Strategies for Sustainable Development I

Governments use different approaches to support sustainable development. One such approach is the command-and-control strategy.

In this approach, the government relies on standards to improve environmental quality. For example, the government may decide how much pollution is acceptable and create standards or rules to enforce those limits.

To see how this works, imagine an economy where the government sets an emissions standard for all newly manufactured vehicles.

The emissions standard limits how much pollution vehicles such as cars or buses are allowed to release.

Vehicle manufacturers must design cleaner vehicles using technologies such as improved engines or advanced filters to meet these standards.

Before a vehicle can be sold, firms must ensure that it meets the required emissions standard.

This rule ensures that only vehicles that meet the emissions standard enter the market.

Command-and-control strategies play an important role in reducing pollution and supporting sustainable development.