1.8 Concepts of Sustainable Development

CONCEPTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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Defining Sustainable Development Illustrating Sustainable Development Development Concepts of Sustainable Development Agenda 21 Sustainable Development and Everyone Sustainable Development – The Indian Scenario

DEFINING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In simple simple terms, terms, sustaina sustainable ble developm development ent is the state state of developm development ent where human race develops without disturbing the state of environment. It is actual actually ly an envir environ onme ment nt frien friendly dly devel developm opment ent that that takes takes equa equall care care on the the develo developm pmen entt and the the envir environ onme ment. nt. Howe Howeve verr ther there e are are lots lots of acad academ emic  ic  definitions, which the student has to use for technical explanations. The first one is the most preferred.  Sustainable development is said to ‘meet the needs of the present without

comp compro romi misi sing ng the the abil ability ity of futu future re gene genera rati tion ons s to meet meet thei theirr own own need needs. s.’( ’(Un Unit ited ed

Natio ations ns

World orld

Com Commiss missio ion n

on

Envi Enviro ronm nmen entt

and and

Development, Brundtland Report, 1987).  Goodland and Ledec define sustainable development as, ‘a pattern of 

social social and structur structural al econom economic ic transfor transformat mation ion (i.e. (i.e. develop developmen ment) t) which which optimises the economic and other societal benefits available in the present without jeopardising the likely potential for similar benefits in the future.’ /  Barbier and Markandya (1990) emphasise the processes rather than the

aims: ‘in general, the wider objective of sustainable development development is to find the optimal level of interaction among three systems – the biological and resource system, the economic system and the social system, through a dynamic and adaptive process of trade-offs.’ The concept of sustainable development is a process of consensus-based decision making in which the impact of economic activities (the economy) the

environment (ecosystems), and the health (well-being) of society are integrated and balanced, without compromising the ability of present and future generations to meet their needs, so that all three - the economy, the environment, and the health of society - can be sustained into the future. It would be apt to present a historical overview of sustainable development because this is an internationally bound concept on which the whole world is interested. With raising concerns on environment and its problems way back in 1972, 1972, the UN organ organize ized d a conve conventi ntion on title titled d “Uni “United ted Nati Nations ons Confe Conferen rence ce on Huma Human n Envir Environ onme ment” nt” at Stock Stockho holm lm wher where e repre represen sentat tative ives s of more more than than 90 countries met together and agreed to take care of environmental issues. They also decided to meet once in 10 years. However they could not meet in 1982 owing owing to various various political political reasons. reasons. In 1987, 1987, UN formed formed a commiss commission ion United United Natio Nations ns Worl World d Comm Commiss issio ion n on Envir Environ onme ment nt and and Deve Develop lopme ment nt under under the chairmanship of Mr.Brundtland. Thanks to the serious efforts of the committee, representatives from more than 125 countries met for the 2 nd ten year conference at Rio de Janiero in June 1992. The conference was called “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” and addressed serious issues of environment, economics and soci social al well well bein being. g. It was was on this this conf confer eren ence ce the the prin princi cipl ple e of sust sustai aina nabl ble e development was proposed. All the nations were asked to go for sustainable development rather than economic development. The conference brought about lot of deta details ils abou aboutt susta sustaina inable ble devel develop opmen mentt in Agen Agenda da 21, the blue blue print print documen documentt relating relating to sustain sustainable able develop development ment.. In 2002, 2002, the conventi convention on took plac place e at Joha Johann nnes esbu burg rg and and was was call called ed Worl World d Summ Summit it for for Sust Sustai aina nabl ble e Development. In this convention also, all countries were requested to register  mechanisms of sustainable development and review existing mechanisms. ILLUSTRATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In a nutshell, Sustainable development is where economy, environment and and

society iety go

tog togeth ether.

However

there

have ave

been

a

few

pictori toria al

descriptions/illust descriptions/illustrations rations that are aimed to make its definition more clear. Even a few examiners would expect you to come out with such illustrations and you  have to understand that a picture would speak 1000 words.

The three most

common and catchy illustrations of sustainable development are listed in the following page.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMY

ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY

CONCEPTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The concepts of sustainable development can be listed as below •

Use renewable resources at a rate that can be maintained over time.

•

Gradually reduce reliance on and limit the release of toxic substances that do not readily break down in nature

•

Use all resources as efficiently and fairly as possible so that present and future generations can meet their needs.

•

Reflect Reflect the inter inter depende dependence nce of social, social, economi economic c and environ environment mental al conditions.

•

Preserve the integrity of ecological process and biological diversity.

•

Use land, air and water in ways that meet people’s diverse needs and preserve land’s ability to meet future needs.

•

Reduce the amount of materials and energy used to produce goods and services.

•

Promote the use of recyclable / reusable products and services.

AGENDA 21

The conce concept pt of susta sustaina inable ble develo developm pmen entt was was introd introduc uced ed in the 1992 1992 Earth Earth Summ Summit it held held at Rio. Rio. In the the conf confer eren ence ce,, a lega legall docu docume ment nt/b /blu lue e prin printt for  for  sustainable development called Agenda 21 was put forth. The table of contents of Agenda 21 describes the nature of issues and topics related to sustainable development. You need not memorize them. It is just to   prov provid ide e you you the the spec spectr trum um of acti activi viti ties es that that is repre represe sent nted ed by sust sustai ainab nable le development.

