We need a type of development that does not lead to depletion of renewable resources, such as water and soil, forests and fisheries, and non-renewable resources, such as minerals.

This raised a number of questions about:

• Values regarding desired levels and structure of development

• Welfare of future generations vs. welfare of present generation

• Relationship between man and environment

• Role and responsibility of science and technology

• Rising aspirations for development and modernization in the less developed countries

• Role of market in environmental degradation

• Notions of equality and justice

For development to be sustainable there are only three options: (a) a check on the scale of living; (b) changeover from manufacturing to service as service sector consumes less natural resources than manufacturing; and (c) new technological developments to conserve resources, which raise their productivity and reduce pollution. Yet, some economists feel that the case of limits to growth is overstated and as such the possibility of extinction is remote.