UNIT 3

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
AN INTRODUCTION

Structure
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Definition and Conceptual Understanding
3.3 Fundamentals of Sustainable Development
3.4 Sustainable Development Indicators
3.5 Steps for Sustainable Development
3.6 Let Us Sum Up
3.7 References and Selected Readings
3.8 Check Your Progress - Possible Answers

3.1 INTRODUCTION
The concept of sustainable development has arisen from a worldview
which sees the survival, progress, and continued maintenance of the
human community as dependent on the continued health and viability of
the earth’s life support systems. The word sustainable development refers
to a model of human development in which equal thought and preference
is given to the future generations while meeting the human needs. It also
implies the processes of fundamental change in our social system and
institutions, where the preference for future generations has been included
at individual and societal level. This change in attitude from present visible
issues to an invisible future imagination is based on a deep realization and
social awakening concomitant with the expansion of globalization. It is
paradoxical that this change relates to addressing the challenges embedded
in the new global awareness that the earth is finite, and all of the planet’s
life support systems including social and economic systems are globally
interconnected and interdependent. Sustainable development is a central
concept for our age, and it is both a way of understanding the world and a
method for solving global problems.
The world is perplexed at the grave population explosion, which continues
to multiply rapidly, by around 75 to 80 million people per year. We have
already reached to almost 8 billion in 2021, and perhaps would reach 9
billion by the early 2040s. Now, these billions of people are looking for their
foothold in the world economy. While the poor are still struggling to find
the food, safe water, health care, and shelter they need for mere survival.
The struggle is unending for those just above poverty, who are continuously
trying for improved prosperity and a brighter future for their children. The
privileged high-income society is confident that technological advances
will offer them and their families even higher levels of wellbeing. This
unending race for better living, comfortable life and growing big monetarily
has gradually depleted the resource base and eroded the social fabric of
community living based on mutual sharing of the resources. The impact
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of these changes has finally forced the world to think for the survival and Sustainable Development: An
continuity of the human civilization, and thus the discussions and actions Introduction
started for sustainable development.
In this unit you will know more about the concept of sustainable development,
which simply stands for meeting the needs of present generations without
compromising the ability of futures generations to meet their own needs.
In other words, it means a better quality of life for everyone presently, and
for generations to come. Sustainable development is a vision of progress
which integrates the immediate needs of the society and also addresses the
future objectives of local and global action, to balance the social, economic
and environmental change which are inseparable and are interdependent
components of human progress.
After studying this unit, you should be able to
●● explain the meaning of sustainable development
●● describe various components of sustainable development
●● discuss various indicators of sustainable development
●● suggest few measures for the promotion of sustainable development.

