Date. 1st August 2024
Sustainable development is an approach to growth and human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The aim is to have a society where living conditions and resources meet human needs without undermining planetary integrity. Sustainable development aims to balance the needs of the economy, environment, and social well-being. The Brundtland Report in 1987 contribute to make the concept of sustainable development better known.
Sustainable development overlap with the idea of sustainability which is a normative concept, there is a formulated distinction between the two concepts. Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal, a more sustainable world, while sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it. There are some problems with the concept of sustainable development. Some scholars say it is an oxymoron because according to them, development is inherently unsustainable. Other commentators are disappointed in the lack of progress that has been achieved so far. Part of the problem is that development itself is not consistently defined.
The Rio Process that began at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro has placed the concept of sustainable development on the international agenda. In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2030. These development goals address the global challenges, including for example poverty, climate change, biodiversity loss, and peace.
In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development released the report Our Common Future, commonly called the Brundtland Report. The report included a definition of sustainable development which is now widely used.
Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains two key concepts within it.
The concept of 'needs', in particular, the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given.
The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.
World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future.
Sustainable development thus tries to find a balance between economic development, environmental protection, and social well-being.
Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long time.
Sustainability usually has three dimensions or pillars, environmental, economic, and social. Many definitions emphasize the environmental dimension. This can include addressing key environmental problems, including climate change and biodiversity loss. The idea of sustainability can guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels. A related concept is that of sustainable development, and the terms are often used to mean the same thing, the distinguish between the two areas follows. Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal, a sustainable world, while sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it.
Sustainable development has its roots in ideas such as sustainable forest management, which were developed in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. In response to a growing awareness of the depletion of timber resources in England, John Evelyn argued, in his 1662 essay Sylva, that sowing and planting of trees had to be regarded as a national duty of every landowner, in order to stop the destructive over- exploitation of natural resources. In 1713, Hans Carl von Carlowitz, a senior mining administrator in the service of Elector Frederick Augustus I of Saxony published Sylvicultura economics, a 400-page work on forestry. Building upon the ideas of Evelyn and French minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, von Carlowitz developed the concept of managing forests for sustained yield.[18] His work influenced others, including Alexander von Humboldt and Georg Ludwig Hartig, eventually leading to the development of the science of forestry. This, in turn, influenced people like Gifford Pinchot, the first head of the US Forest Service, whose approach to forest management was driven by the idea of wise use of resources, and Aldo Leopold whose land ethic was influential in the development of the environmental movement in the 1960s.
Following the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962, the developing environmental movement drew attention to the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. Kenneth E. Boulding, in his influential 1966 essay The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth, identified the need for the economic system to fit itself to the ecological system with its limited pools of resources. Another milestone was the 1968 article by Garrett Hardin that popularized the term "tragedy of the commons". The direct linking of sustainability and development in a contemporary sense can be traced to the early 1970s. "Strategy of Progress", a 1972 book in German by Ernst Basler, explained how the long-acknowledged sustainability concept of preserving forests for future wood production can be directly transferred to the broader importance of preserving environmental resources to sustain the world for future generations.[22] That same year, the interrelationship of environment and development was formally demonstrated in a systems dynamic simulation model reported in the classic report on Limits to Growth. This was commissioned by the Club of Rome and written by a group of scientists led by Dennis and Donella Meadows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Describing the desirable "state of global equilibrium", the authors wrote: "We are searching for a model output that represents a world system that is sustainable without sudden and uncontrolled collapse and capable of satisfying the basic material requirements of all of its people. The year 1972 also saw the publication of the influential book, A Blueprint for Survival.
In 1975, an MIT research group prepared ten days of hearings on "Growth and Its Implication for the Future" for the US Congress, the first hearings ever held on sustainable development.
In 1980, the International Union for Conservation of Nature published a world conservation strategy that included one of the first references to sustainable development as a global priority and introduced the term "sustainable development". Two years later, the United Nations World Charter for Nature raised five principles of conservation by which human conduct affecting nature is to be guided and judged.
