Scribd
Upload
2 views

What is Sustainable Development

The document discusses the concept of sustainable development, emphasizing the balance of environmental, social, and economic considerations for future generations. It outlines principles from the Rio Declaration that guide sustainable practices, highlighting the importance of equity, environmental protection, and public participation. Additionally, it stresses the need for coordinated efforts among governments, civil society, and education to achieve sustainability goals.

Uploaded by

edu04sachin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

What is Sustainable Development

The document discusses the concept of sustainable development, emphasizing the balance of environmental, social, and economic considerations for future generations. It outlines principles from the Rio Declaration that guide sustainable practices, highlighting the importance of equity, environmental protection, and public participation. Additionally, it stresses the need for coordinated efforts among governments, civil society, and education to achieve sustainability goals.

Uploaded by

edu04sachin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 23

Major issues

• Today, we are learning about Ukraine –Russia

• Today we are discussing health risks related to


contaminated water/other environmental issues

• Today we are talking about international trade.


What is Sustainable Development?
Concept and Meaning

Dr. Biswajit Mondal


Department of Gepgraphy
Dyal Singh College
Concept and Meaning

• 1987 Bruntland Commission Report “development that meets the


needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”

• Sustainability is a paradigm for thinking about a future in which


environmental, social and economic considerations are balanced in
the pursuit of development and an improved quality of life.
Concept and Meaning

• These three spheres – society, environment and economy – are


intertwined. For example, a prosperous society relies on a healthy
environment to provide food and resources, safe drinking water, and
clean air for its citizens.

• The sustainability paradigm is a major change from the previous


paradigm of economic development with its damaging social and
environmental consequences.
Concept and Meaning

• We now realize that major damage or serious threats to the well-


being of humans and the environment in pursuit of economic
development have no place within the sustainability paradigm.
Concept and Meaning

• What is the difference between sustainable development and


sustainability?
Concept and Meaning

• Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal (i.e. a more


sustainable world)

• Sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways


to achieve it (e.g. sustainable agriculture and forestry, sustainable
production and consumption, good government, research and
technology transfer, education and training, etc.).
Principles of Sustainable Development

• All sustainable development programmes must consider the three spheres


of sustainability – environment, society and economy – as well as an
underlying dimension of culture.

• Since sustainable development addresses the local contexts of these three


spheres, it will take many forms around the world.

• The ideals and principles that underlie sustainability include broad


concepts such as equity among generations, gender equity, peace,
tolerance, poverty reduction, environmental preservation and restoration,
natural resource conservation, and social justice. The Rio Declaration
contains 27 principles, including:
Principles of Sustainable Development

• N.B. The Rio Declaration emerged from the United Nations


Conference on Environment and Development, also called the Earth
Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

• A total of 172 governments participated, including 108 heads of state


or government.

• Agenda 21 is the official document of the Earth Summit.


Principles of Sustainable Development

• People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with


nature

• The right to development must be fulfilled so as to meet


developmental and environmental needs of present and future
generations in an equitable way;

• Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living standards in


different parts of the world are essential to sustainable development.
Principles of Sustainable Development

• Environmental protection is an integral part of the development process


and cannot be considered in isolation from it.

• International actions in the fields of environment and development should


also address the interests and needs of all countries.

• To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all


people, countries should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of
production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic
policies.
Principles of Sustainable Development

• Women play a vital role in environmental management and


development. Their full participation is therefore essential to
achieving sustainable development.

• Warfare is inherently destructive to sustainable development. Peace,


development and environmental protection are interdependent and
indivisible.
Perspectives of Sustainable Development

Not all the concepts associated with sustainability are incorporated in the 27 principles of
sustainable development in the Rio Declaration. Accompanying principles of sustainable
development are perspectives that have become part of the global sustainability dialogue, such as:

• A systems thinking approach, rather than an approach that looks at


problems in isolation should be used. Sustainability issues are linked
and part of a “whole.”

• Understanding local issues in a global context and recognizing that


solutions to local problems can have global consequences.
Perspectives of Sustainable Development

• Realizing that individual consumer decisions affect and give rise to resource
extraction and manufacturing in distant places.

• Considering differing views before reaching a decision or judgement.

• Recognizing that economic values, religious values, and societal values


compete for importance as people with different interests and
backgrounds interact.

• Seeing all humans as having universal attributes.

• Knowing that technology and science alone cannot solve all of our
problems.
Perspectives of Sustainable Development

• Emphasizing the role of public participation in community and


governmental decision-making. People whose lives will be affected by
decisions must be involved in the process leading to the decisions.

• Calling for greater transparency and accountability in governmental


decision-making.

• Employing the precautionary principle – taking action to avoid the


possibility of serious or irreversible environmental or social harm
even when scientific knowledge is incomplete or inconclusive.
Values within the Sustainability Paradigm

• Throughout its history, the United Nations has been a champion of values
related to human dignity, fundamental freedoms, human rights, equity, and
care for the environment.

• Sustainable development takes these values a step further, extending them


beyond the present generation to future generations.

• Sustainable development means valuing biodiversity and conservation


along with human diversity, inclusivity, and participation.
Values within the Sustainability Paradigm

• In the economic realm, some embrace sufficiency for all while others
uphold equity of economic opportunity. Another vehicle for the
values inherent in the sustainability paradigm is the Earth Charter, a
declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a fair,
sustainable, and peaceful global society.
Sustainable Development Topics

• Sustainable development includes a number of topics, which U.N.


Member States have agreed to address.

• With their environmental, social, economic and political roots, these


topics are complex and are often difficult to define as well as find
solutions for.

• They include reducing poverty, changing consumption patterns,


global population growth, and protecting human health, all of which
present challenges to our social and economic systems.
Sustainable Development Topics

• In addition, the topics also include protecting the land we live on, the
water we drink, the air we breathe, and the resources we use as well
as major contemporary challenges like climate change and loss of
biodiversity. The list is extensive. All of these and related topics can be
approached from a sustainability perspective.
Creating Sustainability Goals and Plans

• Following the Earth Summit in 1992, governments and communities


were charged with the responsibility of creating sustainability plans.

• In order to do so, governments and civil society must identify


priorities and create sustainability goals.

• Then, they can create plans to achieve them.

• Ideally, at the national level, every ministry or department would


include sustainability in its goals, plans and policies given that it is the
responsibility of all sectors of governments and societies to work
towards a more sustainable future.
Coordinated Efforts

• Governments and civil society as well as individuals must hold the


responsibility for a more sustainable future. All must contribute in
their own way.

• The 40 chapters of Agenda 21 describe ways forward in many areas,


from agriculture to waste disposal.

• Nevertheless, the education community has a special role to perform.


Explicitly mentioned in each of the chapters, education is an essential
ingredient for a more sustainable future.
Coordinated Efforts

• For example, it is through education that the next generation of


citizens, voters, workers, professionals and leaders are prepared for
life-long learning. Without education, progress towards a more
sustainable future will be compromised. Indeed, we must learn our
way forward.
Thank you

You might also like