World Bank calls on countries to take urgent steps to protect 'natural capital'

[kristopher]

5. How do you turn this into greenwashing?

Sure, we know that natural capital is important, but since when has there EVER been a systematized programmatic strategy to ensure that taking the value of this natural capital into consideration as a clear part of national policy planning?

Without such an approach you have what we have now - a system where there is zero value attached to the wider systemic damage that individual development projects are responsible for.

Your idea that the concept of net present value is "driving" development and associated environmental damage is very poorly formed. What is driving development is the desire to have more safety, security and comfort in life, goals that are in no way related to the concept of net present value. Development is going to take place, that is a given; so unless you are willing to trade places with someone living in 3rd world poverty your wish to deny it is hubris on a grand scale. I'd far rather see it managed properly so that the end result is, indeed, sustainable.

Despite your perception, Kyte is not saying in any way that sustainable culture is impossible to achieve. Your assertions that such a state isn't possible is disproven by the record of human development. It isn't inevitable, by any means, but it is certainly achievable.