Green plans are comprehensive environmental strategies that are intended to improve environmental quality and make rapid progress towards sustainability. (In its use here, the word "green" is non-political and non-ideological, and merely refers to a context of environmental protection and sustainable development.) Green plans are characterized by a longer-term view, while being thorough in their consideration and integration of environmental issues. Green plans also take account of economic realities, while consistently ensuring an appropriate degree of protection of environmental quality and natural ecological values (such as the needs of endangered species and rare ecosystems).

Green plans represent an extremely important tool for the longer-term protection of environmental quality, conservation of natural resources and ecological values, and achievement of a sustainable economic system. Green plans do this by proposing sustainable alternatives to the many kinds of modern activities that are causing damages to the environment and biosphere...