The Contemporary World

Week 11.1 – Lecture Slides

Towards a Sustainable World:
Sustainable Development
 Focal Points

• This lesson will explore discuss the concept of sustainable development that
most countries of the world are integrating in their societies.
 Pre-Assessment Activity
Instructions: Write agree if you think the statement is correct; otherwise, write disagree.

__________1. Sustainable development is just an ideal pattern or trend.

__________2. Sustainable development can only be achieved by developed countries.
__________3. Environment plays a minor role in achieving sustainable development.
__________4. Sustainability is a vague concept in international relations.
__________5. There is a difference between stability and sustainability.
Key Terms
Sustainable development- the development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Sustainability- may be likened to stability

 Sustainable
The term sustainable development has
acquired much popularity among scholars,
politicians, public servants, and the civil
population alike after the Brundtland Report by
the World Commission on the Environment and Development
Development (WCED) was presented in 1987. As
defined by the Brundtland Report, "sustainable
development is the development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." Despite being considered unclear by some
in terms of definition, sustainable development
should be situated in a rigid social and political
setting.
 Sustainable
WCED outlined critical objectives for
environment and development policies following
its concept of sustainable development. These are
1) reviving growth; 2) changing the quality of
growth; 3) meeting essential needs for jobs, food, Development
energy, water, and sanitation; 4) ensuring a
sustainable level of population; 5) conserving and
enhancing the resource base; 6) reorienting
technology and managing risks; and 7) merging
environment and economics in decision-making.
 Sustainable
Governments and scholars have been on
their toes in an attempt to attain sustainable
development. In this era of unrelenting challenges
in politics, society, and particularly the
environment (e.g., climate change, waste disposal, Development
biodiversity, forestry and the like), such stability is
undoubtedly sought after by nearly every single
nation-state. Governments have been challenged
to come up with ways to develop their
communities without exploiting the natural
resources, and to craft policies that help achieve
this goal. The welfare of the people must also be
in constant consideration in terms of development.
 Sustainable
The United Nations (UN) often cites
Agenda 21 of 1992, its Sustainable Development
Knowledge Platform, where the topic of
sustainable development is put forth in
discussions. Agenda 21 advocates education to Development
disseminate information regarding sustainable
development (Jickling, 1994). Since then,
countries all over the world have integrated this
action plan of the UN in their respective
governments, such as in the case of Canada when
its National Round Table on the Environment and
the Economy (NRTEE) instituted the Sustainable
Development Education Program (SDEP) in the
same year that Agenda 21 was established
(Jickling, 1994).
 The United Kingdom's UK Strategy for
Sustainable
Sustainable Development crafted in 1994 aimed to
raise the awareness of the people through the
integration of environmental policies into all
Development
aspects of government, a shared responsibility
between government, local authorities, businesses,
and non-governmental organizations, (Munton &
Collins, 1998) among other provisions in the
Strategy.
 Sustainable
Sustainability may be likened to stability;
however, there are a few key and subtle
differences between the two. A sustainable
environment is resilient enough to withstand man-
made and natural challenges, and can also recover Development
from such if needs arise. Sustainability leads to
stability; however, stability alone may not
necessarily lead to sustainability. Stable
environments are simply resistant to change but
somehow lack the element of resiliency that
sustainable environments possess because it is far
easier for stable environments to become unstable
in comparison to the possibility of sustainable
environments becoming "unsustainable.“
 All in all, policies and strategies of governments must be intertwined with environmental
concerns in order for sustainable development to be achieved. The environment must continuously be
at the center of government actions. It is only logical and practical, in a sense, to constantly put into
consideration the environment in the decision-making and policy-making processes of a nation-state
since it is where people build livelihoods on, and which suffers when they turn a blind eye in terms of
developing. By using ecological sustainability as an underpinning principle of sustainable
development, governments can simultaneously advocate the protection, restoration, and preservation
of the integrity of the Earth’s ecological systems (Ross, 2009). This makes the environment more
resilient to challenges and threats and in turn, making civilizations resilient in the same light.
 In the long run, humankind itself will be the one to benefit when environmental and
ecological considerations are given serious and substantial consideration. As such, humankind must
take the necessary actions to strive better to attain sustainable development. Developing and enacting
policies that situate environmental concerns at the forefront and practicing decision-making processes
that similarly give importance to the environment are all necessary steps that must be undertaken to
achieve a sustainable environment. Educating individuals about the importance and benefits of
having secure, balanced, and enduring ecosystems will make the implementation of environment-
focused policies and plans much easier, and in the long term, will create a flourishing and stable
environment for all.
 Directions: In groups of five members each, create a slide presentation
Course Pack Quiz: of a plan of sustainable development for the Philippines featuring the
country's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Keep in mind
Sustainable the following aspects that must be considered in creating the plan:

Development • Economic Status of the Philippines

• Environmental Issues and Challenges
Goals in PH • Political Stability
• Chosen SDG and Its Relation to the Current Situation of the
Philippines