36 Sustainable Development :Concepts & Dimensions

Ms. Swati Grover

epgp books

   

 

 

Learning Objectives:

 

After studying this unit you should be able to:

 

  • Explainbasicconceptofsustainabledevelopment.
  • Understandtheconcernsandmeasurestowardssustainabledevelopment,
  • ExplorebasicprogrammeareasofAgenda21
  • Explaintheprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment.
  • Explainthedimensionsofsustainabledevelopment.
  • ExplorebasicprogrammeareasofAgenda2030.
  • Discuss the interlinkages among dimensions to achieve the completeness and robustness of the future goals and targets.

 

KEYWORDS

 

Sustainable development, carrying capacity, Agenda 21, e dimensions, Agenda 2030 equity

   

CONTENT

 

1. Definition

 

In present century, ‘Sustainable development” is a very popular term. It is a way of thinking about how to simultaneously meet the present needs of people and the environment without undermining or compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. There two points to be noted here:

 

Priority to be given to the essential needs of the poor across the globe

 

Meeting the needs of the present and the future within the framework of technology and social scenario.

 

The well-known Brundtland Commission Report, titled “Our Common Future” that was written almost 30 years ago. This report cites a definition which says “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations General Assembly, 1987, p. 43). It further adds: “Sustainable development is not a fixed state of harmony, but rather a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are made consistent with both future and present needs”. “… the development process is not easy or straightforward … and in the final analysis sustainable development must rest on political will”.

 

In 1992, recommendations given at the UN conference of Environment and Development as an international blueprint AGENDA 21. Addressing today’s problem, this blueprint aimed at preparing the world for the challenges of the next century. Reflecting the global consensus this AGENDA 21 outlines an action plan for the Governments, active non-governmental, international, regional sub-regional organisations, industries, institutions and community to contribute towards the sustainability of our environment. Thus recognizing the impact of human behaviors and production on the environment. AGENDA 21’s objective aimed at the alleviation of poverty, hunger, sickness and illiteracy worldwide while halting the deterioration of ecosystems which sustain life.

 

2.  Why Sustainable development?

 

The global environment where we all dwell is very important place to be taken cared off. Our nations have been facing with many challenges such as Gender inequality, youth unemployment, intense natural disasters, spiraling conflict, terrorism, violent extremism, related humanitarian crisis and forced displacement of people. These all have led to threaten our environment and reverse much of the development progress made in recent times.

 

Thus leading the humanity to face natural resource depletion, adverse impacts of environmental degradation, including desertification, land degradation, hunger, drought, freshwater scarcity and loss of biodiversity. Increases in global temperature, sea level rise, ocean acidification and climate change impacts are greatest challenges of our time and its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development.

 

Hence the need for sustainable development is to balance our economic, environmental and social needs, allowing prosperity for now and future generations. It is an integrated long – term approach to develop and achieve healthy community by jointly addressing economic, environmental, and social issues, whilst avoiding the over consumption of key natural resources.

 

Sustainable Development is a process of unfolding of human potentials for meaningful participation in economic, social, cultural process and institutions, so that mankind can improve their conditions of better lifestyle and well-being. It ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity. In order to achieve Sustainable Development keeping the above concerns we need to address the following factors:

 

 

i. Ecologicaland Biophysical Factors:systematic uses of domestic and global natural capital of the biodiversity where economic vitality depends on basic ecological services such as renewable and non-renewable resources, waste absorption, and stable climate conditions

 

ii. Psychological Factors:Well-being of the human race critically depends on the lower order needs to be recognized significantly.Not only does poverty alleviation ensure the satisfaction of basic physiological needs, it constitutes a prerequisite for the attainment of the higher-order needs necessary for a balanced and healthy human existence.

 

iii. Economic Factors: Natural Capital Maintenance is required to ensure ecological sustainability, so as the human-made capital remain intact once its accumulation reaches a ‘sufficient’ quantity.The human made capital stock must also be equitably distributed in order to maximise and efficiently produceboth the benefits it yields and reduce the throughput required to keep it intact.

