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The concept of sustainable development

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 Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. History
  3. Understanding Sustainable Development
  4. Sustainability in different spheres of development
  5. Millennium Development Goals
  6. Key MDG achievements till the present
  7. Sustainable development goals

Introduction

The concept of sustainable development came about as people became more aware of the strong connections between growing environmental problems, social and economic problems like poverty and inequality, and worries about the future health of humanity. All societies are worried because the effects are being felt everywhere. It makes a strong connection between environmental and economic issues. Sustainable development is a very controversial topic, and different scholars, societies, and even businesses have different ideas about what it means. But everyone agrees that it must be done and that it can't be avoided. Most big businesses and corporations in Europe, the United States, and the developing world agree, at least in theory, that sustainable development is important. In fact, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is made up of more than 100 of the world's largest mining, oil, and gas refineries, auto, chemical, cement, electricity generation, drug, and biotechnology services like banking and finance companies (WBCSD, 2001). Several groups that work to protect the environment, such as WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature), Greenpeace, and others, are dedicated to sustainable development. But they have negative things to say about companies that are part of the WBCSD. People and groups who care about the environment and society support sustainable development, but they don't agree with how industry and business see it.

History

The UN General Assembly acknowledged that the natural environment and resources had suffered considerable degradation in the 1980s. The Brundtland Commission was founded by the UN in 1983 to encourage nations to work together for sustainable development. The Commission's tenure came to a conclusion in December 1987, following the publication of its final report, Our Common Future, in October of that same year. The term "Sustainable Development" was originally used in the report, which is more widely referred to as the Brundtland Report.

According to the Brundtland Commission,
"...the "environment" is where we live; and "development" is what we all do in attempting to improve our lot within that abode. The two are inseparable." (Based on Our Common Future, 1987)

Accordingly, in the modern world, we define sustainable development as "...the kind of development that satisfies the demands of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to satisfy their own requirements."

 The two key concepts of sustainable development are:
  1. the concept of "needs", which are the essential needs of the world's poorest people which should be given overriding priority; 
  2. “limitations” which are imposed by the state of technology and social organizations on the environment's ability to meet both present and future needs
The definition and theories of Brundtland recognised how much more than only resource exploitation do resources depend on the environment for their needs and well-being. It recognises that
“ecology and economy are becoming ever more interwoven – locally, regionally, nationally and globally”.

Our lives, activities, and society are nested inside the environment rather than dominating it.

The report emphasises that humankind depends on the environment, the economy, and our well-being for security and fundamental necessities both now and in the future, whether we live in an industrialised society or a rural subsistence one. Additionally, it illustrates how everything on Earth is connected; environmental issues are not local but rather universal. In order to prevent problems from spreading from one place to another, actions and their effects must be taken into account globally. Examples include releasing pollutants across borders, moving polluting industries, and using up a disproportionate amount of the earth's resources compared to local needs. Environmental issues put people's lives, livelihoods, and health in danger; they can also start wars and endanger future generations. 

Understanding Sustainable Development

The economy, ecology, and society are frequently separated out when discussing sustainable development. Three interwoven circles are used to represent the three sectors. Conceptually, this paradigm is straightforward to grasp. Sustainable development is frequently portrayed as attempting to balancely bring the three together in order to resolve issues.

However, this paradigm has many flaws and restrictions. The idea suggests that society, economy, and environment are distinct from one another and even operate independently. This viewpoint approaches sustainable development in discrete ways. The linkages between the economy, society, and environment are ignored by the separation. It raises the possibility that man-made structures, like cities and other forms of infrastructure, could displace natural resources. It entirely disregards the fact that plantations or reforestation cannot ever fully replace a forest. There is no technique to recreate the ozone layer or the atmosphere. Biodiversity cannot be replaced by genetic engineering.

In order to protect the countryside, wild animals, and wilderness from people, many British and American environmentalists prioritise these topics. The urban environment is comparatively less of a worry. This perspective derives from the idea that people and the environment are two distinct entities. Even in India, there is a lot of emphasis on preserving wetlands, forests, and other habitats by forbidding habitation. However, the city's ecosystem is also being savagely destroyed. Urban environmentalists who advocate for the preservation of forests do not do so with the same fervour for the preservation of urban trees. India is one example of a developing nation with drastically different conditions than developed nations. People are reliant on natural resources directly in the majority of emerging nations. Extreme poverty occurs from cutting them off from resources, hence it is necessary to find ways to combine natural conservation and human growth.

