What Is Sustainable Development?

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

In olden times the survivors of dying communities could move on to less populated, more fertile areas, but today, there is no such place left to go! Do those living today owe anything to the future? If "Yes", then we must now determine what and how much we owe future generations, least our present course continues unabated too far into the twenty-first century, eventually to destroy options for all generations to come.

But, communities face enormous challenges as their social, economic, and environmental resources are damaged or depleted. Because these elements of communities are interconnected, there are no simple answers. In addition, whatever issues we find ourselves facing, be it disease, child abuse, crime, injustice, weakened economies, energy shortages, lack of good jobs, extinction of species, poverty, destruction of forests, pollution, breakdown of families, armed conflict, or nuclear power, there are some common threads and interconnected steps that will offer solutions to these seemingly diverse problems.

The interdependencies of the economic, environmental, and social justice elements of our world require new ways of thinking about things and taking action that will truly create a future where human society and nature coexist with mutual benefit, and where the suffering caused by poverty and natural resource abuse is eliminated.

Sustainable development calls for improving the quality of life for all of the world’s people without increasing the use of our natural resources beyond the earth’s carrying capacity. While sustainable development may require different actions in every region of the world, the efforts to build a truly sustainable way of life require the integration of action in three key areas:

Economic Growth and Equity – Today’s interlinked, global economic systems demand an integrated approach in order to foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no nation or community is left behind.

Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment – To conserve our environmental heritage and natural resources for future generations, economically viable solutions must be developed to reduce resource consumption, stop pollution and conserve natural habitats.

Social Development – Throughout the world, people require jobs, food, education, energy, health care, water and sanitation. While addressing these needs, the world community must also ensure that the rich fabric of cultural and social diversity, and the rights of workers, are respected, and that all members of society are empowered to play a role in determining their futures.

From: World Summit on Sustainable Development brochure, 2002

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (SD) is the parallel consideration of healthy environments, life, and human well-being. This includes issues of population, climate, economic prosperity, energy, natural resource use, waste management, biodiversity, watershed protection, technology, agriculture, safe water supplies, international security, politics, green building, sustainable cities, smart development, community/family relations, human values, etc. All these "pieces" are parts of the sustainable society puzzle, because they are the basic ingredients of everyday life.

Sustainable development represents a process in which economics, finance, trade, energy, agriculture, industry, and all other policies are implemented in a way to bring about development that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. Thus, the goal of sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs - maintaining the balance of the "SUSTAINABILITY STOOL."

In practicing sustainable development over the long-term one will:

not diminish the quality of the present environment;
not critically reduce the availability of renewable resources;
take into consideration the value of non-renewable resources to future generations; and
not compromise the ability of other species or future generations to meet their needs.

According to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, one definition of sustainability that appears to have more resonance with the general public is: Sustainable development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. This focus on improving quality of life is becoming more widely accepted by governments, companies, and civil society organizations; it makes the sustainability concept more aspirational and changes the emphasis of the sustainable development debate towards solutions rather than problems.

David Suzuki believes that our resources are limited. Our little planet can only provide so many goods and absorb so much of our waste. Given these constraints, our current economy, which is predicated on relentless growth, is unsustainable. Something has to give. Check out his article: Sustainability: A New Bottom Line.

For more information on sustainability, go to Resources

In order to review a complete listing of Sustainable Development Principles (almost 100 links) as compiled the International Institute for Sustainable Development, go to their Resources for Sustainable Development Principles page.