THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES IN ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

摘要

Environmental sustainability has been recognised as an integral and key pillar of sustainable development. Millennium Development Goal (MDG-7)-ensure environmental sustainability calls on countries to "reverse the losses of environmental resources" by 2015. Decision makers at all levels are faced with choices regarding the use of natural resources and the environmental impacts of development projects and policies. MDG-7 is committed to reducing by half the numbers of people without access to safe drinking water; improving the lives of at least 100,000 slum dwellers; and reversing the loss of environmental resources. Achieving progress towards MDG7 entails examining human welfare and ecosystem health, as well as the interrelationship between the two. The challenge in implementing the Millennium Declaration warns that if we do not act to contain existing environmental damage and mitigate future harm, we will inflict irreversible damage on the ecosystems that support human life, livelihoods, and wellbeing, and thus compromise our ability to achieve other MDGs, particularly efforts to reduce poverty and hunger. In view of this, provision of information on the state of the environment and its interactions is critical in helping decision makers develop sound policies that can ensure environmental sustainability. In order for different sectors of society to appreciate and mitigate possible environmental impacts, access to reliable environmental information is vital. The paper will therefore explore some of the challenges of ensuring environmental sustainability in Zambia. It will answer questions such as; are libraries playing a role in ensuring environmental sustain-ability? What information related initiatives exist that libraries are using or should utilise? What is the future role of libraries and information services in responding to the increasing demand for environmental information and calls for environmental sustainability at national and international levels? The experi-ences of an environmental agency, Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ in the provision of environmental information services will be highlighted. MDGs therefore, serve as the new framework for sustainable development by setting social equity goals and targets that aim at contributing to economic development. Libraries should therefore, play an active in achieving these targets.