3.2 DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUAL

UNDERSTANDING
The concept of sustainable development arises from a worldview, which
sees the survival, continued progress, and maintenance of the human
community as dependent on the continued health and viability of the earth’s
life support systems. The term “sustainability” is derived from the Latin
root sus-tinere, which means to “under-hold” or hold up from underneath,
implying robustness and durability over time. Accordingly, sustainability
depicts a paradigm that seeks to protect the planet’s life support systems to
ensure longevity for humans and other species. Sustainable development
can be defined as the process of strategic changes in our social systems
and institutions needed in order to achieve sustainability. The term
“development” is criticized by some as connoting growth. Unfettered
growth of the “ecological footprint” of the human population, defined as the
portion of the biosphere used to support human production, consumption
and waste, is, of course, ultimately not sustainable.
Sustainable development is defined as balancing the fulfilment of human
needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs
can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. Sustainable
development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs
while preserving the environment. The field of sustainable development
is conceptually divided into four general dimensions: social, economic,
environmental, and institutional. The first three dimensions address
key principles of sustainability, while the final dimension addresses key
institutional policy and capacity issues.
The term, sustainable development, was coined by the Brundtland
Commission which defines sustainable development as development that
"meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs". When the Brundtland Commission
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Environment and Sustainable published Our Common Future, it ignited worldwide attention to the concept
Development of sustainable development. The Brundtland report defined sustainable
development as “development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The report adopted the perspective that economic inequities will lead to
over-exploitation of resources, and economic growth is needed in the poorer
countries in order to satisfy basic human needs, but that this development
must follow a “new pathway” that does not entail environmental destruction.
It also noted that meaningful political participation is needed to ensure that
the fruits of economic growth are equitably distributed.
The Brundtland report proposed a number of new ways for achieving
sustainable development. It also led to the 1992 United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development (UNCED) (commonly called the Earth
Summit) held in Rio de Janeiro. The fruits of the Conference included
Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration, the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity,
and the Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests,
all of which were adopted by the 178 governments that attended the
Conference.
Now, sustainable development has become a buzzword, and is used
extensively in all kinds of seminars, workshops, symposium and conferences.
The concern for sustainable development is becoming increasingly louder
with the increasing pace of economic and industrial growth. In fact,
all sectors of developing countries seem to be vibrating with economic
buoyancy. There is expansion of trade, investment, market, and increase
in Gross National product (GNP), productivity, per capita income, profit,
efficiency, salary, etc, across the globe. The free trade system could more
tellingly be called the free ride system, because the producers do not have
to include in their product costs all the indirect costs they cause society,
such as pollution of the land, sea and air, ozone holes, disappearing topsoil,
exploding health costs, allergies, global warming, destruction of species,
pesticides in food, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, crime, unemployment,
escalating social costs, etc. Many of the most common, and most damaging
products on the market, would never be manufactured if they were priced at
their real costs to society as a whole.
You have read about defenition and conceptual understanding. Now, answers
the questions in Check Your Progress 1
Check your Progress 1
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) C
 heck your answer with possible answers given at the end of the
unit
1. What is the need for sustainable development?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

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2. What do you mean by sustainable development?  Sustainable Development: An
Introduction
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

3.3 FUNDAMENTALS OF SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT
The available research and analysis of sustainable development components
shows the existence of three major components, which is economical,
ecological and human. The economic potential of sustainable development
changes very slowly, while the human component or the socio economic
development changes very fast. It has been observed that rapid economic
growth in order to obtain maximum benefits, especially for developing
countries, creates a heavy burden on the ability of our planet to
support. Therefore, economic growth should be such that negative
environmental impact is limited. Hence, the concept of sustainable
development represents a paradigm shift, where development must
be conceived as a multidimensional activity with major changes in social
structures, attitudes and national institutions, aiming at accelerating the
economic growth and reducing inequality. In other words, the economic
dimension should aim to ensure a balanced and sustainable economic
environment.
The ecological component of sustainable development suggests that
economic development should be in conformity to the environment.
Environmental development is the capacity of the environment to
grow and to bring the peculiarities of environment while ensuring
the protection and renewal of natural resources and environmental
heritage. Thus, economic growth should not affect the environment in
order to talk about sustainable development. When society, economy, and
environment are viewed as separate, unrelated parts of a community, the
community's problems are also viewed as isolated issues. This piecemeal
approach has a number of negative side effects. Sustainable development is
deeply linked between the economy, the environment and the society. The
figure shown below is frequently used to show the interconnectedness of
economy, environment and the society. The understanding of the linkages
between these three parts is the vital key to understanding sustainability,
because sustainability of the three systems independently and collectively
contributes to the quality of life. It is more about the understanding of these
connections and achieving a balance among the social, economic, and
environmental components on the earth.
Interconnectedness of the three systems

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Environment and Sustainable
Development

Sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic

prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. "Sustainable community
development means the ability of the community to make developmental
choices which respect the relationship between the three E's, i.e. economy,
ecology, and equity.
●● Economy - economic activity should serve the common good, be
self-renewing, and build local assets and self-reliance.
●● Ecology - humans are part of nature, nature has limits, and communities
are responsible for protecting and building the natural assets.
●● Equity - the opportunity for full participation in all activities, access,
benefits and decision-making of a society.
Sustainable development shows a compassionate concern for the posterity
and for the world as a whole. It contends that social development,
environmental soundness, and economic growth are not contradictory
or incompatible. Healthy environment and good society are, rather,
prerequisites for sustainable development. Sustainable development is
based on a broader economic system which fulfils inter-generational equity
criteria. Its objectives are focused on the future, not the present, quality
not quantity, protection not production, conservation not consumption (Das,
2018).
Sustainability is also related to the quality of life in a community - whether the
economic, social, and environmental systems that make up the community
are providing a healthy, productive, meaningful life for all community
residents, present and future. Hence, the field of sustainable development
can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental
sustainability, economic sustainability, and socio-political sustainability.
Sustainable development integrates the imperatives of developmental
and environmentalism. It emphasis on economic, social, and ecological
integration, and has three broad objectives of economic efficiency, social
acceptability and ecological sustainability.
Sustainability is an issue for all communities, ranging from small rural
villages that are losing their natural environment, upon which their
livelihoods depend, to large metropolitan areas where crime and poverty
are decreasing the quality of life. Sustainability is not about maintaining
the status quo or reaching perfection, nor is it a community where nothing
ever goes wrong. A sustainable development process seeks to maintain and
improve the economic, environmental, and social characteristics of an area

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so that its members can continue to lead healthy, productive, enjoyable lives Sustainable Development: An
at present and in future. Introduction

Sustainable development improves the economy without undermining the

social or environmental imperatives. It focuses on improving our lives
without continually increasing the amount of energy and material goods that
we consume. A sustainable community does not consume resources energy
and raw materials faster than the regenerative capacity of the natural systems.
Sustainability requires that human activity only uses nature's resources at a
rate at which they can be replenished naturally. An unsustainable situation
occurs when natural capital (the sum total of nature's resources) is used up
faster than it can be replenished. Thus, there is urgent need to develop an
ecosystem approach, or inter generational approach for the management
of natural capital and social capital. Ultimately, an ecosystem approach
tends to evolve and change from a consumptive economy to an economy
oriented towards conservation, maintenance of capital stock, and recycling
of materials.

3.4 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

INDICATORS
Indicators of sustainable development are more visible in social goals such
as human development and quality of life, or socioeconomic welfare. These
indicators provide early warnings about non sustainable trends of economic
activity and environmental deterioration. The concept of indicators of
sustainable development became popular during the Rio Earth Summit’s call
for indicators of sustainable development (United Nations 1994, Agenda 21).
The most popular and well discussed indicators of sustainable development
are: (i) Gross Sustainable Development Product (ii) Environmental Kuznets
Curve (iii) Social Indicators for Sustainable Development
i. Gross Sustainable Development Product
The concept of green Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been modified
as Gross Sustainable Development Product (GSDP), which is defined as
the total value of production after giving due care to social capital and
natural capital of a region over a specified period of time. It is designed
to replace the Gross Development Product (GDP) as the primary indicator
of the economic performance of a nation. Following factors are taken into
account to arrive at GDSP: -
●● the economic impact/costs of environmental degradation
●● impacts of changes in quality systems on national income and wealth
●● global concerns and their impacts on the economy and ecology and
society
●● the welfare, economic development, and quality of life of future
generations
●● expenditures on pollution abatement and clean-ups
●● the status of each resource and the stocks and productive capacities
●● the depreciation or appreciation of natural assets
●● the ecological processes and biological diversity
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Environment and Sustainable ●● the costs of economic growth, resources uses of present and future
Development generations .
The measurement of GSDP also gives a proper and sound signal to the
public, government and industry about the rate and direction of economic
growth. It identifies environmental, health, and social quality; it identifies
sustainable and unsustainable levels of resource and environmental uses;
it measures the success or failure of sustainable development policies and
practices; and it also identifies the resource scarcity. The primary goal of a
sustainable local community is to meets its basic resource needs in ways
that can be continued in the future (Das, 2018).
ii. Environmental Kuznets curve
The relationship between richness, poverty and environmental pollution is
considered as one of the indicator of sustainability. It has been observed
that level of pollution is less initially in poor countries, and it becomes
more during its economic growth and development stage, and later the
pollution level declines as the income level improves in the country. The
world’s poorest and richest countries have relatively clean environments,
while middle-income countries are the most polluted. Because of its
resemblance to the pattern of inequality and income described by Simon
Kuznets (1955), this pattern of pollution and income has been labelled an
‘Environmental Kuznets Curve’ (EKC). The World Bank first popularized
this idea in 1992, using a simple empirical approach. In simple terminology,
the EKC shows the relationship between the environmental degradation and
the per capita income. The proponents of EKC are of the opinion that in
the early stages of economic growth, degradation and pollution increase,
but beyond some level of per capita income, the trend reverses, so that at
high-income levels, economic growth leads to environmental improvement.
This implies the environmental impact indicator is an inverted U shaped
function of per capita income. The EKC pattern does not provide evidence
of market failures or efficient policies in rich or poor countries. Rather,
there are multiple underlying mechanisms, some of which have begun to be
modelled theoretically. An example of EKC of sulphur emission is given in
figure below (Das, 2018).
Environment Kuznets Curve for Sulfar Emission
Y

