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assignment 1 of VAC
assignment 1 of VAC
Faculty of law
Integral University, Lucknow
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to my teacher
Dr. Seema Siddiqui who gave me the opportunity to do
this wonderful assignment on the topic Doctrine of
Sustainable Development. The assignment helped me
learn how to do proper Research and I learned about
many new things while doing the assignment.
Mohit Kumar
BA-LLB
Introduction
The alarming magnitude of climate change has been an imperative sign to think and prepare
better for the future. The era of the 21st century calls for an immediate and reasonable debate
upon what the future further demands of us. The perspective can be in respect of changes in
the global environment, development and economy, and their relation of cause and effect. The
progress of the global economy taking a toll on the environment needs to be addressed. The
development needs to be environmentally efficient and sustainable with a people-centred
approach.
In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development issued the
Brundtland Report which emphasized three fundamental components of sustainable
development: environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.
The term sustainable development was defined as a way of development where the needs of
the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. It was coined by Doctor Gro Harlem in the Brundtland Report. The concept of needs in
the definition refers to the essential needs of the world’s poor which should be given ultimate
priority. There also needs to be an idea of limitation imposed on the environment’s ability to
be able to meet present and future needs.
The necessity of sustainable development and its implementation was realized when imperative
changes in the functioning and effects of environment were noticed. The changes followed by
disasters acted as an alarm to what the future could behold, the understanding of which led to
the foundation of concept of sustainable development and living. It was argued that if humans
keep acting independently towards pursuing their individual interests, then it won’t be long
before all the resources exhaust due to over exploitation. It was thereby felt that mankind
needed to change its ways and means and diverge to a sustainable development track.
• Economic growth.
• Environmental protection.
• Social inclusion.
The sustainable development goals have succeeded over millennial development goals in
content and applicability. The previous goals were being criticized for being too narrow in
description and superficial in implementation. The millennial development goals focused more
on world development through relations between countries and their support towards
development of other countries. The newly drafted sustainable development goals were far
wider in context and provided a much more inclusive perspective and framework towards
development without depending on the relation between the countries. They were more
globally applicable and were created by the largest United Nations program thereby providing
a firm foundation.
2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030.
3. Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
at all ages by 2030.
4. Quality Education: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and
quality primary and secondary education by 2030.
5. Gender Equality: To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy for all by 2030.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth.
10. Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries by 2030.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable.
13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development.
15. Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
combat desertification and halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development; provide access to justice for all.
Human Development Index: The Human Development Index, introduced in 1980 is a statistical
tool to measure a country’s economic and social progress and achievements. It encapsulates
dimensions like health, education, sanitation, economy, security and environmental aspects.
The Human Development Index is also a measure of ecological footprint. An ecological
footprint represents the maximum limit of consumption per person according to Earth’s
ecological capacity. Minimum HDI guarantees satisfaction of human needs while anything
beyond it represents over consumption of resources thereby making way for compromise for
future generations.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: It was a four years long investigation started by the United
Nations in 2001. Over 1200 researchers had the task to assess the consequences that
ecosystems’ changes had on human wellbeing. The main findings of the research summarized
that evolution of ecosystems have caused large and irreversible biodiversity loss which further
aided climate change and more risk of nonlinear changes occurring due to the same.
India’s involvement
India has a major contribution in the framing of the sustainable development goals. It was the
only country to argue for initiation and adoption of nationally determined contributions to
measure and map the progress of sustainable development goals. India has also demonstrated
bold commitment to provide funding to the United Nations trust for the institution of SDGs. It
was one of the few countries to begin effective planning for the achievement of SDGs even
before their final crystallization. India became one of the foremost countries to participate in
Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) where various surveys are used to measure and graph the
progress of ascertained goals, thereby promoting the inculcation of the sustainable
development goals.
India’s role is a long lineage based on three parameters- ideation, diplomacy and institutional.
The country has been largely associated with formulation and implementation of international
norms which have also been accepted by all member nations with complete harmony. In
diplomacy, India has worked with the G77 nations to help them collaborate better with the
norms put forth and has worked towards bringing the nations to consensus agreements reaping
benefits for all. Institutionally, India’s endeavour has always been to strengthen the purview
and aim of the United Nations in economic, political and environmental matters. Even the
agreements not pertaining to the UN have been persuaded to follow similar principles and
guidelines by active participation and promotion by India.
Advent of sustainability in India
The doctrine of sustainable development in India was introduced by the case of Vellore Citizen
Welfare Forum v. Union of India. It was held in this case that precautionary principle and
polluter pays principle are the basis of sustainability. In the case of Narmada Bachao v. Union
of India, it was stated that development should be of the extent that can be sustained by nature
with no or little mitigation. On similar lines it was held, in the case of Indian Council for Enviro
Legal Action v. Union of India, that while economic development should not be done at the
cost of ecological destruction, the same should not be hampering economic development. It
was stated that economic and ecological developments should be well balanced with
effectiveness of both intact.
The Namami Gange Mission: This integrated conservation mission was introduced in 2014
with the twin objective of rejuvenation and preservation of the national river ganga. The
mission encompasses the development and maintenance of sewage treatment infrastructure and
also factory effluents handling. It also takes into account public awareness, effective
afforestation and riverfront development and cleaning procedures.
National Clean Air Programme in 2019: India formally joined the climate and clean air
coalition for effective implementation of the national clean air programme which is a
comprehensive plan to reduce air pollution, keep it in check and simultaneously improve the
Air Quality Index. This was done in consideration to the recent massive dropping of the quality
of air in the northern region of the country.
Conclusion
Undeniably, adhering to the sustainable development goals is the need of the hour. It is time that
each one of us adopt an ‘energy-efficient and green’ mind-set and use the natural resources
available equitably, judiciously and save them for our future generations, as the best way to predict
the future is to create it.
Hence, India needs to hustle towards the attainment of its sustainable development goals by means
of proper planning, coordination and implementation of practices and policies which aid in the
formation and maintenance of a self-sustainable and developed country.
References
• http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/sustainable-development-in-india-3331-
words/24986
• https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/15836India.pdf
• https://www.mondaq.com/india/Environment/559702/Need-For-Sustainable-
Development