 

iv. Social/Cultural Factors:Criticalsocial /cultural factors are to be found in a society’s institutions. It is only through a culturally-defined institutional framework – society’s moral capital – facilitate mutually advantageous exchange between buyers and sellers of a qualitative nature. A socially sustainable system must achieve fair distributionand opportunity among all persons with adequate provision to social services such as health, education and gender equity.

 

3. Measures for Sustainable Development

 

Some of the important measures for sustainable development are as follows:

 

(i) Technology: Locally adopting appropriate technology that is, eco-friendly, resource efficient and culturally suitable involving local resources and labour. Indigenous technologies are more useful, cost-effective and sustainable. Nature is often taken as a model, using the natural conditions of that region as its components. This concept is known as “design with nature”. The technology should use less of resources and should produce minimum waste.

 

(ii) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach: Advocating the 3-R approach minimizing resource use, using them again and again instead of passing it on to the waste stream and recycling the materials goes a long way in achieving the goals of sustainability. Reducing pressure on our resources as well as reduces waste generation and pollution.

 

(iii) Promoting Environmental Education And Awareness:Environmental education becoming the centre of all learning process that will greatly help in changing the thinking pattern and attitude of people towards our earth and the environment. Introducing environment as the subject at school curriculum will inculcate a feeling of belongingness to earth in small children. ‘Thinking about Earth’ will gradually get incorporated in our thought process and action which will greatly help in transforming our lifestyles to sustainable ones.

 

(iv) Resource Utilization as Per Carrying Capacity: Carrying Capacity is a system that can sustain a limited number of organisms on a long-term basis. In case of human beings, the carrying capacity concept becomes all the more complex. Carrying capacity has two basic components:

 

Supporting capacity i.e. the capacity to regenerate

 

Assimilative capacity i.e.the capacity to tolerate different stresses.

 

Thus Sustainability depends on the carrying capacity of a system. If it is over exploited the environmental degradation starts and continues till it reaches a point of no return.

 

(v)  Improving Quality Of Life Including Social, Cultural and Economic Dimensions: Development should not focus just on one section of society such as affluent people. Rather it should have balance of sharing of benefits between the rich and the poor. The tribal, ethnic people and their cultural heritage should also be conserved. Strong community participation should be there in policy and practice. Action may be taken to stabilize the Population growth.

 

4. Agenda 21

 

In 1992 during ‘Earth Summit’ around 178 National governments adopted this Non-binding programme of Action which is known as AGENDA 21. Lacking the force of international law, this AGENDA 21 carries a strong moral obligation to ensure implementation of the strategies. As per the UN document from United Nations Division for Sustainable Development, this Agenda comprises 40 chapters (arranged in 4 Sections), which address all levelsof social organisation, from national and local governments through to development agencies, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in every area in which human activity impacts upon the environment. Each chapter describes a programme area and comprises four parts: the basis for action, objectives, activities and means of implementation. They are as follows:

 

Section I:Social and Economic Dimensions concern:

 

promoting sustainable development through trade (chapter 2); combating poverty (chapter 3);

 

changing consumption patterns (chapter 4);

 

Demographic dynamics and sustainability (chapter 5); Protecting and promoting human health (chapter 6).

 

 

Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for Development concern:

 

combating deforestation (chapter 11);

 

managing  fragile  ecosystems:  combating  desertification and  drought (chapter 12);

 

managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development (chapter 13);

 

promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development (chapter 14);

 

conservation of biologicaldiversity (chapter 15);

 

environmentally sound management of biotechnology (chapter 16);

    protection of the quality and supplies of freshwater resources (chapter 18);

 

Environmentally sound management of, hazard waste, solid wastes and sewage-related issues, and radioactive wastes (chapter 20, 21and 22).

 

 

Section Ill:Strengthening the Role of Major Groups. The groups include:

 

women (chapter 24);

 

children and youth (chapter 25); indigenous people (chapter 26);

 

non- governmental organizations (chapter 27); localauthorities(Chapter 28);

 

business and industry (chapter 30);

 

Scientific and technological community (chapter 31).

