Definition of Sustainable Development

According to the World Commission on

Environment and Development, the
definition of Sustainable Development
(SD) is “development that meets the
needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own need”
(Our Common Future, 1987).
3 DIMENSIONS
Sustainability - 3 pillars


What makes SD

 Social Goals
Sustains institutions , improves justice and encourages
participation
 Economic Goals
Ensures basic needs, equity and employment
opportunities
 Environmental Goals
Maintains genetic diversity which maximizes
productiviy and
renewal
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 Sustainable Development is
the journey towards Sustainability

Global Society in Sustainable

A Future
Development

2005: Unsustainable Sustainable Society

inequality, much poverty left; basic needs and life quality

threat of decreasing quality of provided; tolerable inequality; living
life within the Earth’s limits
Sustainable Society
Sustainable Development

Economic Environmental
Social Equity
Efficiency Responsibility
•Living conditions •Economic growth • Consumption of
•Equal opportunity •Efficiency and resources
•Social cohesion competitiveness •Materials and
•International solidarity •Flexibility and wastes
•Maintenance of stability •Risks
human capital. •Production / •Rate of change
consumption •Natural and cultural
•Employment landscape
•International
trade
3 APPROACHES
Global Sustainability
• Sustain economic growth
• Maximize profit
• Expand markets
• Externalize costs

Economic Development

Socialism Conservationism

• Respect carrying capacity

• Satisfy needs
•Conserve and recycle
• Increase self-reliance
Ecologism resources
• Reduce waste
The three core drivers of un-
sustainability
 Consumption
 Use of resources beyond the reasonable limits set
by nature
 Production
 Gross inefficiencies in production.
 Distribution
 Inequitable distribution e.g. distribution of global
income between rich and poor
Metabolism like a cow
Global equity
SOLUTION
SUSTAINABILITY: SOLUTIONS
 Cyclical material use
– emulate natural cycles; 3 R’s
 Safe reliableenergy
– conservation, renewable energy, substitution,
interim measures
 Life-based interests
– health, creativity, communication,
coordination, appreciation, learning,
intellectual and spiritual development
Conclusion

 Is a long journey towards SD

 End-point not definable
 Each country/region has different goals, based
on economic circumstances, population size,
stage of development, resource endowment
etc….