The idea that technology solutions may aid in sustainable development is one of the effects of separating environment and economy. The transition to renewable energy sources is a hot topic right now. We have concentrated on pollution management and greenhouse gas trading as extensions of this strategy. However, there is less discussion on solving the most serious problems, such as the development paradigm that is wholly dependent on consuming increasing amounts of energy. It is crucial to comprehend how society, the economy, and the environment are interconnected. Promoting financial or tax incentives for ecologically responsible behaviour is another common strategy. However, technical or monetary remedies like modifying the interest rate, benefits, or taxation cannot propel the economy towards sustainable development on their own. These ideas are appealing because they can be easily introduced at the government level. However, they do not entail a deeper analysis of the interaction between the economy, society, and environment. A sectoral approach, however, may draw focus away from issues that are crucial for understanding sustainable development, such as the structure of our society, how decisions are made and who benefits, and what the development priorities are. The sustainable development goal frequently overlooks the larger societal challenges of justice and equity.

Environmental economics talk about the unpaid costs associated with corporate activities such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and habitat deterioration. How can corporations pay for such costs, and to whom must they be paid? Money cannot possibly compensate an organism or a person for the loss of a vital habitat. Business cannot cover many societal expenses, including unemployment, cultural loss, and health-related costs.

For human survival, the environment and biodiversity are crucial. The diversity of the environment has an impact on the development of science, technology, art, and culture. Renowned environmentalist Vandana Shiva emphasises how global capitalism takes use of variety in all its forms to make money. Sadly, it also runs the risk of eradicating that diversity, which might have harmful repercussions for both people and the environment. A crucial component of sustainable development is public health. Human well-being and public health are closely related to clean environments. The three-sector ring concept is centred on "health and sustainable development," according to a World Health Organization report from 1997. Malnutrition and certain illnesses like tuberculosis have a definite connection to poverty. The economy has an impact on health since poverty exacerbates bad health. The nature of work, or lack thereof, will significantly affect health. Poor people are compelled to work in dangerous conditions. Workers in mines and chemical plants suffer as a result of exposure to harmful conditions. Their social situation, as well as the quality of their immediate and surrounding environments, have a significant impact on their health (Acheson, 1998). It is difficult to achieve the above-mentioned redefining of sustainable development to emphasise human well-being and end the division between the economy and society. Who will decide how to define wellbeing? Even someone who is wealthy may sense the need for better health, but only for themselves. Just enough food to fill the stomach is sufficient for a poor person to feel healthy. It's possible that the demands of the wealthy and better off place a greater burden on the environment than do those of the underprivileged.

No matter if a problem is categorised as environmental, social, economic, or any mix of the three, sustainable development must be built on principles that would apply to all of these challenges.

As a result, Haughton (1999) lists the following five equity principles:
  • futurity – inter-generational equity; 
  • social justice – intra-generational equity; 
  • transfrontier responsibility –geographical equity; 
  • procedural equity – people treated openly and fairly; 
  • inter-species equity–importance of biodiversity
These ideas can be summed up as being futuristic and taking into account the requirements of future generations. Social justice encompasses equity regardless of class, gender, colour, etc. Understanding the significance of environmental integrity and biodiversity is also essential.

Sustainability in different spheres of development

Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture uses environmentally-friendly methods to produce food and raise livestock without harming humans or natural environments. In many situations, agriculture became a production industry in the 19th century. Mechanization and fuel and energy utilisation were implemented to increase output at any costs. Mechanized agriculture cleared large regions. Many habitats became meat farms. Sustainable agriculture prevents fertilisers, pesticides, and weedicides from harming soil, water, biodiversity, and farm workers and neighbours. Sustainable agriculture means neither depleting or polluting natural resources. Permaculture, agroforestry, mixed farming, multiple cropping, and crop rotation are sustainable agriculture ideas. In India, cow dung and urine are used as fertilisers. Traditional farming practises use resources efficiently and respect the environment. Standardize sustainability. Sustainable or organic certification is widespread. Certifications help consumers chose sustainable items. FairWild is a sustainable practise certification.

Energy

Clean and long-lasting, sustainable energy is a good choice. Renewable energy produces little to no pollution, in contrast to the fossil fuels that the majority of nations still rely on. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy are promoted in India. Solar energy production is rising and is anticipated to eventually supply a sizable amount of India's energy needs. Fossil fuel mining affects both the environment and humans. These sources of energy are not renewable. Communities in North-East India, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha have all voiced opposition to mining in their areas. Local communities have previously been excluded from decision-making. Many people were forced to live near polluting power plants and other industrial projects that damaged the environment in their neighbourhood. The health of the surrounding populations was under danger due to toxicants from coal, nuclear power stations, and refineries. Renewable energy usage will improve social justice in communities as it becomes more widespread. Energy-related sustainable development has the potential to improve community safety and economic sustainability. Investment in sustainable energy sources is being encouraged more and more by state regulations.

