Chapter 3

The Meaning and Concept of

Sustainable Development
 SD: Introduction

• By now, we are familiar with concepts such

as:
 Progress, change,
Modernization, development,
Social development, human development and
gender development.
• We have seen that the concept of
development is constantly being critically
reviewed, and as a result our conception of
development has been undergoing changes.
 Cont…
• In the last four decades, there is a growing
awareness and activism relating to worsening
environmental situation at the local, national
and global levels.
• The emerging environmental concerns have
once again led to the reconsideration of our
conception, goals and strategies of
development.
 SD: Historical Context

• The early roots of the concept of sustainable

development can be traced back to the
development-environment debate.
• The economic growth model of development,
its adoption by most of the countries in the
world and realization of the consequences it
produced in various forms of environmental
degradation has provided the historical
context for the rise of the development-
environment debate.
 Cont..
• The economic growth model of development
is characterized by the use of modern
technology, the factory system of production
and rapid industrialization and urbanization.
• The Western countries initially followed this
model of development and prescribed it for
the less developed ones.
 Cont..
• The consequences of adoption of the western
model of development by the less developed
countries were not all positive.
• Economic growth occurred, but it was
accompanied by a widened gulf between the
countries in the North and the South, and it also
helped to promote economic disparities between
the rich and the poor sections within particular
societies.
• It was realised that “development” conceived
simply as “economic growth”
 Cont..
• There is a general agreement that the economic
expansion, especially during the post-war period,
has had alarming consequences for the global
environment (Munshi 2000: 253).
• Industrialisation required a continuous supply of
energy and materials from nature.
• It led to the constant accumulation of wastes
that resulted from accelerated industrial
production and increasing level of consumption.
 Cont..
• The environmental degradation that has
occurred is marked by a large-scale extraction
of finite natural resources.
• Loss of forests, extinction of animal and plant
species, depletion of the ozone layer, air,
water and soil pollution, loss of marine life
and bio-diversity etc. have occurred at an
alarming rate and have posed a serious threat
to the very survival of life on this planet.
 Cont..
• Thus, the two basic assumptions of the
Western model of development, i.e. “first,
development could be universalised in space
and, second, that it would be durable in time”
(Sachs 1997: 71), had lost their validity.
• Due to the strategies adopted for economic
growth, environmental degradation and
exploitation of natural resources have become
global phenomena.
 Cont..
• Eventually, the increasing awareness of
environmental problems has led to the
emergence of environmentalism.
• It is important to note that environmentalism has
added an important dimension to the ongoing
development discourse.
• In fact, it has caused a paradigm-shift in our vision
of development.
• It has compelled the intellectuals concerned to
think about what is being done to the ecosystem
of this planet in the name of development.
 Cont..
• The worsening environmental situation has
led to the re-examination and re-
consideration of the policies, strategies and
programmes for development.
• As a result, the environment – development
debate emerged and became intensified in
due course of time.
• Initially, Development and Environment were
seen as distinct entities.
 Cont..
• However, eventually, there also emerged an
increased awareness about the fact that
human beings need both “development” and
“environment”.
• Thus, Such thinking led to the view that
“development” versus “environment” is a
false dichotomy.
• This view is well articulated in World
Development Report 1992 — Development
and the Environment.
 Cont..

• It is argued in this report that the, “economic

development and sound environmental
management are complementary aspects of
the same agenda.
• Without adequate environmental protection,
development will be undermined; without
development, environmental protection will
fail…income growth will provide the
resources for improved environmental
management” (World Bank 1992: 25).
 .
Cont.

• In fact, such a view underscored the need of

reconciliation between “development” and
“environment”.
• The concept of “sustainable development”,
as defined in the report of the World
Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED), titled “Our Common
Future” (1987), represents such an attempt to
reconcile the goals of development as well as
that of environmental protection.
SD: Genesis and Evolution
• What do you mean by sustainable
development ?
• How is it relevant in present day context?
• According to Eduardo Sevilla-Guzman and
Graham Woodgate (1997: 86-87), the concept
of “sustainable development” was the result
of a dynamic gestation.
• In 1972, the United Nations Conference on
“Human Environment”, took place in
Stockholm, Sweden.
 Cont..

