*3.2.1. The awakening 1960's*

They focus on the way we extract resources, use them and produce wastes, but also on other ways in which we destroy nature's carrying capacity. In a nutshell, nature should not be subject

**4.** people should not be subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity

Regarding "economic ethics", the article stresses that "hidden costs of unsustainability" must

Another thorough review [7] was critical to economic growth and pointed out various misuses of the sustainability concept. Still, they saw a hope for a further "creative global dialogue". In fact, since sustainable development is an imprecise concept – but still with intuitive aims – it contains a "creative tension", and the debate is still active. Sustainable development can be viewed as a social movement: a group of people with a common ideology who try together to achieve certain general goals. The authors point, for instance, to the vision of "voluntary simplicity" and a need to define life quality by other criteria than by economy and consump‐ tion. Today, it has been a serious matter to explore various indexes of "well-being" or "level

We can conclude that during the twenty-five years since 1987, the vague vision of the Brundt‐ land Commission has undergone a considerable conceptual refinement. Although we find different "schools" that vary in their way of thinking, they all strive to enlighten the way into a harmonious future. Ecosystem thinking has become a fruitful common approach, illustrating ecological services and nature's vulnerability to overconsumption. A further conceptual development will certainly occur, both in order to clarify ideals and principles, to describe

There is a special need to clarify the conflict between environmental and economic sustaina‐ bility. Even in 2012, world leaders include economic growth in the concept of "green econo‐ my". This concept is accepted and could be fruitful, but is unsustainable until it is defined as a sub-system which is in harmony with the biophysical limits of ecosystems. Also, what are the guidelines for an "economic ethic" that implies a moral aspect in addition to income? Economic thinkers have a challenging task, and interdisciplinary research is needed to describe

This topic has already been mentioned when discussing environmental sustainability but here,

**1.** concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust.

be shown, and no economy should exceed nature's carrying capacity [9].

conflicts, and to implement concensuses in law and in personal lifestyle.

**3.2. The rise of applied ecological thinking: From basic science to politics**

the use of ecological thinking will be followed in a more chronological way.

**2.** concentrations of substances produced by society.

**3.** degradation by physical means, and..

to systematically increasing…

130 Environmental Change and Sustainability

to meet their needs.

of happiness", see [13].

a sustainable "green economy".

*3.1.6. Perspective*

Until 1960, ecology was regarded as a narrow and rather anonymous science of little public interest. However, persons working with nature conservation became increasingly interested in ecology, which revealed insight in nature's structure and function. The first edition of Odum's textbook in ecology in 1959 [5] became an eye-opener for many persons and inspired "green" organisations. Here they found a scientific basis for discussing nature's vulnerability and the importance of taking care of nature's production and diversity.

A main focus in the 1960's environmental debate was the danger of pollution, which included the harmful concentration of agricultural pesticides in food chains. Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" in 1962 [14] created a global focus on these dangers. After a great rise in ecological awareness in Europe during the late 1960's, the Nordic Council of Ministers decided that 1970 should be the "European Year of Nature Conservation". The concept of "Natural heritage", which signalises both values and duties attached to nature, became established in several countries at that time. While the "Cultural heritage" focuses on historical documents which are made by people, the natural heritage points to "nature documents" as a part of a nation's identity.
