Sustainable Development Interview Project

Economics 309, Spring 2004, Prof. Hackett

Background

In spring semester 2004 students in Professor Hackett's Economics 309 (The Economics of a Sustainable Society) were given the assignment of interviewing experts, activists, businesspeople, tribal representatives, and government representatives on the topic of sustainable development. While interviewees represent a broadly diverse group, they are not necessarily representative of the diverse interests and points of view in the overall community. Interviewees were asked the following questions: (i) What should be the goals for sustainable development in the North Coast region of California? (ii) What are some practical steps toward these goals? (iii) What are the impediments? There were a large number of responses to these questions. Below I list the responses that were common to at least 20 percent of the interviewees:

Question 1. What should be the goals for sustainable development in the North Coast region of California?

Half of interviewees listed the goal of helping local small business, and 30 percent listed the goals from Prosperity, the County of Humboldt's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy: Focus on growing base industry clusters, support business growth and development, enhance our competitive edge, invest in our business, enhance regional quality of life.

Half of interviewees listed the goal of restoring, enhancing, and sustaining natural capital, including natural resources, ecosystems, and degraded watersheds.

Nearly half of the interviewees listed the goal of enhancing regional quality of life.

Nearly 40 percent of interviewees listed the goal of creating regional energy and/or food self-sufficiency.

Approximately one-third of interviewees listed the goal of improving transportation infrastructure, public transit, rail transportation, and/or airport expansion.

One-third of interviewees listed the goal of creating living wage or good paying jobs.

Nearly 30 percent of interviewees listed the goal of making sustainability generally accepted among the citizens of the region.

Nearly 30 percent of interviewees listed the goal of effective land use planning, such as planning based on watershed boundaries and principles.

A bit more than one quarter of interviewees listed the goal of making agriculture, fishing, and/or timber practices sustainable.

Nearly one quarter of interviewees listed the goal of preserving the region's rural character.

Question 2. What are some practical steps toward these goals?

Nearly 45 percent of interviewees suggested promoting entrepreneurship and small/local business development.

35 percent of interviewees suggested providing education to area residents about sustainable development principles and practices.

One-third of interviewees suggested building consensus among area residents about sustainable development principles and practices.

Slightly more than one quarter of interviewees suggested reinvesting in natural capital, such as watershed restoration.

Slightly less than one quarter of interviewees suggested using taxes, subsidies, and other economic tools to align individual incentives with overall regional sustainability.

20 percent of interviewees suggested infill development, urban growth boundaries, brownfields redevelopment, and/or higher density urban development.

20 percent of interviewees suggested providing funds for capital investment, including infrastructure investment.

Question 3. What are the impediments to sustainable development on the North Coast?

Slightly more than half of interviewees listed existing patterns of development, infrastructure, products, prices, and/or ways of life that reinforce the status quo.

More than one-third of interviewees listed the cultural divide in the region that gets in the way of consensus and general acceptance of specific sustainable development strategies.

More than one-third of interviewees listed values and preferences relating to consumerism, "affluenza", and/or unsustainable lifestyle expectations.

One third of interviewees listed the existing power structure and its influence on economic development and governance, regionally, statewide, and nationally.

Nearly one third of interviewees listed lack of knowledge, denial, and/or lack of education among area residents.

Thanks to all who participated

A total of 34 people were interviewed for this project. Those who agreed to be listed are given below:

Jacqueline Debets, Economic Development Coordinator, County of Humboldt

Dr. Yvonne Everett, Professor, Dept of Env. and Natural Resource Sciences, HSU

Maggie Gainer, Director, HSU Office for Economic and Community Development

Paul Hagen, Deputy DA of Env. Crimes Divs. of Humboldt, Del Norte, and Lake Co's.

Dr. Richard Hansis, Professor, Dept of Env. and Natural Resource Sciences, HSU

Sheila Helgath, Pacific Lumber Company (Mgr., Env. Cert. Systems)

Bob Judevine, BizNet Program Manager

Don Leonard, Director, Humboldt County Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Mark Lovelace, Humboldt Watershed Council

Kit Mann, Co-owner, Kokotat

Tim McKay, North Coast Environmental Center

David Meserve, Arcata City Council

Dr. Saeed Mortazavi, Professor, School of Business, HSU

Cheryl Seidner, Wiyot Tribal Chair

Jimmy Smith, First District Supervisor, County of Humboldt

Dr. Michael Smith, Professor, Dept of Env. and Natural Resource Sciences, HSU

Connie Stewart, Arcata City Council

Mike Thompson, U.S. Representative, 1st Congressional District of CA

Michael Winkler, Schatz Energy Research Center

Kathy Moxon, Humboldt Area Foundation

Dan Ihara, Executive Director, Center for Environmental Economic Development

Those not listed include representatives from agriculture, lumber, local municipal government, local economic development organizations, and non-government organizations.