Sustainable Development

Dr. Meenakshi Chaurasia

Definition
Development that meets the needs of the current generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meets their own needs.

The concept of sustainability was formulated at the first United Nations Conference on the Environment in
1972. Still, it has only really taken shape since 1987, when the publication of the so-called Brundtland
Report ("Our Common Future") clarified the goals of sustainable development.

Sustainable development has a very broad meaning depending on the dimensions being considered.
It has received much attention from policymakers and academics for four main reasons.
1. Sustainable development is considered to be the end-goal of the United Nation’s plan for the
planet, and many countries have agreed to achieve the sustainable development goal (Linnér
and Selin 2013; Bexell and Jönsson2017).
2. It helps to promote a sustainable planet for every generation (Weiss1992; Emina2021).
3. It is considered to be an all-embracing development goal because the aim of all other
development goals is to achieve a level of development that is sustainable.
4. It is expected to bring lasting socio-economic benefits to all people and the environment+
A brief history
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, 1992 Kyoto Protocol
• Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally,
nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System,
Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on
the environment.

• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development outlines principles for

how countries should relate to each other and their citizens in the context
of development and the environment.

• A key achievement of the 1992 conference was the establishment of the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
established in part as an international environmental treaty to combat
"dangerous human interference with the climate system" and to stabilize
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

• Convention on biodiversity is a multilateral treaty that aims to conserve

biological diversity, use its components sustainably, and fairly share the
benefits of genetic resources. It's often considered a key document for
sustainable development.
Kyoto Protocol
• The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1997 to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.

• The Kyoto Protocol applied to the seven greenhouse gases listed in Annex A: carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur
hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• The MDGs were a set of eight goals established by the United Nations in 2000 to be achieved
by 2015:
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development
COP 15
The UN Biodiversity Conference is the most significant conference on biodiversity in a decade
•Adoption of an equitable and comprehensive framework matched by the resources needed for implementation
•Clear targets to address overexploitation, pollution, fragmentation and unsustainable agricultural practices
•A plan that safeguards the rights of indigenous peoples and recognizes their contributions as stewards of nature
•Finance for biodiversity and alignment of financial flows with nature to drive finances toward sustainable
investments and away from environmentally harmful ones

COP 16
represent key steps forward in capturing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help developing nations
protect themselves from climate impacts and build their own sustainable futures.
•They form the basis for the largest collective effort the world has ever seen to reduce
emissions.
•They include the most comprehensive package ever agreed by governments to help
developing nations deal with climate change.
•They include a timely schedule for nations under the climate change convention to review
the progress they make towards their expressed objective of keeping the average
global temperature rise below 2ᵒ C.
COP 17
Aimed to establish a firm set of commitments among participating countries to reduce country-
level carbon emissions and to agree to the mechanisms that were required to achieve carbon
emissions reductions as a global effort to contain the disastrous effects of anthropogenic climate
change.

COP 21
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by
196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015.
• Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C
above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above
pre-industrial levels

COP24
The Katowice Climate Change Conference will include the 24th session of the
Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC. The conference is expected
to finalize the rules for implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate
change under the Paris Agreement work programme (PAWP).
 The Pillars of Sustainable Development
•Fostering a good quality of life
•Protecting and
and ensuring basic needs are
enhancing our natural
met for all members of society at
and developed
the individual, group, and
environment—our water
community level
quality, air quality, and
•Providing equitable
reduction of
opportunities and outcomes for
environmental stressors,
all members
like greenhouse gas
•Implementing and maintaining
emissions.
democratic processes, in
•Improving biodiversity
addition to open and
•Using natural resources
accountable structures of
wisely
governance
•Minimizing waste and
•Creating systems and structures
pollution
that support connectedness
•Inventing better and more useful products for the population that, rather than having little-to-no
•Adapting to and negative
helping
within and outside the
impact on the environment, have a positive one to decrease climate
community
•Aligning lending and investment policies with sustainability goals change
•Quantifying ecosystem services—measuring the value of natural environments and the benefits they
provide—and incorporating them into value chain indexes
•Assigning monetary values to nature and its bounty.
 Global goals
• Sustainable development relates to the principle of meeting human development
goals while at the same time sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the
natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society
depend.

• The latest of such concerns translated into the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• MDGs were a sequel to the SDGs. The MDGs marked a historic global mobilisation
to achieve a set of important social priorities worldwide. However, in spite of the
relative effectiveness of the MDGs, not all the targets of the eight goals were
achieved after being rolled out for 15 years (2000–2015).

