‘This is a wonderful book that should be on the desk of every architect and planner. It shows how

Does eco-governance differ from conventional environmental management?
‘Eco-governance’, here, refers to decision structures designed explicitly to suit the nature of ecological 
and sustainability issues. Eco-governance implies intellectual, institutional and technical systems 
that respect a diversity of responsible cultures, lifestyles and values – while enhancing the underlying 
ecological and democratic platforms that make these possible. Our environmental management 
institutions, regulations and management systems have instead applied old ideas to new environmental 
issues [Box 49]. Ultimately, it is only the citizenry that can bring about the large-scale, cross-sectoral, 
whole systems change required, through NGOs in partnership with other sectors.
62
Participation in 
decision-making and design is essential, though not enough.
63
Civil society will need to re-negotiate 
the social contract. Business and industry will not adopt substantive due process, which is essential 
to meaningful public participation, without an eco-sensitive and more democratic constitutional 
framework [Chapter 13]. New kinds of decision systems are needed that make decision-makers, 
not just the general public, more accountable. In the case of irreversible decisions, accountability 
cannot be achieved by electoral defeat or other forms of restitution or retribution after the fact. We 
need better planning, design and decision principles that can prevent 
irreversible
decisions in the first 
place. A ‘constitutional’ basis, as well as a transparent, participatory approach to sustainable decision-
making and design is necessary [Chapter 13]. The above issues and principles will be teased out in 
the following chapters to form the basis of SmartMode (Systems Mapping And Re-design Thinking 
Mode), a process for achieving Positive Development. 

---