THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES IN ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Environmental sustainability has been recognised as an integral and keypillar of sustainable development. Millennium Development Goal(MDG-7)-ensure environmental sustainability calls on countries to``reverse the losses of environmental resources{''} by 2015. Decisionmakers at all levels are faced with choices regarding the use of naturalresources and the environmental impacts of development projects andpolicies.MDG-7 is committed to reducing by half the numbers of people withoutaccess to safe drinking water; improving the lives of at least 100,000slum dwellers; and reversing the loss of environmental resources.Achieving progress towards MDG7 entails examining human welfare andecosystem health, as well as the interrelationship between the two. Thechallenge in implementing the Millennium Declaration warns that if we donot act to contain existing environmental damage and mitigate futureharm, we will inflict irreversible damage on the ecosystems that supporthuman life, livelihoods, and wellbeing, and thus compromise our abilityto achieve other MDGs, particularly efforts to reduce poverty andhunger.In view of this, provision of information on the state of theenvironment and its interactions is critical in helping decision makersdevelop sound policies that can ensure environmental sustainability. Inorder for different sectors of society to appreciate and mitigatepossible environmental impacts, access to reliable environmentalinformation is vital. The paper will therefore explore some of thechallenges of ensuring environmental sustainability in Zambia. It willanswer questions such as; are libraries playing a role in ensuringenvironmental sustainability? What information related initiatives existthat libraries are using or should utilise? What is the future role oflibraries and information services in responding to the increasingdemand for environmental information and calls for environmentalsustainability at national and international levels? The experiences ofan environmental agency, Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ in theprovision of environmental information services will be highlighted.MDGs therefore, serve as the new framework for sustainable developmentby setting social equity goals and targets that aim at contributing toeconomic development. Libraries should therefore, play an active inachieving these targets.