Is sustainable development
now even possible?

The biggest challenge we face today is establishing a different approach to sustainability

By Georges Dupras

November 27, 2025

Sustainable development is often used when natural habitat is at stake. There are those who strive against mounting odds to protect what is left of our wild spaces. They are facing the effects of climate change and an unprecedented political swing that has erased what little progress was achieved in the 80s and 90s. The authoritarian, even bullying, attitude of some authorities has called sustainability into question.

The pendulum

Change occurs when conflicting views and regional interests meet in parliament. This is the result of social demands and diversity. In our present political reality, it isn’t a simple case of going from liberal to conservative or from Democrats to Republicans, but an extreme swing to the far right.

If there is a shift back, the pendulum will not return to the middle. There are many forms of environmentalism: economic, cultural, political, and natural, among others. The present authoritarian regime has affected all of them without regard for long-term consequences.

Those who strive against mounting odds to protect what is left of our wild spaces are facing the effects of climate change and an unprecedented political swing that has erased what little progress was achieved in the 80s and 90s.

Monumental undertaking

How to “right” this extreme swing is for those far more qualified than I. The damage has been done, and the return to any semblance of balance won’t happen overnight. As for sustainable development, this will be a monumental undertaking, not for those looking to return to what has already been lost. Sustainable development must include transboundary species, which adds to the difficulties.

Conservation authorities believe we will lose most of our known species within the next 100 years. This is due to climate change, habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, and the increasing human population, which requires energy and space.

The biggest challenge today

The biggest challenge professionals in all fields face today is establishing a different approach to sustainability. This objective becomes particularly difficult when dealing with jurisdictional limitations. Migratory species that go between national borders are an example of extremism when one elected body makes knee-jerk decisions that affect bordering countries and states.

I’m not underplaying the impact of the illegal trade in wildlife species, and I applaud those who work tirelessly to fight this environmental cancer. The loss of species to the illicit wildlife trade is somewhere between 7 and 24 billion dollars annually. This includes 100 million plants and animals during the same period.

What I’m emphasizing is that there is little point in protecting species if their habitats are under relentless attack. This loss of range undermines sustainable programs at both the national and global levels.

Opinions differ on a balanced approach

Another consideration is that we all have different opinions on what constitutes the center of the balance we are seeking. This center point differs depending on the socio-economic region it affects. A new reality is the impact that one authoritarian bully can have on legal trade between other sovereign nations or collectives.

Obviously, what affects countries on one continent will differ from those on other continents. Even within a country like Canada, finding a middle ground is difficult when factoring in size, diversity, and trade agreements.

Keeping these massive political hurdles in mind, we see how the center point of sustainability pales.

‘Excluding the authoritarian and bullying tactics that we are currently experiencing from one foreign jurisdiction, our record for sustainable development is far from exemplary.’

Different approaches to sustainability

The Federal and Provincial governments in Canada should take the initiative and establish marine and terrestrial wildlife habitats, interconnected by corridors, to ensure the genetic integrity of those species within the defined ranges. First Nations would maintain their custom of hunting on a subsistence basis. Canada is one of the few countries with remaining landmass to accomplish this proactive conservation effort.

This effort would ensure that abundant species do not become species at risk due to habitat loss or exploitation, legal or otherwise. Our Provincial and Territorial authorities must go beyond the rhetoric of affording sentient status to animals and pass effective, enforceable laws that would be overseen by the Justice Department (currently under the Ministry of Natural Resources).

Make no mistake, excluding the authoritarian and bullying tactics that we are currently experiencing from one foreign jurisdiction, our record for “sustainable development” is far from exemplary. As to global efforts, those too require a serious rethink.

Steps before miles

The first step begins at home. Each of us can take the initiative to review our lifestyles, including the use of plastics and other petroleum-based products. Our throw-away lifestyles should be rethought.

The second step requires parents and guardians to play an active role in choosing what young children read and to avoid, as much as possible, books that portray animals as evil and dangerous. It is important for young people to learn to respect all living beings and their environment.

The third step is for adults to refrain from using the word “animal” when referring to undesirable human behaviour.

The fourth and final step would involve introducing a new conservation approach across primary and secondary schools. This would focus on a more ethical relationship with nature, including the less popular species. Freedom, responsibility, and accountability should be the cornerstones of our educational system.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Feature image: Jędrzej Koralewski – Pexels

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