“Sustainable development” is a catchphrase that frequently arises in discussions of global resources and the environment. Although the term has various meanings, sustainable development may be broadly defined as progress that meets the needs of today’s generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept rests on three pillars—economic growth, environmental protection, and social justice—and stresses maximum efficiency in the use of natural resources along with the protection of the livelihood of indigenous populations.

According to many environmental activists and others, governments can effectively lead citizens and industries along the path to sustainable development. As an example, they cite the Netherlands’ National Environmental Policy Plan, “the best job of technical environmental planning done by any nation to date,” according to Resource Renewal Institute founder...