Over the past few years, public administrators have become heavily involved in discovering new ways to conserve energy and resources. With sustainable development moving to the forefront of the nation's and the world's environmental crisis, public administration has planted itself into the thick of the planning process.

Dealing with Overpopulation

During the Earth Summit of 1992, the world's leaders addressed the very real problems associated with the growing population, which is expected to reach 8 billion by 2025. According to the US census, the United States gains a new person every 11 seconds. The result is consumption of resources at higher rates and the manufacturing of goods in larger volumes than in the past. Looking toward the future, it is important to plan for sustainability of resources over long periods of time. A successful and productive society is one in which humans can safely coexist with their environment.

Distribution of Resources

Whether the government should or has the right to utilize equity in its distribution of goods has become a growing debate. Concerns about human rights is a factor, but developments would be aimed at improving lifestyle in a way that benefits the community as well as its residents. And by considering the role of communities in national and global sustainability endeavors, public administrators can also look closer at how individuals can contribute to their local environments. For example, if cities and neighborhoods could find alternative means of acquiring resources (such as rainwater collection systems), they could cut down on the energy needed to import them into local facilities.

Making Communities Pedestrian Friendly

Conservation of space is another hurdle in the progression toward more sustainable communities. Even though rural areas have fewer or no industrial factories and are generally less populated, the people who live in them use more resources than is necessary. For starters, suburbs, especially larger ones, have been historically more accommodating to drivers than pedestrians; however, plans for sustainable development are focusing on restructuring roads in favor of pedestrians and increasing access to public transportation.

Since the 1992 Summit that took place in Rio, Agenda 21, with its 27 principles, has been powering the sustainable development movement. The project looks at the humanity's own survival as well as the threat it poses to the environment. In hopes of a more manageable future, public administration has taken on the role of educating people about movements toward the new sustainable world and actively promotes its values.