Meaning of sustainable development:
Sustainable
development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequent quoted
definition is from our common future, also known as the Brundtland Report
:Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own
needs.
development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequent quoted
definition is from our common future, also known as the Brundtland Report
:Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own
needs.
Concept of sustainable development
The
concept of sustainable can be interpreted in many different ways but at its
core is an approach to development that looks to balance different ,and often
competing ,needs against an awareness of the environmental ,social and economic
limitations we face as a society.
concept of sustainable can be interpreted in many different ways but at its
core is an approach to development that looks to balance different ,and often
competing ,needs against an awareness of the environmental ,social and economic
limitations we face as a society.
The concept of sustainable development can be
define as maintenance and sustainable utilisation of the functions ( goods and
services) provided by natural ecosystem and biospheric process.
define as maintenance and sustainable utilisation of the functions ( goods and
services) provided by natural ecosystem and biospheric process.
In a situation of un-sustainability ,where the
limits of the biospheres carrying capacity are exceeded, not all of the environmental
functions can be fully fulfilled anymore
limits of the biospheres carrying capacity are exceeded, not all of the environmental
functions can be fully fulfilled anymore
These concepts suggest that sustainable development
[S.D] is
[S.D] is
1. Improving the quality of human life while the
carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems .sustainable development classically
portrayed as the interface between environment, economic and social
sustainability, and the ideas inherent in sustainable development is often present in visual terms.
carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems .sustainable development classically
portrayed as the interface between environment, economic and social
sustainability, and the ideas inherent in sustainable development is often present in visual terms.
2. To maximise the biological system goal (genetic
diversity ,resilience ,biological productivity ),economic system goals (meeting
basic minimum needs ,equity etc.)and social system goals (social justice
,people participation, etc .)simultaneously.
diversity ,resilience ,biological productivity ),economic system goals (meeting
basic minimum needs ,equity etc.)and social system goals (social justice
,people participation, etc .)simultaneously.
Need for
sustainable development for improving the quality of life for the present and
the future
sustainable development for improving the quality of life for the present and
the future
1.
The satisfaction of human needs and aspiration
in the major objective of development. The essential needs of vast numbers of
people in developing countries for food, clothing, shelter, jobs that are not
being met, and beyond their basic needs. These people have legitimate
aspiration for an improved quality of life. A world in which poverty and
inequality are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises.
Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending
to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspiration for a better life.
The satisfaction of human needs and aspiration
in the major objective of development. The essential needs of vast numbers of
people in developing countries for food, clothing, shelter, jobs that are not
being met, and beyond their basic needs. These people have legitimate
aspiration for an improved quality of life. A world in which poverty and
inequality are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises.
Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending
to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspiration for a better life.
2.
Living
standards that go beyond the basic minimum are sustainable only if consumption
standards everywhere have regard for long-term sustainability. Yet many of us
live beyond the world’s ecological means, for instance in our patterns of
energy use. Perceived needs are socially and culturally determined, and
sustainable development requires the promotion of values that encourage
consumption standards that are within the bounds of the ecological possible and
to which all can reasonable aspire.
Living
standards that go beyond the basic minimum are sustainable only if consumption
standards everywhere have regard for long-term sustainability. Yet many of us
live beyond the world’s ecological means, for instance in our patterns of
energy use. Perceived needs are socially and culturally determined, and
sustainable development requires the promotion of values that encourage
consumption standards that are within the bounds of the ecological possible and
to which all can reasonable aspire.
3.
Meeting
essential needs depends in part on achieving full growth potential, and
sustainable development clearly requires economic growth in places where such
needs are not being met. It can be consistent with economic growth, provided
the content of growth reflects the broad
principles of sustainability and non-exploitation of others, but growth by
itself is not enough.
Meeting
essential needs depends in part on achieving full growth potential, and
sustainable development clearly requires economic growth in places where such
needs are not being met. It can be consistent with economic growth, provided
the content of growth reflects the broad
principles of sustainability and non-exploitation of others, but growth by
itself is not enough.
Environmental problems affecting the country where
priority action is needed and if solved could lead to sustainable development
priority action is needed and if solved could lead to sustainable development
1.
Population
stabilization
Population
stabilization
2.
Control
of pollution in water and air
Control
of pollution in water and air
3.
Conservation
of biological diversity
Conservation
of biological diversity
4.
Recycling
of waste and residues
Recycling
of waste and residues
5.
Upgrading
environmental law, and
Upgrading
environmental law, and
6.
Environmental
education and awareness at all level
Environmental
education and awareness at all level
Tragedy of the commons
The
tragedy of the commons is an economic theory of a situation within a
shared-resource system where individual users acting independently according to
their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by
depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action
tragedy of the commons is an economic theory of a situation within a
shared-resource system where individual users acting independently according to
their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by
depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action
What are the sustainable development indicators?
A set of 10 sustainable
development strategy objectives have been defined and relevant indicators
identified by Eurostat. They are described below.
development strategy objectives have been defined and relevant indicators
identified by Eurostat. They are described below.
