Towards a Sustainable State: A Look at Sustainable Development on a State Level

The objective of this research is to develop a state-level sustainable development model. The elements of sustainable development (as described in chapter 11), are interwoven to produce a strategy to maintain and even increase a sustainable quality of life. Due to the multitude of elements involved in sustainable development, I will be limited as to the depth in which each will be explored. It is my intention to show how these elements can be integrated into comprehensive and interdependent programs. In order for this integration of elements to occur, two components must be addressed: the state level policies and programs geared towards sustainable development, and the management or institutional process for implementation. In evaluating the integration of various sectors, the report will utilize the three mandates for sustainability embraced by the Bruntland Commission: - to re-examine the critical issues of environment and development and to formulate concrete and realistic action proposals to deal with them. - to strengthen synergy on environment and development and to assess and propose new forms of cooperation that influence policies and events in the direction of needed change. -to raise the level of understanding and commitment to action on the part of individuals, organizations, institutions, businesses, and government.Master of Science in Public Healt