SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable Development
The concept of “sustainable development was first introduced by
Brundtland (1987).
Defined development as “sustainable” if it “meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”.
It contains within it two key concepts:
• The concept of needs
• The idea of limitations
•It is about how we must live today if we want a better
tomorrow.
•It implies minimizing the use of exhaustible resources.
•It recognizes that growth must be both inclusive and
environmentally sound.
•It is efficient with resources and carefully planned to deliver
both immediate and long-term benefits for people, planet,
and prosperity
•According to this paradigm, development cannot be
simply growth and economy centric.
•But it has to bring a blend between growth, human
development and environment.
•So, it has to take into consideration environmental
concerns to make development more yielding, lasting
and effective.
Key Historical Events
• The Stockholm Conference (1972) - The UN Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm is considered a landmark event, marking the first time
the international community acknowledged the interconnectedness of development
and the environment
• WCED report, "Our Common Future" (1987) - The Brundtland Report, "Our
Common Future," provided a widely accepted definition of sustainable
development: "development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The
report emphasized the need to integrate environmental considerations into
economic and social development.
• The Rio Earth Summit (1992) - The concept of sustainable
development formed the basis of the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in
1992.
• First international attempt to develop action plans and strategies for
transitioning to a more sustainable pattern of development.
• Brought together leaders from around the world to address pressing
environmental and developmental challenges.
• Adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action for sustainable
development, as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity and
the Framework Convention on Climate Change
• The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000-2015): While not
explicitly focused on sustainability, the MDGs, adopted in 2000, addressed
critical development challenges like poverty, hunger, disease, and lack of
access to education and clean water. These goals, along with the lessons
learned from their implementation, informed the development of the SDGs
• The World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
(2002) - International conference devoted to finding ways to bring together
developed and developing nations in the pursuit of sustainable and
equitable development.
•Millennium Development Goals (2000)
•Sustainable Development Goals (2015)
• The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992
established Economy, Environment, and Society
as the three pillars of sustainable development.
• UNESCO claimed that culture, to a great extent,
also determines and dictates what people do.
• Accordingly, in November 2010, culture was
included as the fourth dimension of sustainable
development in the World Summit of Local and
Regional Leaders at the Third World Congress of
UCLG, held in Mexico City.
Environmental Sustainability
•Environmental sustainability is preserving natural resources
for future generations by balancing current needs with
ecological protection.
It demands the maintenance of:
• Human life and quality of life
• The capabilities of the natural environment to sustain living
conditions for people and other species
• The aspects of the environment that produce renewable
resources
• The functioning of society, despite non-renewable resource
depletion
• The livability and beauty of the environment
Factors influencing environmental
sustainability
•air, water, and soil pollution
•Climate change
•The loss of biodiversity
•The overexploitation of natural resources
•Economic models that involve unsustainable
consumption
Environmental sustainability relates to ecosystem integrity and the
carrying capacity of the natural environment
Economic sustainability
•Economic sustainability is the approach where economic
activities are conducted to preserve and promote long-term
economic well-being.
•It aims to create a balance between economic growth,
resource efficiency, social equity, and financial stability in
practice.
Economic sustainability includes:
•Growth
•Efficient production and consumption
•Stability of prices and employment
Social Sustainability
• Social sustainability aims to determine the minimal social
requirements for long-term development (sometimes termed ‘critical
social capital’).
• It seeks to identify the challenges to the very functioning of society in
the long run.
• It includes achieving a fair degree of social homogeneity.
• It encompasses equitable income distribution and employment that
allows the creation of decent livelihoods.
• It ensures equitable access to resources and social services.
• There should be a balance between respect for tradition and
innovation.
• It includes values like self-reliance, endogeneity, and self-confidence
Dimensions for social sustainability –
Amartya Sen
•Equity
•Diversity
•Interconnected/Social
cohesions
•Quality of life
•Democracy and governance
•Maturity
Cultural sustainability
•Cultural sustainability includes consideration, understanding and
respect for heritage – identities and values that bind people to
places.
•While we have to promote the continuity of indigenous local
cultures, old traditions meet new creativity every day in cities
around the world, contributing to the preservation of identity
and diversity.
•Developing, renewing, and maintaining human cultures that
create positive, enduring relationships with other peoples and
the natural world.
THANK YOU