ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE

Friends of the Earth Netherlands developed the environmental space concept as part of its 1992 Sustainable Netherlands Action Plan. Environmental space is the total amount of pollution, non- renewable resources, agricultural land and forests that can be used globally without impinging on access by future generations to the same resources. The Action Plan argues that each country has a right to the same amount of environmental space per capita, and proposes that a phasing-in period up to 2010 is necessary for an equal division of environmental space. Friends of the Earth concluded that the Netherlands is currently consuming more than its fair share of environmental space, and recommended a number of reductions in resource use. A Sustainable Europe strategy is now being prepared, based on contributions from 25 West and East European countries.

Sustainable Netherlands Action Plan