Leadership Will Remain a Key Factor in Attaining Global Environmental Sustainability: What are the Stakes?

Abstract

Leadership will remain a central factor in the efforts of achieving environmental sustainability. The paper tackles the subject of environmental sustainability from a global perspective and will argue that the power dynamics obtaining in the so called 'Global village' are critical in examining and chatting the way forward for a sustainable environment. The paper seeks to point out that sustainability will be achievable only if the pockets of power in the global political economy take a leadership role in adhering to environmental sustainability conventions and not only through adherence but also through engaging in innovative ways of pursuing alternative economic activities that are environmentally friendly. A number of scholarly papers are examined together with other official reports to advance the thesis that the key to achieving global environmental sustainability rest with the change of attitude from the most influential countries of the world who happen to be the worst perpetrators of environmental degradation especially in the third world. The central argument of this article is that while every country in the globe has a role to play, the leading nations of the world should be pace setters in the pursuit of a globally safe environment.