GEF

Unit 6  |  Social Changes of Sustainable Development 139 Community efforts can be a driving force in meeting the com- plementary goals of economic and environmental health and social equality. The UN identifies eight major characteristics of governance that might steer society towards sustainability. Good gover- nance is: 1. Participatory 2. Consensus Oriented 3. Accountable 4. Transparent 5. Responsive 6. Effective and Efficient 7. Equitable and Inclusive 8. Adherent to the Rule of Law In a society with good governance, corruption is minimized, minority perspectives are taken seriously, and the voices of the most vulnerable members of society, such as children and the poor, are also represented. Good governance can support sus- tainability by being responsive to the present and future needs of society. It can work to provide food and water security, and set high standards for health and education. James Boyce, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, sums up the vital role of social equity in sustainability: By respecting nature’s limits and investing in nature’s wealth, we can protect and enhance the environment’s ability to sustain human well-being. But how humans interact with nature is intimately tied to how we interact with each other. Those who are relatively powerful and wealthy typically gain disproportionate benefits from the economic activities that degrade the environment, while those who are relatively United Nations Logo