On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of Wageningen University a debate on Sustainability and Sustainable Development will be organized in WICC-building, starting at 12.00 hours.
Making decisions about sustainability or sustainable development requires insight into facts and perceptions relating to the long-term effects of measures or autonomous forces in the economic, ecological or social-cultural domain (the so-called 3P triangle: People, Planet, Profit). What are the effects of a measure that favours one interest on other interests, of short-term decisions on long-term developments? Balancing all options is and will be a task of decision makers rather than scientists. Scientists have to clarify, to reveal, to give structure.
A number of internationally renowned opinion leaders will discuss the sense and nonsense of a 3P approach, the various ways of looking at sustainable development from the point of view of science, government and industry, and the importance of innovations. A guideline for the discussions will be offered by a number of statements based on a position paper prepared by the Working Group on Sustainable Development and Systems Innovation (Chair: Prof. R. Rabbinge) at Wageningen UR.