 

Section IV: Means of Implementation examines the basic resources necessary to push forward this global partnership for sustainable development. It includes:

 

financial resources and mechanisms (chapter 33);

 

transfer of environmentally sound technology (chapter 34); science for sustainable development (chapter 35);

 

promoting education, public awareness and training (chapter 36);

 

National mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity-building in developing countries (chapter 37);

 

Information for decision-making (chapter 40).

 

An in-depth of human knowledge residing as major repositories in different religious teachings, medieval philosophies and traditional beliefs besides modern science reveals that good living has been an important component of the civilizations gone by. Thus understanding and achieving the concept of a sustainable world depends on strengthening the logical coherency by overcoming the influence of institutional and group interest as a prerequisite

 

 

5.  The Need for Sustainability

 

As very well quoted by Mahatma Gandhi, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

 

Our mother earth is our common home where survival and development are possible without the environment. Limited environmental resources and technological advances with ever growing human needs, our planet earth cannot be made bigger and richer to meet our demands and supply. Hoping the developments happening around the globe should long term sustaining using our resources wisely, carefully and responsibly for our future generations to live a comfortable life.

 

Sustainability not only focuses on the fine line of our needs and about the environment, it’s also about a society ensuring that no humankind or areas of life suffer as a result of environmental legislation. Sustainability is an approach of understanding ecological relationships that banks at integrating society, economy and environment the three pillars of the Sustainability.

 

Figure 1: 3 Pillars of Sustainability

 

Working on the principle of maintaining and utilization of our earth resources in such a way that it does not compromise the needs of future generations, improving human capacity and standard of living and equal distribution of resources for present and future.

 

Sustainability definition as quoted in 1987 by United Nation’s World Commission on Environment and Development (WECD) explains, “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own demands“. To acknowledge this definition sustainability issues can be classified into three categories such as: social/political, economic and environmental issues.

 

Flexibility approach of this dynamic concept of Sustainability and its willingness to modify the growth trajectories with respect to environmental challenges, human needs and technological advancements has necessitated its importance for today’s world.

 

Economic Stability

Figure 1a: Flexibility Approach of Sustainable development

 

In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a strategy of universal and transformative development for eradicating poverty and ensuring that no one is left behind as the priorities for the global community. Building on the success of theMillennium Development Goals (Millennium Summit, 2000), the SDGs also include new areas of priorities such as climate change, sustainable consumption, economic inequality, innovation, peace and justice.

 

With a deadline of Agenda 2030 to be met, this framework brings together the three dimensions of sustainable development – the economic, environmental and social. It further consists of 17 goals and 169 targets that will apply to all countries. These dimensions were built on few basic principles towards achieving sustainable development goals. UNDP has worked with the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) in developing a strategy for effective and coherentimplementation support of the new sustainable development agenda under the acronym ‘MAPS’ (Main streaming, Acceleration, and Policy Support).

 

6. Dimensions of Sustainable development

 

The Rio declaration (UNCED, 1992) quotes the 7th Principle as “…to conserve, protect and restore […] the integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem […] the pressures their societies place on the global environment“.

 

Figure 2: Dimensions of Sustainable development

 

Environmental Sustainability –

 

The basic functions of the environment that defines the capacity to preserve over time are such as wisely use of resources, complying by the laws, minimizing the facilities impact by operating efficiently and responsibly thus reducing the adverse impact of the products in use. Here recalling the first principle of from the Rio Declaration “Human beings […] areentitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”. This principle entails that in an area the environmental sustainability assures the protection of environment and the renewal of natural resources by the means to increase the capacity and bring value to the environment and it peculiarities.

 

Economic Sustainability –

 

This concept of sustainability focuses mainly on the living environment, i.e. local / global natural and non-renewable resources which are necessary for our well- being without compromising the quality of life. Further reducing the financial burden and reversing the nuisances produced by the economic activity, potentially eliminating through a better management thus generating the constant growth capacity of the economic indicators. Hence in a territory, the Economic Sustainability represents the ability to maintain the highest added value by the efficient mix of resources and enhancing the product/service range capacity to generate employment and incomes for the populations to sustain.

