Sustainable Development

Definition

Sustainable development is an approach to growth that seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It balances economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity, making it a crucial concept in understanding various global issues such as resource management and environmental justice.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sustainable development emerged as a key concept in the 1980s, particularly highlighted in the 1987 Brundtland Report titled 'Our Common Future'.
2. It emphasizes not only economic growth but also the need for equitable social progress and environmental stewardship.
3. Achieving sustainable development requires cooperation among various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and civil society.
4. The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, setting a global agenda to address challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030.
5. Critiques of globalization often focus on how unregulated economic expansion can hinder sustainable development by exploiting natural resources and exacerbating social inequalities.

Review Questions

• How does sustainable development challenge traditional views of economic growth?
  • Sustainable development challenges traditional views of economic growth by advocating for a model that incorporates environmental protection and social equity alongside economic objectives. Instead of prioritizing profit maximization at any cost, it emphasizes responsible resource management that benefits both current populations and future generations. This shift calls for innovative practices that align economic activities with ecological balance, thereby transforming how we understand success in growth.
• In what ways does sustainable development intersect with global environmental challenges?
  • Sustainable development intersects with global environmental challenges by addressing the urgent need to mitigate climate change, reduce pollution, and conserve biodiversity. It highlights the importance of sustainable practices in sectors like agriculture, energy, and transportation to ensure that economic growth does not come at the expense of environmental health. This relationship emphasizes that without sustainability, efforts to tackle these challenges will likely be ineffective or counterproductive.
• Evaluate the potential impact of sustainable development on emerging trends in globalization.
  • The potential impact of sustainable development on emerging trends in globalization could lead to a transformation in how global trade and investment are conducted. As more countries adopt sustainability as a guiding principle, we may see a shift towards environmentally friendly technologies and practices that prioritize ethical sourcing and production. This shift can promote new markets focused on sustainability, reshape supply chains to reduce carbon footprints, and influence global policies that encourage responsible consumption patterns, thus redefining globalization in a more equitable and environmentally conscious framework.

Related terms

Ecological Footprint: A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems, representing the amount of natural capital used by individuals, communities, or nations.

Intergenerational Equity: The principle that current generations should manage resources and the environment responsibly to ensure that future generations can also benefit from them.

Green Economy: An economic model that aims to improve human well-being while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, emphasizing sustainability.