Sustainable Development and Sustainability
Sustainable Development and Sustainability
• The Transition to sustainable development is primarily grounded in a series of international agreements and
goals that are then implemented at the level of the individual states and communities involved. Among
these, the best known are:
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its protocols, which set commitments to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which promotes the conservation of biodiversity;
and especially the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which cover a wide range of sustainability
issues. Built around these goals is the UN 2030 Agenda, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity,
signed into law by the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2015. The Agenda includes 17 goals, valid
for everyone around the world, articulated along the three dimensions of sustainable development:
economic, social and environmental.
Environmental sustainability
• Environmental sustainability is the ability to preserve and protect the natural environment over time through
appropriate practices and policies, meeting present needs without compromising the availability of resources in the
future.
• Factors influencing environmental sustainability:
Environmental sustainability is influenced by several factors that can have a significant impact on the ecological balance
and the planet's ability to sustain life.
• Some of the main ones include:
• air, water and soil pollution;
• climate change, caused by the excessive amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to human
activities;
The loss of biodiversity;
The overexploitation of natural resources;
Economic models that involve unsustainable consumption.
AIM TO ACHIEVE Environmental SUSTAINABILITY
• It’s about promoting equity, human rights, access to education and health care, and decent work.
• Social sustainability aims to create inclusive societies, reduce inequality, and ensure long-term well-being for all
people while preserving social cohesion and justice.
Poor governance, which includes phenomena such as corruption and institutional inefficiency.
Continues
In the path to social sustainability, the promotion of systems and policies that can reduce social and economic
Inequalities play a particularly important role in ensuring equitable access to opportunities and resources for all
members of society.
• In addition to the fight against inequality, the goals to be achieved in terms of social sustainability include:
The promotion of policies to respect basic human rights, such as the right to health and education.
The adoption of practices that value and include people of diverse backgrounds, gender, ethnicity, ability,
and sexual orientation.
The creation of safer living environments with more efficient administration of justice.
The improvement of people's health and mental and physical well-being through quality health services.
economic Sustainability
Economic sustainability is the approach whereby economic activities are conducted in such a way as to preserve and promote long-term
economic well-being. In practice, it Aims to create a balance between economic growth, resource efficiency, social equity and financial
stability.
The capacity for efficiency and innovation of economic systems and enterprises.
States' level of social innovation, that is, each country's commitment to promoting policies, programs and initiatives that address crucial
social issues such as poverty, gender equality, access to education and health care, environmental sustainability, and other social issues.
International cooperation and partnerships between public administration and private enterprises.
Corporate responsibility.
How an Economy becomes sustainable
To make an economic system sustainable, it is necessary to encourage energy generation from renewable sources, to
Adopt policies and regulations that encourage energy efficiency, and the promotion of economic models based on
the circular economy which, as such, are able to reduce waste and contain resource exploitation.
• Achieving these goals requires fostering social and economic inclusion, technological innovation through
dedicated investments, promotion of efficient and transparent governance, as well as public awareness and
education.
• Responsible management of economic resources is of paramount importance because it implies and ensures:
A more widespread adherence of companies to management based on principles of responsibility and ethics.
Continues
Sustainability may also be defined through the three pillars of
sustainability. Three pillars are:
• Environmental Sustainability
• Economic sustainability
• Social sustainability
It is when all three pillars are in balance, the sustainability is truly
achieved
Some challenges to sustainable development and sustainability include:
• Environmental degradation
Human activities are causing air, water, and land pollution, which can lead to climate change
and the depletion of natural resources.
• Poverty and social disparity are challenges to sustainable development. The COVID-19
pandemic increased poverty around the world.
Inadequate access to basic needs
Some people lack access to electricity, which is a key input for sustainable development.
• Population growth and urbanization
Population growth and the move to cities are outpacing environmental protection regulations.
• Youth unemployment
In developing countries, youth unemployment is a challenge to sustainable development.
• War and instability: when there is turmoil, instability and war between nations it stands to
reasons that sustainable development cannot occur.
Conclusion
• Sustainable Development and Sustainability are related but distinct
concepts focused on balancing economic, social, and environmental
needs for a thriving, long-lasting society.