In the very weak approach the natural environment is seen in terms of its utility to the economic
system. Sustainable development is a synonym for sustainable growth. Policy tools continue to aim
at maximizing production and growth. In the weak approach the objective of policies remains
economic growth, but environmental costs are taken into consideration: market-reliant
environmental policy, changes in patterns of consumption. Top down initiatives dominate in the
administration system and there is only limited dialogue between state and environmental
movement. This approach is biased in favour of the Northern view of the development process. It
also reduces environmental problems to managerial problems, solvable within the context of the
dominant political and economic system. Rather than stimulating radical reform, sustainable
development here becomes a cachet of ever-expanding improvement. (Baker et al. 1997, 8-15;
O'Riordan 1996, 145-146, 148-149.)
Whereas weak variations of sustainable development assert that economic development is a
precondition of environmental protection, advocates of strong sustainable development assert that
environmental protection is a precondition of economic development (environmentally regulated
market). There is less emphasis on quantitative growth with strong variations. Although the accent
is on a switch to qualitative growth, the overall objective of economic growth remains, but there
have to bee changes in patterns of production and consumption. There could be in global level
economical growth in developing countries and economical improvement in industrial countries.
(Baker et al. 1997, 15-16.)
Very strong sustainable development offers a profounder vision aimed at structural change in
society, the economy and the political system, which is premised upon a radical change in the
attitude of humankind towards nature. These processes mean changes in patterns and levels of
production and consumption. One important target is environmentally regulated market. Growth is
measured in qualitative terms: quality of life rather than standard of living. There might be
quantitative growth in the third world or poorer areas of Europe, but only through negative growth
in highly developed areas. This variation represents a pure ecocentric worldview, which adopts a
holistic approach that recognizes the interrelatedness of all life. It also stresses the social
dimensions of development, which among other things means that greater account is taken of work
and production activities that lie outside the formal economic system in the social economy, for
example through the not-for-private-profit contributions of community-based organizations.
(Baker et al. 1997, 15-17; Dobson 1998, 55-57; Jacobs 1999, 40-41; Jacob 1996, 6-8, 17.)
Different variations of sustainable development represent a kind of ladder or a map of the
sustainable transition. Both ends of the ladder can be considered the extremes that represent all the