Sustainable Sustainable Development Development VisionVision

Kamil VilinovicKamil Vilinovic

Ministry of EnvironmentMinistry of Environment

Slovak RepublicSlovak Republic

A central motive of sustainable development A central motive of sustainable development visionvision is a is a change to a change to a societysociety based and managed on the based and managed on the principles and criteria of sustainable development and principles and criteria of sustainable development and their conscious application. their conscious application.

The vision assumes implementation of an The vision assumes implementation of an overall change of overall change of the societythe society, rules of functioning of the economy and in , rules of functioning of the economy and in particular conscious application of these democratically particular conscious application of these democratically adopted rules. Condition for achieving the vision is perception adopted rules. Condition for achieving the vision is perception of sustainable development as a comprehensive cross-sectoral of sustainable development as a comprehensive cross-sectoral issue relating to the whole society, which is based on active issue relating to the whole society, which is based on active participation of all major groups of the society. Overall social participation of all major groups of the society. Overall social and cultural development of the man and the society in and cultural development of the man and the society in harmonious relationship with the nature and the harmonious relationship with the nature and the environment is the priority of development.environment is the priority of development.

The The visionvision is based on a condition that is based on a condition that countrycountry has an has an ambition ambition to preserve the nature with its diversityto preserve the nature with its diversity and self-regulatory and self-regulatory abilities, to bequeath the future generation sufficient quantity of abilities, to bequeath the future generation sufficient quantity of carefully utilised natural resources and the quality environment. carefully utilised natural resources and the quality environment. At the same time it assumes At the same time it assumes direction towards working, direction towards working, nature-friendly economynature-friendly economy based on principles of effective use based on principles of effective use and fair distribution of resources and towards healthy, and fair distribution of resources and towards healthy, meaningfully working society, enabling to meet social, spiritual meaningfully working society, enabling to meet social, spiritual and cultural needs. An important condition for achieving the and cultural needs. An important condition for achieving the vision of sustainable development are institutions and legal acts, vision of sustainable development are institutions and legal acts, which serve an individual and the whole society in increasing which serve an individual and the whole society in increasing quality of life, including the right for quality environment and quality of life, including the right for quality environment and comprehensive comprehensive development of human resources.development of human resources. In the In the framework of internal regional and local development it is framework of internal regional and local development it is necessary to balance inter-regional disparities and to use regions necessary to balance inter-regional disparities and to use regions in accordance with their potentials, principles and criteria of in accordance with their potentials, principles and criteria of sustainable development. Local Agendas 21 will be worked out sustainable development. Local Agendas 21 will be worked out and implemented at local level. In the area of interpersonal and implemented at local level. In the area of interpersonal relationships relationships countrycountry will become a country positively affecting will become a country positively affecting international direction towards sustainability and will accept its international direction towards sustainability and will accept its share of responsibility for international eventsshare of responsibility for international events to the effect to the effect of a slogan: “Think globally, act locally!”of a slogan: “Think globally, act locally!”

The idea assumes The idea assumes fundamental changes of production and fundamental changes of production and consumption patternsconsumption patterns towards the eco-effective sophisticated towards the eco-effective sophisticated productions, consuming less energy and resources, saving the productions, consuming less energy and resources, saving the environment and requiring less transport and increasing environment and requiring less transport and increasing effectiveness of use of resources. At the same time it assumes effectiveness of use of resources. At the same time it assumes an increase of an increase of rationalism and awareness of consumer rationalism and awareness of consumer behaviourbehaviour in the sense of voluntary self-regulation and in the sense of voluntary self-regulation and immunity to excessive consumption so that this change brings immunity to excessive consumption so that this change brings profit to the nature, society and consumer as well. Direction profit to the nature, society and consumer as well. Direction towards sustainable development means addressing the towards sustainable development means addressing the producers (influencing the business conditions) and the producers (influencing the business conditions) and the consumers of goods and services, in particular in the area of consumers of goods and services, in particular in the area of housing, nutrition, transport and spending the leisure time. housing, nutrition, transport and spending the leisure time. The The value orientations of population should changevalue orientations of population should change gradually, patterns of sustainable production and consumption gradually, patterns of sustainable production and consumption should be preferred and the consumer way of life should be should be preferred and the consumer way of life should be economically and morally disadvantaged. Indicators of state of economically and morally disadvantaged. Indicators of state of the environment (load and threat to the landscape) would the environment (load and threat to the landscape) would improve as a consequence of application of a new philosophy of improve as a consequence of application of a new philosophy of economic and social development of the society. economic and social development of the society.