• Then, in the year 1981, the concept of

“sustainable development” appeared for the
first time.
• It was enshrined in the title of a key document
– World Conservation Strategy: Living
Resource Conservation for Sustainable
Development, published by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN), the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) and UN Environment Programmme
(UNEP).
 Cont..
• In 1983, the United Nations set up the World
Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED) headed by Gro Harlem
Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, as an
independent body.
• Its objective was to re-examine the critical
environment and development problems on
the planet and to formulate realistic
proposals to solve them, and to ensure that
human progress will be sustained through
development without bankrupting the
resources of the future generations.
 Cont..

• The WCED published its report titled “Our

Common Future” in the year 1987.
• This report presented the first official
definition of the concept of “sustainable
development”.
• The contribution of “Our Common Future”
(1987), is threefold:
 Cont..
• In 1992, representatives of over 150 countries
met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the United
Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), popularly known as
the “Earth Summit”.
• The Earth Summit established important
linkages between environment and
development and contributed to the further
development of the concept of “sustainable
development”.
 Cont..
• It produced the “The Earth Charter”- a code
of conduct or plan of action for the 21st
century i.e. Agenda 21, and Local Agenda 21
(LA21), an interpretation for local issues
(which came later);
• the Climate Convention — a convention to
control climate change due to atmospheric
pollution, and
• the Bio-diversity Convention — a convention
to promote the conservation of bio-diversity.
 Cont..
• Then onwards, the agenda included every
possible issue related to environment and
development: energy, water and sanitation,
health, forests, consumption patterns,
poverty, trade, globalisation etc.
• Thus, the scope of “sustainable
development” was broadened.
• Sustainable development was seen as
comprising three components: economic
development, social development and
environmental protection (Reddy 2002:10).
 Cont..
• Thus, various international events and
publications have contributed to the
making of the concept of “sustainable
development”
• Let us now understand the definition and
meaning of the concept of “sustainable
development” as formulated and
elaborated in “Our Common Future” (1987).
 Concept of Sustainable Development
• The definition of the concept of Sustainable
Development put forward in the report titled
Our Common Future (1987) is:
• “Sustainable development is development
that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”.
• It contains within it two key concepts:
 Cont..
• the concept of “needs”, in particular the
essential needs of the world’s poor, to
which overriding priority should be given;
and,
• the idea of limitations imposed by the
state of technology and social
organization on the environment’s ability
to meet present and future needs” (cf
Science Age 1987: 30).
 Cont..

• In order to understand the meaning of the

definition, let us understand the core issues
addressed in the above definition.
• First is the issue of economic growth.
• The economic growth is not only considered
essential for poverty reduction but also for
meeting human needs and aspirations for
better life.
 Cont..
• Second is the issue of limitations of the
environment’s ability to meet the needs of
the present and future generations.
• Due to the pressures generated by growing
societal needs, societies are using modern
technologies for extracting and utilizing
natural resources, which are limited.
• If we continue to exploit existing limited
natural resources, future generations will not
be able to meet their own needs.
 Cont..
• Thus, environment’s ability to meet present
and future generations’ needs has certain
limits.
• This realization is clearly reflected in the
definition.
• Thus, the concept of “sustainable
development” is based on an integrated view
of development and environment;
 Sustainable Development: Policy Objectives

• The report, Our Common Future (1987) also

recommends that in order to move on the
path of sustainable development, all nations
are required to bring about certain policy
changes.
• It has been noted that the “critical objectives
for environment and development policies
that follow from the concept of sustainable
development include:
 Cont..

