The sustainable development movement has been a part of the global community for decades. However, many people only began to embrace the movement during the last decade or so. Inspired by the late Great Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, the global community has made sustainable development a priority.
Sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (1) The basic concept of sustainable development is to ensure that resources are used in such a way that they are available for years to come.
To ensure its success, sustainable development needs to be incorporated into all activities, including industrialization and economic growth. For example, regulations for automobile emissions and recycling programs are two ways individuals can participate in sustainable development.
The term “sustainable development” was born in the 1980s, and has gained widespread acceptance. But its meaning is not always clear.
What is sustainable development? What is its history, what are the key issues it addresses, why has it become so important, and how has it affected international relations? These are some of the questions addressed by this book.
It provides an introduction to the global sustainable development movement, which has grown up around the concept. It highlights some of the most important issues that are of concern to governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). And it analyzes relationships between members of the global community – between developing countries, developed countries, NGOs, inter-governmental organizations (such as the World Bank) and transnational corporations (TNCs).
It also examines ways in which they have attempted to work together to achieve sustainable development. At the end of each chapter there are suggestions for further reading and a list of useful web sites on each topic.
The concept of sustainable development is one which has been around since the late 1980s. At that time, it was viewed by many as a radical and controversial idea. Today, however, sustainable development has become the guiding principle for a growing movement among businesses and governments worldwide.
Sustainable development is part of a global movement for change and progress in two complementary ways:
The first is an attempt to improve the world by promoting responsible and equitable economic practices and social policies.
The second is an attempt to solve practical problems in the way we use resources and manage our environment in order to protect our future.
These goals are interrelated and often mutually reinforcing. They are linked by a common belief that we can create a better world for all people without impoverishing future generations or damaging the natural environment upon which all life depends.
Sustainability is a dynamic concept. It is about a way of living and doing business now, that considers the impacts on future generations. The goal of sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The basic principles are:
It is a global issue – it affects everyone
It is an intergenerational issue – we need to think beyond our own lifetime
We all have a role in achieving sustainable development – individuals, communities, businesses and governments
The challenge is to integrate economic, social, environmental and political considerations into decision making for sustainable development
Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all people, establishing social and economic justice, conserving and protecting resources for current and future generations and adopting a globally shared vision for the future.
Sustainable development does not mean cutting back on growth or eliminating production or consumption. It means developing in ways which do not harm society or the environment. It means innovating and doing things better by utilising resources more efficiently, reducing waste and pollution and helping to improve quality of life.
Sustainable development represents a challenge to traditional economic thinking, and requires a new way of understanding the relationship between human activity and the natural environment. While the concept of sustainable development is broad and complex, and therefore has no single definition or set of criteria, there are several principles that guide its vision. These principles were developed by prominent figures in sustainable development, including many of the individuals who helped establish and shape the movement.
The Brundtland Report, named after former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, who chaired a commission on sustainable development convened by the United Nations, provides one of the most comprehensive definitions of sustainable development. The report argues that sustain- able development can be defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition emphasizes that individuals have a right to pursue an improved standard of living but must do so in a way that does not harm future generations or deplete resources for them.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Think of it as a form of intergenerational equity.
Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity. As early as the 1970s “sustainability” was employed to describe an economy “in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems.” The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability.
Environmental sustainability focuses on maintaining ecological balance for future generations by recognizing that humans rely on natural resources for our survival and wellbeing. Environmental sustainability also encompasses such things as climate change, deforestation and ozone depletion. Economic sustainability concerns itself with ensuring that growth does not occur at the expense of other processes. For example, relying too heavily on fossil fuels can be harmful to both human health and the environment, so alternatives that are more efficient or renewable must be sought. Sociopolitical sustainability attempts to address social injustices by promoting equality within and among nations while also attempting to bridge cultural differences in an increasingly globalized world.
Sustainable development is a way for people to use resources without the resources running out. Sustainable development is possible when a community finds a way to meet their own needs without making it more difficult for future generations to meet their own needs. It involves making decisions today that will not reduce the range of options available to future generations.
Principle 1: Human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
Principle 2: States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Principle 3: The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.
Principle 4: In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.
Principle 5: All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development,