CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Prof. Prabha Panth, Osmania University, Hyderabad

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • Sustainable – means the “capacity to continue

into the distant future.” • There should be a) an action, b) a time

dimension, and c) the level of action should not decrease.

• Sustainable development – present type of economic development is not sustainable, as it depletes natural resources and increases pollution.

• If continued on the same path, the Earth will run out of natural resources, and pollution destroy the ecology of the Earth.

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Definition of Sustainable development

• Brundtland, defined Sustainable development as development “that meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” –Our Common Future 1987.

• Contains two key concepts:o Poverty Focus – the needs of the world’s poor to

which high priority should be given.o Future’s Focus – limits imposed by technology and

social organisation on environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”

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Principles of Sustainable development

Four principles – two developmental and anthropocentric, and two sustainability and bio-centric.1. Developmental: (Basic standards of living now and for the future):

i) Satisfy the basic human needs and reasonable standard of welfare for all living beings, now and in the future.

ii) Achieve more equitable standards of living both within and among global populations.

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2) Sustainability: (preservation of natural resources now and for the future)

i) Care regarding potential disruption of biodiversity and regenerative capacity of local and global ecology.

ii) No undermining of possibility of future generations to attain similar or improved standards of living, through running down natural resources stocks and pollution loads.

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Features of Sustainable Development

1. Ethical Guiding Principle: like democracy or social justice – different interpretations are possible.

2. Anthropocentric: places human beings and their welfare above concepts of environmental sustainability.

3. Physical sustainability: recognises limits to Nature, and overall global ecological balance

4. Global Equity: environmental benefits to be equitably distributed over present generation.

5. Inter Generation Equity: environmental resources and economic welfare should be available for future generations, at least equal to present ones.

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Interpretation of Sustainable development

• Unfortunately, no common consensus among countries over the mode and type of sustainable development to be achieved.oWho sets the values or standards for sustainable

development? Rich countries or poor countries?

o What are these values and norms? Are they universally acceptable?

o How and who should implement them?

o How should they be implemented?

o At what level should they be implemented?

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