Since the Brundtland Report, the concept of sustainable development has developed beyond the initial intergenerational framework to focus more on the goal of "socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic growth". In 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development published the Earth Charter, which outlines the building of a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. The action plan Agenda 21 for sustainable development identified information, integration, and participation as key building blocks to help countries achieve development that recognizes these interdependent pillars. Furthermore, Agenda 21 emphasizes that broad public participation in decision-making is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.
The Rio Protocol was a huge leap forward, for the first time, the world agreed on a sustainability agenda. In fact, a global consensus was facilitated by neglecting concrete goals and operational details. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now have concrete targets unlike the results from the Rio Process but no methods for sanctions.
Sustainable developmentis regarded to have three main dimensions, the environment, economy and society. The idea is that a good balance between the three dimensions should be achieved. Instead of calling them dimensions, other terms commonly used are pillars, domains, aspects, spheres.
Scholars usually distinguish three different areas of sustainability. These are the environmental, the social, and the economic. Several terms are in use for this concept. Authors may speak of three pillars, dimensions, components, aspects, perspectives, factors, or goals. All mean the same thing in this context. The three dimensions paradigm has few theoretical foundations. It emerged without a single point of origin. Scholars rarely question the distinction itself. The idea of sustainability with three dimensions is a dominant interpretation in the literature.
Countries could develop systems for monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achieving sustainable development by adopting indicators that measure changes across economic, social and environmental dimensions.
The benefits of sustainable developmentare about people and the planet are numerous. It’s intended to improve the quality of life for all and is based on the understanding that environmental, economic and social issues are linked. Economically speaking, sustainable practices can create a healthier, safer and more productive environment.
Without sustainable development, the biodiversity on which our lives and our economic activities depend would be lost. So how is biodiversity related to sustainability. Biodiversity plays a key role in the achievement of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Without it we would not have food to eat or clean water to drink. Biodiversity also mitigates climate change, supports human health, and provides jobs. Together, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems increase resilience and serve as natural buffers against extreme weather events such as droughts, storms, and other disasters. This is why weare committed to the preservation ofbiodiversity which goes hand in hand with sustainability.
In achieving a sustainable developed world, means fostering innovation. This means basing our progress on the circular economy model, unlocking new opportunities to improve people’s lives through e-mobility and innovative business solutions, ultrabroadband connectivity and digital solution. By aligning our mission to the main Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), particularly affordable and clean energy for all (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and climate action (SDG 13). This will bring about social and community benefits.
Earth’s natural resources are limited. Sustainable development revolves around the consuming needs of future generations. The goal of sustainable development is to secure a good living opportunity for present and future generations, that is, we should use natural resources sustainably.
A sustainable economy is based on economic decisions made by society, laws and regulations, consumers and businesses. Economic sustainability refers to balanced growth that is not based on the loss of resources or indebtedness. Economic sustainability can be achieved through efficient recycling and the use of renewable resources. In the long term, it is important for the whole world and all generations to consider the carrying capacity of the environment.
Cities account for 70% of worldwide emissions and are home to more than half of the world’s population. Changing the face of urban environments to make them more efficient, livable and sustainable is a paramount priority. Planning enables cities to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by upgrading infrastructure, digitizing public services and leading the transition to renewable energy.
Good approach embraces the entire city ecosystem such as lighting to infrastructure, transportation to urban environment.
The benefits of sustainable growth means leaving no one behind, now or in the future. This is one of the main principles of sustainable development.It must be inclusive to be sustainable. The benefits of economic growth must be shared broadly. Social inclusion is essential, it means that everyone can access the institutions, resources, and opportunities that are necessary to live a socially valued life. Inclusive growth aims to reduce inequalities in income and opportunities and promotes empowerment and equal opportunity. Is based on social inclusion in sustainable cities and this ensures the adoption of a sustainable growth strategy that follows the principles of non-discrimination, equal opportunity and equal dignity for all forms of diversity.
Growth is an essential development that is environmentally sensitive, economically viable, in community, oriented effort and sustainability. Its approach to land usage, promotes compact, transit-oriented urban communities that are attractive and livable. Good growthfocuses on the planning and development of community. It involves policies that integrate transportation and land use decisions by encouraging more compact, mixed-use development within existing urban areas and discouraging disperseddependent development in communities and the efficient use of land to maximize goals and avoid wasteful sprawl.
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