Yet, as Ann Dale compassionately argues, it is not too late to take action. Hope lies in sustainable development – the fundamental human imperative of the 21st century. Sustainable development, in Dale's view, is the process of reconciling three imperatives: the ecological, the social, and the economic. Equitable access to resources in all three spheres is fundamental to the global realization of sustainable development. This will not be realized without strong leadership by governments at all levels. Ultimately needed is a new framework for governance based on human responsibility and a recognition of the interconnectedness of human and natural systems.