Technology

Sustainable development's basic tenet is that technology may be creatively used to help people satisfy their developmental needs. Such technological application is frequently referred to as suitable technology. E.F. Schumacher developed the philosophy of appropriate technology in his landmark book Small is Beautiful. Many contemporary proponents of appropriate technology, including Schumacher, emphasised the necessity for technology that is human-centered. Many organisations in India have developed compact, effective chulhas for more effective wood burning. It is preferable for rural areas than pushing gas because it is expensive and has environmental consequences during extraction.

Business

The effective use of natural capital by a company is the standard for corporate sustainability that is most widely acknowledged. The economic value added by a company in relation to its total ecological impact is typically used to calculate this eco-efficiency. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has pushed this idea under the following definition: "Eco-efficiency is achieved by the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life-cycle to a level at least in line with the earth's carrying capacity”. 

Environmental groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and WWF have shifted from being activists to being the driving forces behind reform campaigns. As a result, they concentrate on lobbying and communicating with governments and corporations. As a result, there is less attention paid to the social problems associated with poverty or even the disproportionate amount of pollution and other environmental problems that the poor in the industrialised world experience. Some reformers, though, are moving closer to transformation. They share the opinions of intellectuals like Schumacher (1973), who asserted that the economy should be managed "like if people cared," indicating that small and local businesses are more sustainable than huge, international ones, even when the latter are privately held and engaged in market economies.

Millennium Development Goals

After ten years of meetings and summits, world leaders gathered in New York at the UN headquarters in 2000. They ratified the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations. The Millennium Development Goals were outlined in the Declaration as a set of eight time-bound goals with a deadline of 2015 that pledged nations to a new global cooperation to end extreme poverty (MDGs).

The 8 MDG Goals
  1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 
  2. Achieve universal primary education 
  3. Promote gender equality and empower women 
  4. Reduce child mortality
  5. Improve maternal health 
  6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 
  7. Ensure environmental sustainability 
  8. Develop a global partnership for development
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were development priorities that set measurable, broadly accepted goals for combating extreme poverty and hunger, preventing fatal diseases, and ensuring that all children have access to elementary education. The MDGs propelled advancement for fifteen years in a number of crucial sectors, including lowering income poverty, granting much-needed access to water and sanitation, lowering child mortality, and significantly enhancing maternal health. Through the MDGs, a worldwide movement for free primary education gained traction, encouraging nations to make policy investments in their future generations. The MDGs prioritised the fight against HIV/AIDS and other curable illnesses including malaria and tuberculosis.

Key MDG achievements till the present: 

  • More than 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty (since 1990) 
  • Child mortality dropped by more than half (since 1990) 
  • The number of out of school children has dropped by more than half (since 1990) •
  • HIV/AIDS infections fell by almost 40 percent (since 2000) 
The legacy and successes of the MDGs provide insightful insights for pursuing new objectives. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for the world to go in a more sustainable way.

Sustainable development goals

The "universal, integrated, and transformative" 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is made up of a list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, was formally endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. (SDGs). From 2016 through 2030, all nations must implement and accomplish the goals. These goals take the role of the Millennium Development Goals and build on their accomplishments. In addition to other concerns, they cover recent topics including economic injustice, innovation, sustainable consumerism, and peace and justice. The accomplishment of one goal depends on the accomplishment of another since the goals are interrelated. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created at the 2012 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The purpose was to create a set of global objectives that addressed the pressing environmental, political, and economic issues facing our planet.

The SDGs are as follows: 

  • Goal 1: No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 
  • Goal 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
  • Goal 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
  • Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 
  • Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce income inequality within and among countries 
  • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
  • Goal 13: Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy 
  • Goal 14: Life Below Water - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
  • Goal 15: Life on Land - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss 
  • Goal 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 
  • Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
The SDGs strive to make the best decisions now to improve life in a sustainable way for future generations. They do this in the spirit of teamwork and pragmatism. For all nations to adopt in accordance with their own goals and the global environmental concerns, they set clear principles and targets.

The SDGs represent a diverse agenda. They are supposed to address the underlying causes of poverty and bring us all together to effect change that is good for both people and the environment. According to UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, supporting the 2030 Agenda is a primary priority for the organisation. "The SDGs give us a shared strategy and agenda to address some of the most critical issues confronting our planet, such as conflict, poverty, and climate change. UNDP offers the experience and knowledge necessary to spur development and support nations on their way to sustainable development.

SDGs represent a commitment by the international community to address some of the most critical issues facing humanity today. Reducing inequality and promoting inclusive societies will boost economies. Managing natural resources effectively, achieving gender equality, and improving health are all necessary to combat the threat of climate change and ultimately reduce poverty.

The SDGs were adopted at the same time as another important accord, the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement, which was concluded in 2015. In order to cut carbon emissions, manage the risks of climate change and natural disasters, and rebuild better after a crisis, a set of universal criteria and reachable targets have been established by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was agreed in Japan in March 2015.
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