus from
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However, perhaps with the exception of the Montreal Protocol, cooperation on an international level is lacking. As such, sustainable development has been unsuccessful in generating holistic solutions. Initiatives often operate in isolation from one another, or are hit by backlash from governments or corporations. The individual is powerless against the state – or corporation. As such, while sustainable development shows potential in generating a positive movement against non-sustainable development, it lacks the volume to push against a system that is centralized by

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