Definitions [3]
Define:
sustainable development
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Answer the following question in about 30 words.
Define the concept of sustainable development.
Sustainable development means a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Definitions: Sustainable Development
- “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
- “The alternative approach (to sustainable development) is to focus on natural capital assets and suggest that they should not decline through time.” - Pearce, Markandya and Barbier, 1989-
Key Points
Key Points: Concept of Sustainable Development
- Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- It balances economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection.
- It is based on inter-generational equity and meeting the basic needs of all, especially the poor.
- The Brundtland Commission (1987) gave the most widely accepted definition.
- Lester Brown, Edward Barbier and Herman Daly made important contributions to the concept.
- The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 provide a global framework for achieving sustainable development by 2030.