Chapter 1 Preamble Section I. Social and Economic Dimensions Chapter 2 International Cooperation for Sustainable Development Chapter 3 Combating Poverty Chapter 4 Changing Consumption Patterns Chapter 5 Demographic Dynamics & Sustainability Chapter 6 Human Health Chapter 7 Human Settlements Chapter 8 Decision Making Section II. Conservation and Management of Resources for Development Chapter 9 Protection of the Atmosphere Chapter 10 Land Resources Chapter 11 Deforestation Chapter 12 Desertification & Drought Chapter 13 Sustainable Mountain Development Chapter 14 Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Chapter 15 Conservation of Biodiversity Chapter 16 Biotechnology Chapter 17 Protection of the Oceans Chapter 18 Freshwater Resources

Chapter 19 Toxic Chemicals - Management Chapter 20 Hazardous Wastes - Management Chapter 21 Solid Wastes - Management Chapter 22 Radioactive Wastes - Management Section III. Strengthening the Role of Major Groups Chapter 23 Preamble Major Groups Chapter 24 Women Chapter 25 Children & Youth Chapter 26 Indigenous People Chapter 27 Non-Governmental Organizations Chapter 28 Local Authorities Chapter 29 Trade Unions Chapter 30 Business & Industry Chapter 31 Scientific & Technological Community Chapter 32 Role of Farmers Section IV. Means of Implementation Chapter 33 Financial Resources Chapter 34 Technology Technology Transfer  Chapter 35 Science for Sustainable Development Chapter 36 Education, Public Awareness & Training Chapter 37 Capacity Building in Developing Countries Chapter 38 International Institutions Chapter 39 International Legal Instruments Chapter 40 Information for Decision-making

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYONE

You shoul should d have have unde underst rstoo ood d that that every every coun country try is head headed ed towar towards ds sustainable sustainable development. Sustainable development development can be achieved only by the active participation of all sorts of people in a country. From the Government to the the peop people le,, ever everyo yone ne has has a role role to play play in orde orderr to achi achiev eve e sust sustai aina nabl ble e development. They are listed below ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

Provide a broad broad range range of opportu opportuniti nities es for learnin learning g about about sustain sustainable able  Provide development concepts and practices.

 Reform regulations and develop incentives to encourage practices that

have net environmental, economic and community benefits over the long run. Provide incentiv incentives es for business business interest interested ed in develop developing ing and adoptin adopting g  Provide sustainable practices and technologies. Examine ne the role role of taxes taxes and subsi subsidie dies s in enco encoura uragin ging g susta sustaina inable ble  Exami development.  Establish new institutions / organizations outside of Government to aid in

facilitating sustainable development.  Government should set an example of sustainability in own operations and

functions. ROLE OF CITIZENS

 Promote environmentally sound business  Look for opportunities to turn waste streams into profit streams.  Support the development of renewable energy resources.

Educat ate e othe others rs abou aboutt  Educ

the the nece necess ssit ity y and and esse essent ntia ials ls of sust sustai aina nabl ble e

development.  Join in NGOs / Institutions involved in the activity and contribute your skills

towards the development of nation. ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

 Cooperation and coordination of international and regional organizations.

Governm nment ents s  Gover

and and

non-g non-gove overn rnmen menta tall

orga organiz nizati ation ons s

shou should ld develo develop p

programmes for children collaborating with UNICEF. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – INDIAN RESPONSE

India presented its perspective on sustainable development before the World Summ Summit it for for Sust Sustai aina nabl ble e Deve Develo lopm pmen entt (WSS (WSSD) D) in 2002 2002 as deta detail iled ed stud study y “Empowering People for Sustainable Development” (EPSD). It was brought out by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Indian Government did not feel the need for a separate specific strategy for  sustainable sustainable development development . The Five Year Plans provide medium-term strategies for overall overall develop developmen ment. t. However However,, after after the WSSD, WSSD, the Indian Indian governm government ent

initia initiated ted a proce process ss of prepar preparing ing and and imple impleme menti nting ng a natio national nal strate strategy gy for  for  sustainable development by 2005. EPSD introduces the essential framework for sustainable development in India: democratic democratic continuity continuity,, devolution devolution of power, power, independent independent judiciary, judiciary, and civilian control control of the armed armed forces, forces, indepe independen ndentt media, media, transpar transparency ency and people' people's s participation. It follows multidimensional, sectoral and cross-sectoral approaches. The EPSD has four main objectives 

Combating poverty



Empowering people



Using core competence in science and technology



Setting environmental standards

The Indian Government has set the following targets for sustainable development in the 10 th Five year plan.  Reduction of poverty ratio by 5 percentage points by 2007 and by 15

percentage points by 2012  All children in school by 2003; all children to complete 5 Years in school by

2007  Reduction in gender gaps in literacy and wage rates by at least 50 % by

2007  Reduction in population growth between 2001 and 2011 to 16.2 %  Increase in literacy rate to 75 % by 2007  Reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to 45 per 1000 live births by 2007

and to 28 by 2012  Reduction of Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to 2 per 1000 live births by

2007 and to 1 by 2012  Increase in forest cover to 25 % by 2007 and 33 % by 2012  All villages to have sustained access to potable drinking water by 2007  Cleaning of major polluted rivers by 2007 and other notified stretches by

2012 Let us hope hope that that the the targe targets ts are achie achieved ved and and susta sustaina inable ble deve develop lopme ment nt is attained in our country.