Socioeconomic development with
the strategic objective to ‘promote a prosperous, innovative, knowledge-rich,
competitive and eco-efficient economy, which provides high living standards and
full and high-quality employment throughout the European Union’.
the strategic objective to ‘promote a prosperous, innovative, knowledge-rich,
competitive and eco-efficient economy, which provides high living standards and
full and high-quality employment throughout the European Union’.
The indicator is: growth rate of real GDP per
inhabitant expressed as a percentage. This is a measure of the dynamism of the
economy and its capacity to create new jobs. A sufficiently high GDP growth
rate means that society is generating additional economic resources to meet the
(growing) economic needs of the present generation, to invest in the future, or
to address social and environmental concerns.
inhabitant expressed as a percentage. This is a measure of the dynamism of the
economy and its capacity to create new jobs. A sufficiently high GDP growth
rate means that society is generating additional economic resources to meet the
(growing) economic needs of the present generation, to invest in the future, or
to address social and environmental concerns.
Sustainable consumption and production with
the strategy objective to ‘promote sustainable consumption and production
patterns’.
the strategy objective to ‘promote sustainable consumption and production
patterns’.
The indicator is: the EU-15 resource
productivity expressed as an index relative to the is an aggregate measure of
the material efficiency of an economy and provides insights into whether
decoupling between the use of natural resource and economic growth is taking
place. Taken on its own, DMC also assesses the absolute level of use of scarce
resources.
productivity expressed as an index relative to the is an aggregate measure of
the material efficiency of an economy and provides insights into whether
decoupling between the use of natural resource and economic growth is taking
place. Taken on its own, DMC also assesses the absolute level of use of scarce
resources.
Social inclusion has the strategy objective
of ‘creating a socially inclusive society by taking into account solidarity
between and within generations and to secure and increase the quality of life of
citizens as a precondition for lasting individual well-being’.
of ‘creating a socially inclusive society by taking into account solidarity
between and within generations and to secure and increase the quality of life of
citizens as a precondition for lasting individual well-being’.
The income level is usually considered as one of
the main factors in determining an individual standard of living. Social
transfers have an important redistributive effect that helps to reduce the
number of people who are at risk of poverty. Its impact is more marked in the
case of older people.
the main factors in determining an individual standard of living. Social
transfers have an important redistributive effect that helps to reduce the
number of people who are at risk of poverty. Its impact is more marked in the
case of older people.
Demographic changes shares
the strategy objective of social inclusion (see above).
the strategy objective of social inclusion (see above).
Its indicator is: the employment rate of workers
aged 55-64 expressed as a percentage. Longer working lives result in more
contribution years and fewer benefit years, thus contributing directly to the
adequacy and sustainability of the pension system. But many workers withdraw
from the labour force at a relatively young age. This indicator is intended to
monitor progress towards the objective that at least half of the EU population
in the 55-64 age group should be in employment by 2010.
aged 55-64 expressed as a percentage. Longer working lives result in more
contribution years and fewer benefit years, thus contributing directly to the
adequacy and sustainability of the pension system. But many workers withdraw
from the labour force at a relatively young age. This indicator is intended to
monitor progress towards the objective that at least half of the EU population
in the 55-64 age group should be in employment by 2010.
Public health has the strategy objective
‘to promote good public health on equal conditions and improve protection
against health threats’.
‘to promote good public health on equal conditions and improve protection
against health threats’.
Its Indicator is: EU-15 healthy life years and life expectancy at
birth in years for both females and males. This
data not only measures health simply in terms of longevity but also considers
well-being. An improvement in healthy life years is considered as one of the
main health goals for the EU.
birth in years for both females and males. This
data not only measures health simply in terms of longevity but also considers
well-being. An improvement in healthy life years is considered as one of the
main health goals for the EU.
Climate change and energy has
the strategy objective ‘to limit climate change and its costs and negative
effects to society and the environment’.
the strategy objective ‘to limit climate change and its costs and negative
effects to society and the environment’.
Sustainable transport has
the strategy objective ‘to ensure that our transport systems meet society’s
economic, social and environmental needs whilst minimising their undesirable
impacts on the economy, society and the environment’.
the strategy objective ‘to ensure that our transport systems meet society’s
economic, social and environmental needs whilst minimising their undesirable
impacts on the economy, society and the environment’.
Natural resources has the strategy objective
of ‘improving management and avoid over-exploitation of natural resources,
recognizing the value of ecosystem services’. It has currently one indicator:
of ‘improving management and avoid over-exploitation of natural resources,
recognizing the value of ecosystem services’. It has currently one indicator:
Global partnership has
the strategy objective ‘to actively promote sustainable development worldwide
and ensure that the EU’s internal and external policies are consistent with
global sustainable development and its international commitments’.
the strategy objective ‘to actively promote sustainable development worldwide
and ensure that the EU’s internal and external policies are consistent with
global sustainable development and its international commitments’.
Good governance has the strategy objective
‘to promote coherence between all EU policies and coherence between local,
regional, national and global actions in order to enhance their contribution to
sustainable development’.
‘to promote coherence between all EU policies and coherence between local,
regional, national and global actions in order to enhance their contribution to
sustainable development’.
