Sustainable development (SD) is the promise between people and planet, which includes ending poverty and hunger globally while guaranteeing healthy lives with dignity for all, conserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, and conserving natural resources for future generations.
Brundtland Report (1987), from which is taken the most widely accepted definition, defines Sustainable Development (SD) as development that meets present generation needs without undermining future ones’. Different approaches vary with regards to their priorities and desired goals.
Definition
Meadows introduced the concept of sustainable development with his 1972 publication of “The Limits to Growth.” His research demonstrated that population, industrial production and pollution levels were increasing exponentially and that these three key variables would soon reach their physical limits on earth (Basiago 1992).
Sustainability encompasses economic development, social progress and environmental protection – including equitable social justice principles as well as the conservation of natural resources.
The UN defines sustainable development as development that meets present needs without undermining future generations’ ability to meet theirs.” In practice, this means everyone should have access to decent work, adequate income, quality health care and education as well as clean drinking water sources. Environmental protection efforts may involve reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency and resource use efficiency as well as developing environmentally-friendly systems of agriculture and transport.
Purpose
Sustainable development (SD) seeks to foster economies and societies in ways compatible with our planet’s capacity for life support, while changing lifestyles, economic models, resource management practices and environmental conservation to achieve this end.
Sustainability involves not only using renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also conserving biodiversity and ecological systems. It operates under the assumption that natural resources cannot be replaced with economic capital and that Earth’s ecological balance is fragile.
Sustainable development (SD) encompasses an economic aspect characterized by efficiency and innovation to drive economic growth while protecting the environment, while its social side includes human rights, gender equality, quality health care and education, decent work conditions and peace. All stakeholders — governments, business, academia and civil society — should participate in designing, implementing and enforcing policies for sustainability; this will ensure sustainable development becomes truly global and interrelated agenda.
Goals
Sustainable development involves the combination of social progress, environmental equilibrium and economic expansion. Agenda 2030 sets 17 goals that address various aspects of sustainability – poverty, hunger and malnutrition, education gender equality clean water energy economic development industry innovation infrastructure sustainable cities human settlements climate change natural resources
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include nine outcome targets and three means-of-implementation (MOI) targets, such as universal access to affordable and reliable energy, increasing renewable energy penetration, and doubling rates of energy efficiency improvement. MOI targets include encouraging responsible consumption and production patterns as well as applying the polluter pays principle so polluting companies pay their dues, and including ecosystem and biodiversity concerns into government planning processes.
Businesses play an essential role in meeting these challenges and contributing to meeting the SDGs by acting responsibly, adopting and adhering to the UN Global Compact Ten Principles into their strategies and operations, and finding innovative solutions to societal issues.
Targets
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals include goals aimed at social progress, environmental equilibrium and economic growth. Their targets include reducing poverty, hunger and inequality; improving water and sanitation services; supporting renewable energy sources; as well as creating sustainable cities and communities.
Reaching these goals will require significant financial resources; efforts are currently being undertaken to secure these resources through fundraising initiatives and encourage private investments in sustainability.
Population control and environmental conservation are integral parts of sustainable development, since human needs such as food, shelter and clothing continue to expand while natural resources shrink. Thus population management and ecological preservation must play an integral part of sustainable development.
Other strategies for sustainable development include reducing greenhouse gas emissions; encouraging energy generation from renewable sources; advocating policies that conserve biodiversity and limit pollution; adopting economic models which support responsible consumption; and adopting lifestyle habits which foster it. Individuals can contribute by taking steps to lower their ecological footprint such as using recycled paper instead of receiving paper statements, participating in online banking instead of paper statements, turning off lights when unplugging appliances, reporting bullying on social media when seen, etc.