Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 12.5. 
Possible 
nature of social develop-
ment at the existing 
consumption rate

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288 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
makes the idea of limits to growth inconceivable and unacceptable. 
Politically, limits should not be mentioned; economically, they are 
inconceivable. Society tends to dismiss the possibility of limits 
and tries to replace it with a possible fight for the improvement of 
technologies and the development of free market. Meanwhile, the 
results of social growth modelling show that the existing way of 
human development has exhausted itself.
 
Š
If the tendency of growth for the world population, industry, 
pollution, food production and consumption of resour ces 
continues, the limits of our planet will be reached ap prox-
imately within this century. Use of more common resources 
and numerous types of pollution have already ex ceeded the 
rates that can be physically balanced. Unless a con si derable 
decrease  in  the  flows  of  materials  and  energy  is  achieved, 
the coming decades will see an uncontrolled de crease in per 
capita amount of food, energy and industrial produce. As a 
foreseeable result, there may be a sudden and uncontrolled 
decrease in population and volumes of production. 
 
Š
However, this decrease is not unavoidable. It is feasible to di-
minish the tendencies of growth and create conditions for 
environmental and economic stability that can be well balan-
ced even in a long-term future. The global equilibrium should 
be created with a view to satisfy every person’s basic material 
needs and provide equal possibilities of self-development for all.
 
Š
The existence of a balanced and sustainable society is 
technically and economically viable, and it is more desir able 
than a society that seeks to solve its problems through conti-
nuous expansion. Transition to a balanced and sustainable 
society requires carefully balanced long-term and short-
term  goals,  preferring  sufficient  provision  for  life,  equality 
and quality instead of the volume of the aggregate product. 
It takes more than just labour productivity, more than just 
technology; it also takes maturity, empathy and wisdom. 
Should people opt for the second option, the sooner they start 
acting, the better are the prospects for the success.