(i) reviving growth;

ii) changing the quality of growth;
(iii) meeting essential needs for jobs, food,
energy, water, and sanitation;
(iv) ensuring a sustainable level of population;
(v) conserving and enhancing the resource base;
(vi) reorienting technology and managing the
risk; and
(vii) merging environment and economics in
decision making”
 Sustainable Development: Suitable Strategy
• Regarding suitable strategy, the report, Our
Common Future (1987), notes in its broadest
sense that the strategy for sustainable
development aims to promote harmony
among human beings and between humanity
and nature.
• In the specific context of the development and
environment .…the pursuit of sustainable
development requires:
 Cont..
(i) a political system that secures effective citizen
participation in decision making,
(ii) an economic system that is able to generate surpluses
and technical knowledge on a self-reliant and sustained
basis,
(iii) a social system that provides for solutions to the
tensions arising from disharmonious development,
(iv) a production system that respects the obligation to
preserve the ecological base for development..
 Cont..
• (v) a technological system that can search
continuously for new solutions,
• (vi) an international system that fosters
sustainable patterns of trade and finance, and
• (vii) an administrative system that is flexible
and has the capacity for self-correction.
• These requirements are more in the nature of
goals that should underlie national and
international action on development”
Principles of Sustainable Development
Five Principles of Sustainable Development
1. Conservation of ecosystem and environment.
2. Conservation of the biodiversity of the planet
3. Sustainable development of the society
4. Conservation of the human resources
5. Population control and management
Dimensions/Pillars of Sustainable Development
The three dimensions of sustainable development:
•Social solidarity: equality of opportunities for people, involving
welfare, quality of life and sustainable human development –
development should liberate individual capacities and fulfil human
needs, thus ending poverty and improving individuals' quality of
life offering a secure life with full rights and liberties in the long
term - and social cohesion.
•Environmental responsibility: the ability to use natural resources
without undermining the equilibrium and integrity of ecosystems,
reduce burden on the environment.
•Economic efficiency: efficiency of economic and technological
activities, foster investment and productivity, economic growth,
economic output potential.
PILLARS OF SD
FOUR PILLARS OF SD
Three/Four pillars of SD
Social
•Social sustainability concerns people and
human capital. Social wellbeing, equality,
human rights, valuing relationships. They work
to support healthier and fairer communities.
Environmental
•Environmental sustainability, which ensures
environmental resources are preserved,
maintained and not overexploited
 Cont’d….
Economic
•Companies seeking economic/financial sustainability aim
for profitability, by efficiently using their assets to keep
their capital intact. Economic sustainability aims to
improve the standard of living. Limited Natural Resources
Need to be accounted
Human sustainability
•Human sustainability aims to maintain and improve the
human capital in society. Investments in the health and
education systems, Justice, respecting human rights,
access to services, nutrition, knowledge and skills are all
programs under the umbrella of human sustainability.
 Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals to
Transform our World
(1) No Poverty, End poverty in all its forms everywhere
(2) Zero Hunger, End hunger, achieve food security and improved
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
(3) Good Health and Well-being, Ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all at all ages
(4) Quality Education, Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
(5) Gender Equality, Achieve gender equality and empower all
women and girls
(6) Clean Water and Sanitation, Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all
(7) Affordable and Clean Energy, Ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
 Cont’d….
(8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, Promote sustained,
inclusive and sustainable economic growth…
(9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Build resilient
infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
and foster innovation
(10) Reduced Inequality, Reduce inequality within and among
countries
(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, Make cities and human
settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
(12) Responsible Consumption and Production, Ensure sustainable
consumption and production patterns
(13) Climate Action, Take urgent action to combat climate change
and its impacts
 Cont’d…
(14) Life Below Water, Conserve and sustainably use the oceans,
seas and marine resources for sustainable development
(15) Life On Land, Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of
terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt
biodiversity loss
(16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Promote peaceful and
inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive
institutions at all levels
(17) Partnerships for the Goals. Strengthen the means of
implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development
 Importance of Sustainable Development
1. Focuses on Sustainable Farming Methods –
2. Manages to Stabilize the Climate –
3. Provides for Vital human needs –
4. Sustainable Biodiversity –
5. Financial Stability –
 Challenges of SD
key challenges are:
•Instability, such as conflict between nations-war
& instability. Eg. Ukraine & Russia-it halt the SD.
•Implementation, such as ensuring programs fit
the local context
•Governance, such as political will to transform
development programs into sustainable long-term
practices
•Poverty & Unemployment
•Population growth