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The Sustainable Development Implementation Plan (SDIP) is one of the more thoroughly researched documents and is sweeping in its scope. It is the work of hundreds if not thousands of Bermudians who filled out surveys, participated in focus groups, attended small and large public meetings, all in the interest of making Bermuda more sustainable.

The document highlights the interdependence of culture, environment, housing and other infrastructure aspects, and the economy.

In the Section on Living with Bermuda's limits we

find the nub of the entire exercise:

Sustainable development involves finding a

balance between social, environmental and economic priorities. Often environmental resources represent a limiting factor to sustainability. All too often unrestrained economic or human activity can lead to a degraded environment. This section deals with the resource limits that Bermuda faces, and the infrastructure and policies needed to overcome or manage those

limits.

As more land is consumed under concrete and

glass, the price of the remaining land increases,

which translates into higher construction costs,

higher prices for housing and further strain for

lower-income housing-seekers.

Perhaps nothing illustrates the link between social, environmental and economic interdependency than our relationship with the most vital aspect of human existence, water.

According to the SDSIP, we now use more water

than we collect in our tanks.

In 1967 we consumed an average of 7 gallons per person per day. Now we consume around 30 g/p/d.

We collect an estimated average of 1 billion gallons of rainfall in our tanks every year. Yet we use 1.58 billion gallons of water per year. By 2010, it is expected that we will use 1.76 billion gallons of water in one year.

We are moving toward more dense occupancy in

apartment and condo dwellings, building "up"

rather than building "out". These buildings collect less rainwater per resident. "As a result, personal daily water needs cannot be met

and more stress is placed on supplementary water

sources."

"An increasing demand for supplementary water

[primarily from] ground water lenses ... causes

deterioration in the water quality and can cause

irreversible damage to the lens itself [despite]

strict regulations in place. During dry periods,

demand for ground water exceeds the amount that

is allowed to be extracted. " The introduction

of a reverse osmosis plant by Bermuda Water Works

[and by the government has added to the supply].

Our use of water is increasing, and it is progressively harder for the supply to keep pace. The current rainfall shortage (about 6 inches in deficit) illustrates one possible impact of

global warming; another is the likely impact of sea level rise on the water lenses. We are also downgrading the quality of our groundwater by "routinely dumping [cesspit] effluent in the same spaces from which water is drawn," which has negative implications for our health.

Every remedy to our water quantity and quality

problems requires energy and additional work from

our economy and consequently adds to Bermuda's

contribution to global warming. In short, our

affluent lifestyle (the success of our economy)

is overtaxing our water supply (the environment)

and adding to health threats (deteriorating

social quality of life).



To further illustrate the endless chain of social, environmental and economic links, healthcare costs more than doubled during the 1990s. That means individually and collectively we have to spend - and earn - more to maintain the same level of health at the same time that the processes involved in our earning more have a greater negative impact on health. This paints a

picture of the proverbial dragon eating its tail:

we are devouring ourselves.

The section on "Building and maintaining an

inclusive strong economy" declares that "the high cost of living is simply an indicator of the sustained success of the economy and an increase in disposable incomes." The same could be said of the plethora of larger and more powerful vehicles on our roads and the congestion and air pollution they cause. Or the high incidence of obesity and related health problems. Or the higher per capita production of waste (higher than New York City

residents). Or the unrealistic expectations of our entry-level workers. The SDIP links all of these to Bermuda's economic "success".

On reflection, however, it is a stretch to adjudge a high cost of living, more congestion, increased pollution, obesity, ill-health,

excessive waste and unrealistic expectations as "successes". And it is hard to even justify this level of "success" when 75 per cent of the new jobs created require the importation of foreign workers.

The SDIP illustrates that ongoing housing

shortages and high prices are linked directly to

the housing demands of our imported workforce.

Beyond the serious look into our problems, the

SDIP contains strategies and actions for remedy,

and points out the possible difficulties for each action. The SDIP refers to the need for "enlightened self-interest" on the part of the business community and the government if sustainability is to be attained.

There were some additions and some omissions from the draft SDIP. The most notable addition was in the section on the economy where the priority

issue is to "Improve the public education system"

This section refers to a Report that was generated in 2007, the year after the draft SDIP document was produced. Despite the questions this raises about processes of consultation, I imagine its inclusion will meet with universal approval.

There is no doubt that for the 58 per cent of Bermudian children in our public schools to become

productive citizens, they will need the best that

education can offer.

As a whole, the SDIP is a well-balanced blueprint for a sustainable Bermuda. The section on transforming governance should climb to the top of Premier Brown's list for attention. While we already have hints that Premier Brown is inclined to tilt this playing field to suit and reinforce his Tourism agenda, he will achieve most by bringing to the fore the elements of sustainability in governance - transparency, accountability and real consultation.

Meanwhile, I have just scratched the surface.

Every citizen should obtain a copy of the SDIP for reference and as a guide for where to apply pressure. Don't depend on statements from politicians or journalists. Read it, mark it with

a hi-lighter, put bookmarks in the pages, use it, quote it. Own it.

My congratulations to former Premier Alex Scott

for initiating this process, and to Premier Brown

for bringing it this far. Now the real work begins.

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