Human Action and Sustainability

The early texts on sustainable development are based on a conception of human beings as having needs. This approach is flawed in that even in approaches based on more complex conceptions of needs (such as for instance the "living standards of future generations”), there is no insurance that humans will not cause harm to their environment or other living species, if their needs can be fulfilled or their living standards maintained.

These approaches did not take into account that human beings not only have needs but also values. Taking into account values allow to see humans as agents who have the freedom to decide what to value. It thus sustains our freedoms.

Environmental aspects can be taken into account in Sen's approach in that humans can be free to value things that do not necessarily contribute to the fulfillment of their needs, such as the preservation of species. Another example can be seen with valuing the freedom to participate, when for instance decisions affecting the environment are made without public debate, as it was the case with the US non-ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.