1 Definitions

Sustainable development

DEFINING

Objective of today’s topic

• To understand the meaning of Sustainable

Development Theory/Model/Concept

Introduction

• ‘development’ often focuses on ‘economic

development’

• Implication � extensive use of environment

What is economic What is economic

development?

The implication of economic

development

Discuss

Tragedy of commons

A ‘commons’ is any resources used as though it

belongs to all. In other words, when anyone

can use a shared resources simply because

one wants or needs to use it, then one is one wants or needs to use it, then one is

using commons. For example, land is part of

our commons because it is a component of

our life support and social systems. A

commons is destroyed by uncontrolled use –

one can use land anyway one wants

Sustainable development

• Refers to qualitative change

• The changes not only to the economy, but

also institutional, social and environmental

changeschanges

Economic development

vs.

sustainable development

• If economic growth translate into a healthy

input of hard currency, then sust. Economy

should divert some of these profits to should divert some of these profits to

provide decent wages, education, hospitals,

housing, and food that is available for

everyone, and by making judicious use of its

resources

Sustainable development

“the development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of

the future generations to meet their own

needs” – Brundtland Report (1987)needs” – Brundtland Report (1987)

• Keywords of the definition:

– Development

– Present

– Future

Development

economic

Development

Social progress

Environmental protection

Present

• Refers to the need of act in the present

Future Future

• Does not refer to the immediate future but to the long-term future inhabited by our descendants – the children of our children’s children

Present

• It is impossible for the present to foresee the

future’s needs � so, what are the present’s

problems?

– People distressed of noise and fumes– People distressed of noise and fumes

– The spread of some diseases, and the ignorance

of their cures

– Lack of health services

– Children are working

– Etc.

For Future

• Some of our current objectives can be

counted on to still be the common objectives

of tomorrow:

– Everyone’s right to shelter, education and health-– Everyone’s right to shelter, education and health-

care

– The protection of the environment

– The right to work

– The right to live in clean environment

– The right to participate in the management of

one’s city

– Etc.

Sustainable development also emphasizes on:

• The concept of ‘needs’

• The idea of limitations imposed by the state of

technology and social organization on the technology and social organization on the

environment’s ability to meet present and future

needs.

• Thus, sustainability becomes a process

involving people, institutional, natural

resources and the environment that is

implemented collectively and really points to implemented collectively and really points to

the future

Conclusion

• Sustainable development � quality of life