GEF

Unit 8  |  Government and Sustainability 177 development. Worldwide, sustainability advocates are working with many city and regional governments in crafting progres- sive policies. For instance, Chicago requires that at least 50 percent of all construction waste must be reused or recycled. On the other side of the globe, Melbourne, Australia, is push- ing for a 60 percent reduction from 2006 levels in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Local governments can impact sustainability policies in ways federal governments cannot. 8.6  Government Intervention, Democracy, and Sustainability There is a wide range of what is considered appropriate gov- ernment involvement in economic and social life between nations. This variation can be seen most clearly in govern- mental responses to economic and social inequality. The U.S., India, Russia, and many other nations have a strong economic inequality, in which a small percentage of individuals own a disproportionate share of wealth. In other nations, such as in many European countries, the government takes an active role