Achieving the idea of sustainable development is not possible Achieving the idea of sustainable development is not possible without without substantive changes in the economic area substantive changes in the economic area – economy – economy should be de-centralised, diversified, sophisticated and transformed should be de-centralised, diversified, sophisticated and transformed to scales, which are adjusted to human needs. to scales, which are adjusted to human needs. Sectoral policies Sectoral policies will be revised in the light of strategic objectiveswill be revised in the light of strategic objectives and and recommendations of the National Strategy of Sustainable recommendations of the National Strategy of Sustainable Development, the comprehensive conception of economic, social Development, the comprehensive conception of economic, social and environmental development of the and environmental development of the countrycountry will be will be consequently determined by the principles of sustainable consequently determined by the principles of sustainable development – further development of sectors will be based on development – further development of sectors will be based on these principles and will be subjected to a common objective. these principles and will be subjected to a common objective. Implementing conditions for application of quality legal acts and Implementing conditions for application of quality legal acts and development documents in practice will be significantly improved. development documents in practice will be significantly improved. Sufficient funds will be earmarked for areas ensuring Sufficient funds will be earmarked for areas ensuring development of human resourcesdevelopment of human resources (health service, education, (health service, education, science and research, culture) and protection of the environment.science and research, culture) and protection of the environment.Quality and involvement of staff in the state administration, self-Quality and involvement of staff in the state administration, self-governments and other areas of life of the society will be improved. governments and other areas of life of the society will be improved. Their work will be operative, qualified and competent and they will Their work will be operative, qualified and competent and they will behave independently in decision-making. Impacts of corruption will behave independently in decision-making. Impacts of corruption will be eliminated and legal awareness of citizens and the whole society be eliminated and legal awareness of citizens and the whole society will considerably improve.will considerably improve.

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Successful achievement of the of sustainable development Successful achievement of the of sustainable development vision vision in the in the society society requiresrequires a fundamental social change. a fundamental social change. The The society, its major groups and also individual citizens have to society, its major groups and also individual citizens have to change their current behaviour, attitudes, value orientations, change their current behaviour, attitudes, value orientations, ways of solution of problems and achievement of objectives in ways of solution of problems and achievement of objectives in order to comply with principles and criteria of sustainable order to comply with principles and criteria of sustainable development. It should be an objective-oriented process of development. It should be an objective-oriented process of changes, through which the highest and sustainable quality of life changes, through which the highest and sustainable quality of life could be achieved.could be achieved.To carry out this fundamental change, it is necessary in the To carry out this fundamental change, it is necessary in the country country as a starting pre-condition to carry out as a starting pre-condition to carry out transition of the transition of the society towards the following attributes:society towards the following attributes:

Highly developed civic societyHighly developed civic societySociety of education (learning society)Society of education (learning society)Information societyInformation society EEnvironmentalnvironmentallyly aware aware society society

Highly developed civic societyHighly developed civic society                   an open society of citizens with developed legal awareness, developed an open society of citizens with developed legal awareness, developed

mechanisms hampering the abuse of political and economic powermechanisms hampering the abuse of political and economic power                   a society, where each citizens takes over a part of responsibility for its a society, where each citizens takes over a part of responsibility for its

qualitative development, oriented to improvement of quality of life (achievement of qualitative development, oriented to improvement of quality of life (achievement of a healthy, socially and demographically balanced society)a healthy, socially and demographically balanced society)

                  a society with a great emphasis put on development of human capital a society with a great emphasis put on development of human capital (expertise, development of science, cultural, spiritual and intellectual life), (expertise, development of science, cultural, spiritual and intellectual life), development and better use of human abilities on the basis of conviction that the development and better use of human abilities on the basis of conviction that the human creativity is practically a limitless resourcehuman creativity is practically a limitless resource

                  a society with aim-consciously supported and developing national and regional a society with aim-consciously supported and developing national and regional identityidentity

                  a society, where mutual trust and partner relationships are promoted among a society, where mutual trust and partner relationships are promoted among major groups, where not only freedom and equality but inter-generational and intra-major groups, where not only freedom and equality but inter-generational and intra-generational solidarity as well are respectedgenerational solidarity as well are respected