300

250

Kg. So2 200

per capits
150

100

50

X
5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 300000

GNP, per capita

Source: [Link]
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iii. Social Indicators of Sustainable development  Sustainable Development: An
Introduction
The social indicators of sustainable development as framed by the United
Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in 1995 are
broadly categorized under five indicators, such as poverty; governance;
health; education; and demography.
i. Poverty: Poverty is considered as one of the key indicators of
sustainable development. Nations with a high percentage of people
earning less than one dollar a day are considered to be living below
the poverty line. The income inequality is represented by ratio of their
share in national income. The proportion of population using poor
drinking water quality, poor sanitation facility, households without
electricity connection and proportion of population living in slums.
ii. Governance: Governance is the second key indicator of sustainable
development. Good governance is an essential element of sustainable
development, while the rate of crime and corruption in governance
of development activities is considered indicator of unsustainable
development.
iii. Health: The key indicators of sustainable health care are mortality
rate under five years of age, and life expectancy at birth, health care
delivery, nutritional status and health status and risks.
iv. Education: As far as education is concerned, sustainable education
includes educational levels and literacy. The core indicators are the
gross intake ratio to last grade of primary education, net enrolment rate
in primary education, adult secondary (tertiary) schooling attainment
level, and the adult literacy rate.
v. Demography: The two vital demographic indicators of sustainable
development are population growth and the dependency ratio. The
indicators of demographic themes for sustainable development are
the lower fertility rates and lower dependency ratios.
You have read about fundamentals of sustainable development, sustainable
development- indicators. Now, answer the questions in Check Your Progress
2.
Check Your Progress 2
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Check your answer with possible answers given at the end of the
unit
1. What do you mean by Gross Sustainable Development Product?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

