Human development and strong sustainability: A mutual dialogue

Abstract

Pelenc and Dubois offer a much needed discussion on how to integrate an ecological dimension within the capability approach for embedding human development in a ‘strong’ conception of sustainability. The chapter also aims to bring strong sustainability, along with its core notion of critical natural capital (and ecosystem services), into line with human development requirements. The authors demonstrate how this mutual dialogue helps overcome certain limitations in both approaches and build an integrated framework for the assessment of the interactions between human well-being and natural environment from the perspective of intra and intergenerational justice. They conclude by highlighting the crucial role public deliberation has to play, if we really want to embed human development in a strong conception of sustainability.