                  a society, which supports principles of social solidarity and subsidiarity, helps a society, which supports principles of social solidarity and subsidiarity, helps families to deal with events and situations recognised by the state, which exceeds families to deal with events and situations recognised by the state, which exceeds the limits of average, in the form of state social support, guarantees assistance and the limits of average, in the form of state social support, guarantees assistance and protection in the form of social aid in order to alleviate material and social needprotection in the form of social aid in order to alleviate material and social need

                  a society, which hampers and prevents all forms of discrimination, social a society, which hampers and prevents all forms of discrimination, social exclusion and povertyexclusion and poverty

a society, which ensures protection of rights and interests protected by the law, a society, which ensures protection of rights and interests protected by the law, humanisation of social relationships and deepening of social dimension of humanisation of social relationships and deepening of social dimension of sustainable development as a guarantee of free self-determination and self-sustainable development as a guarantee of free self-determination and self-realisation of citizensrealisation of citizens

Society of education Society of education (learning society)(learning society)

                  a society, where each citizen has an equal access a society, where each citizen has an equal access to education and equal chance to achieve successto education and equal chance to achieve success

                  a society, where education together with a society, where education together with knowledge and skills, scientific and development knowledge and skills, scientific and development expertise are considered to be the most valuable capital expertise are considered to be the most valuable capital for development and therefor the whole-life education for development and therefor the whole-life education and re-qualification are supportedand re-qualification are supported

a society, where education, development of culture, a society, where education, development of culture, science and research are supported and used for science and research are supported and used for development at all levels and in all areasdevelopment at all levels and in all areas

Information societyInformation society

               a society, which exceeded limits of industrialism, a society, which exceeded limits of industrialism, adapted to ongoing processes of civilisation adapted to ongoing processes of civilisation transformation, exchange of obsolete technologies, re-transformation, exchange of obsolete technologies, re-organisation of economy into networksorganisation of economy into networks

               a society, where the role of state has decreased a society, where the role of state has decreased in favour of self-governments, non-governmental in favour of self-governments, non-governmental organisations and businessesorganisations and businesses

a society open to the world which has integrated to a society open to the world which has integrated to networks of the world economy with growth of living networks of the world economy with growth of living standard, support of social protection of inhabitants and standard, support of social protection of inhabitants and economic and social stabilisation.economic and social stabilisation.

EEnvironmentalnvironmentallyly aware aware society society

                  a society consequently respecting requirements that ensure long-a society consequently respecting requirements that ensure long-term use of landscape and natural resourcesterm use of landscape and natural resources

                  a society consequently applying precautionary and safety a society consequently applying precautionary and safety principles, monitoring occurrence of risk factors and reducing them to principles, monitoring occurrence of risk factors and reducing them to minimumminimum

                  a society, which eliminates exploitation and use of non-a society, which eliminates exploitation and use of non-renewable natural resources and adjusts intensity of use of renewable renewable natural resources and adjusts intensity of use of renewable natural resources to regeneration capacity of the naturenatural resources to regeneration capacity of the nature

                  a society, which devotes higher attention to conservation of a society, which devotes higher attention to conservation of biodiversity of fauna and flora species and communities, including biodiversity of fauna and flora species and communities, including conservation and strengthening of life-supporting, self-regulatory, self-conservation and strengthening of life-supporting, self-regulatory, self-purifying and self-supporting natural mechanismpurifying and self-supporting natural mechanismss

a society, which applies an integrated planning and decision-making in a society, which applies an integrated planning and decision-making in all areas and which considers environmental education to be an all areas and which considers environmental education to be an important of not only curricula in schools but a whole-life education as important of not only curricula in schools but a whole-life education as well.well.

Vision and RealityVision and Reality

Although achievement of the Although achievement of the visonvison of of sustainable development seems to be sustainable development seems to be realistic only in the long-term horizon, it realistic only in the long-term horizon, it is necessary to stress that the current is necessary to stress that the current global problems, international position global problems, international position and objectives of and objectives of developing countriesdeveloping countries do do not provide not provide themthem with different with different meaningful alternative than the gradual meaningful alternative than the gradual application of the sustainable application of the sustainable development vision.development vision.