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Environment and Sustainable
Development 3.5 STEPS FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMEMNT
Sustainable development is an important development agenda of the
21st century and is more known for the vital paradigm shifts in the
theoretical understanding and practical application of development. Now
all countries have to take appropriate measures for the promotion of
sustainable development in all development programmes, projects and
policies. Therefore, for the guidance and supervision the United Nations
has emphasized its institutional framework for sustainable development. In
its institutional framework for sustainable development, it has mentioned
that for the attainment of sustainable development, good governance, sound
economic policies, social democratic institutions responsible to the needs of
the people, and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic
growth, poverty eradication, and employment generation (Das, 2018).
Based on the available literature, practices and policies dealing with
measures of sustainable development some measures for the promotion of
sustainable development have been suggested as under:
1. The conservation of land, water and energy resources is fundamental
for the promotion of sustainable development. Appropriate action has
to be taken for the conservation of scanty resources. Conservation
of resources by the present generation will provide future generation
with widest range of possibilities.
2. The development of technologies and approaches which will minimize
the environmental damages. Such development requires scientific
knowledge and continuous investment needs to be promoted.
3. In order to meet the suggested environmental targets, political and
public support is encouraged to meet the desired critical objectives.
4. Public participation in decision making in all environmental issues
is very important, and hence efforts and scope should be made to
increase their role in particular in the planning processes.
5. A number of developed and developing countries have already
initiated good practices which are in tune with the promotion of
sustainable development:
(a) in Brazil, the bio-fuels programme has saved the country $100
billion in external debt-a fact that makes such fuels attractive in
many countries
(b) in South Africa, the implementation of carbon capture and storage
technology brings benefits in terms of technology transfer.
The United Nations has strengthened and integrated the three dimensions of
sustainable development policies and programmes, and to promote the full
integration of sustainable development objective with social development
issues.

3.6 LET US SUM UP

This unit has discussed the concept and definition of sustainable development
188 with real life examples from the society and environment. It also dealt
with various components of sustainable development as understood and Sustainable Development: An
viewed globally. The various indicators of sustainable development were Introduction
analyzed in the light of rural and urban, industrial and agrarian and finally,
the developed and developing countries. Finally the unit enumerated the
various measures to promote sustainable development.

3.7 REFERENCES AND SELECTED READINGS

Pearce, P.W. and Atkinson, G. (1992), Measuring Sustainable Development,
CRERGE University College of London.
Grossman, G. and Krueger, A. (1995), “Economic growth and the
environment”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 110, pp 353–77.
Kuznets, S. (1955), “Economic growth and income inequality”. American
Economic Review 45, pp 1–28.
Brown, L.R. (1981), Building a Sustainable Society, W.W. Norton, New
York.
Das, K.B. (2018), Sustainable Development, MDV 103, Issues and
Challenges of Development, IGNOU. ISBN: 978-93-87960-82-4.
Kothari, R. (1982), Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific:
Experiences and Prospects, UNEP.
Meadows, D.H., et. al. (1972), The Limits to Growth, Signet, New York.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

3.8 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS - POSSIBLE

ANSWER
Check your Progress 1
1 What is the need for sustainable development?
Answer: The need for sustainable development arises for two important
reasons. Those are: (i) the current system of development considers
development of mankind alone and ignores the interdependent
ecosystem; and (ii) it treats environment as a commodity.
2 What do you mean by sustainable development?
Answer: According to the Brundtl and Commission “Sustainable
development” is that which "meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." It has three components: a) Economy - economic activity
should serve the common good, be self-renewing, and build local assets
and self-reliance. b) Ecology - humans are part of nature, nature has
limits, and communities are responsible for protecting and building
natural assets. c) Equity - the opportunity for full participation in all
activities, access, benefits, and decision-making of a society. It has
three objectives: i. Economic efficiency, ii. Social acceptability, and
iii. Ecological sustainability
189
Environment and Sustainable Check Your Progress - 2
Development
1. What do you mean by Gross Sustainable Development Product?
Answer: The Gross Sustainable Development Product is the total
value of production after giving due care to the social capital and
natural capital of a region over a specified period of time.
2. What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
Answer: In simple terminology, the EKV shows the relationship
between the environmental degradation and the per capita income.
The proponents of EKV are of the opinion that in the early stages of
economic growth, degradation and pollution increases, but beyond
some level of per capita income, the trend reverses, so that at high
income levels, economic growth leads to environmental improvement.
This implies the environmental impact indicator is an inverted U
shaped function of per capita income.

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