• Many countries did not make sufficient progress, particularly on environmental

sustainability, and it is now widely recognized that additional work is needed to
achieve the ultimate goal of ending extreme poverty in all its forms. Further, there
is consensus that the scope of the MDGs needs to be broadened to reflect the
challenges the world faces today

• Hence, the introduction of the SDGs to continue with the development agenda.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• SDGs set out quantitative objectives across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of
sustainable development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to end poverty, reduce
inequality and build more peaceful, prosperous societies by 2030.
Agenda 2030 has five overarching themes, known as the five Ps: people, planet, prosperity,
peace and partnerships, which span across the 17 SDGs.

The 17 SDGs primarily seek to achieve the following summarised objectives.

• Eradicate poverty and hunger, guaranteeing a healthy life
• Universalize access to basic services such as water, sanitation and sustainable energy
• Support the generation of development opportunities through inclusive education and
decent work
• Foster innovation and resilient infrastructure, creating communities and cities able to
produce and consume sustainably
• Reduce inequality in the world, especially that concerning gender
• Care for the environmental integrity through combatting climate change and protecting
the oceans and land ecosystems
• Promote collaboration between different social agents to create an environment of
peace and ensure responsible consumption and production
Why do we need Sustainable Development Goals?

• Global goals like the MDGs and SDGs create a shared framework for collaboration, inspiring collective
efforts towards sustainable development.
• They enhance public understanding of complex issues, mobilize stakeholders across various sectors,
and encourage united action.
• These goals promote integrated thinking, addressing economic, social, and environmental dimensios
simultaneously.
• They support long-term planning, ensuring sustainable development is prioritized over short-
term gains.
• Goals define responsibilities and foster accountability, encouraging governments and businesses to w
ork towards achieving them with improved data and monitoring systems.
Theoretical Frameworks
Environmental Sustainability Theories
Ecological Economics:
• This field integrates ecological and economic principles, emphasizing that the economy is a
subsystem of the environment.
• It promotes the idea of valuing natural capital and ecosystem services, advocating for policies that
reflect true environmental costs.
Systems Thinking:
• A holistic approach that recognizes the interconnections between various components of
ecological and social systems.
• Helps in understanding complex issues like climate change, where multiple factors interact.
Social Sustainability Theories
Social Equity and Justice:
• Examines how resources and opportunities are distributed within society, focusing on
marginalized communities.
• Advocates for policies that promote equality and address systemic injustices.
Community Development Theories:
• Emphasizes grassroots participation and empowerment of local communities in decision-making.
• Highlights successful models of community-driven initiatives in sustainability.
Economic Sustainability Theories

Sustainable Business Models:

• Focuses on creating value through environmentally and socially responsible practices.
• Includes concepts such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and triple bottom line
(people, planet, profit).
Circular Economy:
• A model that contrasts with the traditional linear economy which is based on a
"take-make-consume-throw away" pattern.
• A circular economy is a model of production and consumption that aims to reduce
waste and resource use by keeping materials and products in circulation
• It involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing, recycling, and sharing
existing products and materials.
• The goal is to extend the life cycle of products and minimize waste.
Sustainable Development in India

Requirements Of Sustainability In India’s

Development

Environmental Economic issues Social issues Cultural issues

issues · low income per · Corruption · Caste system
· Biodiversity loss capita · Illiteracy · Gender inequality
· Himalayan · Dependency of · Poverty · Communism
urbanisation huge population · Women’s · Child abuse
· Lack of waste · Heavy population safety
management · Unemployment · Sanitisation
· Resource depletion · Lack of industries · Lack of
· Air quality issues · Poor human education
· Environment capital · Healthcare
degradation issues
· Hamper in the
ecosystem
India has made significant progress in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), including in the areas of poverty eradication, economic growth, and climate
action.

SDG Index
India's national score on the SDG Index improved from 66 in 2020-21 to 71 in 2023-
24. This is a notable improvement from the baseline score of 58 in 2018.

Key SDGs
India has made significant progress in Goals 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Well-
being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

SDG-13
India's score on SDG-13 (Climate Action) increased from 54 in 2020-21 to 67 in 2023-24
India has also made progress in preserving and managing its marine ecosystem. This includes:
• Establishing the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System to track marine pollution
• Implementing the Online Oil Spill Advisory System to enhance the national response to marine oil spills
• Implementing the revised National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan
• Supporting the development of deep sea fishing vessels and fish processing center
Challenges
• Poverty: A major problem that can sap the vitality of people and nations. Poverty can be caused by social,
cultural, economic, and political factors.

• Climate change: A major threat to sustainable development. Climate change makes it difficult to meet the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

• Environmental degradation: The use of conventional fossil fuels can lead to environmental degradation.

• Extreme hunger and malnutrition: Nearly 800 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, and the
majority of them are in developing countries.

• Slow progress: The pace of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is slow
and unequal across countries and over time. This is due to fundamental differences in economic, social, and
political factors between nations.

• Built environment: The built environment faces challenges in all three dimensions of sustainable
development—economic, social, and environmental.