 

Social Sustainability –

 

The ability to give assurance for the welfare of the masses (security, health, education), and equitably distributing it among the social classes and gender. Hence in a territory, Social Sustainability entails the capacity of the different social stakeholders to interact efficiently, aiming towards the same goals and encouraged by the close interaction of the Institutions at alllevels.

  Stimulating action over the goals and targets for the next fifteen years towards critically important areas of humanity and our planet earth are in reference to:

 

People

  • Alleviating poverty and hunger in all forms and dimensions
  • Ensuring human beings to fulfill their potential in dignity and equality in a healthy environment

 

Planet

  • Protecting the planet from land degradation through sustainable consumption and production,
  • managing its natural resources
  • Takingnecessary actions on climate change, supporting the needs of the present and future generations.

 

Prosperity

  • Ensuring mankind with prosperous and fulfilling lives to enjoy
  • At the same time keeping harmony with nature alongside progress of economic, social and technological advancement.

 

Peace

  • Fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies that are free from fear and violence

 

Partnership

  • Creating spirit of strengthened global solidarity towards the respectful coexistence on the planet we commonly share,
  • Envisaging the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable along with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.

   Sustainable development appeals for long-term structural change in our economic and social systems. Aiming for the reduction in consumption of the environment and natural resources to a perpetually affordable level, while maintaining social cohesion and economic output potential.

 

Therefore, Sustainable development goes beyond environmental conservation. Satisfying the material and immaterial needs of humanity, we require deep appreciation for economic prosperity and solidarity in our society. It seems therefore essential to guarantee an economic development truly compatible with social equity and ecosystems that will be capable to act in environmental equilibrium and respectfully be called the “Three E’s balance rule”: Environment, Equityand Economy.

 

Sustainability is the action oriented variant of Sustainable Development. This is based on the principles of sustainability, i.e. protecting Natural environment, human and ecological health, thinking long-term; driving innovation and understanding systems within which we live; recognizing limits; practicing fairness;embracing creativity; and not compromising our way of life.

 

However, the pursuit of Sustainable Development depends on the governance’s capacity to ensure a complete interaction among economy, society and environment

 

 

   7. Agenda 2030

 

In September 2015, all the 193 Member nations of the UN adopted an action plan for the next 15 years, achieving better future for the people, environment and our planet earth to eradicate extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, tackle climate change and protect our planet.

 

Figure 4: 17 Sustainable DevelopmentGoals

 

The 17 Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs) and169 targets comprise the AGENDA 2030 that defines the world we want – while ensuring no one is left behind. This AGENDA 2030 came into force officially on 1 January 2016.These 17 SDGs and 169 targets are indivisible and can be integrated balancing the three dimensions of the sustainable development that underlines a global commitment to achieving them. Table 1 provides an overview of the interlinkages between the goals, simply highlighting the focus areas that each goal links to, were laid down as United Nation’s Open Working Group (OWG)’s proposalfor SDGs

 

Table 1: Overview of thematic interlinkages in the United Nation’s Open Working Group proposal for SDGs

      8.  Sustainable Development Goals and Interlinkages

  Three basic interlinkages strengthen this cohesiveness, and can be used as a “filter” to assess the completeness and robustness of the future goals, targets and indicators are:

 

To Leave no one behind and providing dignity of life for all:

 

Creating and ensuring sustainable opportunities such as livelihoods, basic standard of living and social / environmental protection , for those who are affected by extreme poverty and chronic unemployment, by lack of access to services (water, sanitation, energy, markets, health, education, shelter), by racial discrimination, by lack of law, and unable to live in a clean and healthy environment.Making this as the focus of the future sustainable development agenda, we need affordable solutions for break through the poverty trap and assuring basic livelihoods without further degrade the environment. Thus simultaneously increasing employment opportunities, upscaling provision of basic services, fostering better use of science and traditional knowledge, protecting the environment throughInnovative and green technologies.

 

To achieve greater prosperity in an inclusive manner within the capacity of the earth’s life support system:

 

Future prosperity requires that economic growth no longer degrades the environment for continued well-being of humanity, smooth functioning of the economy, managing natural resources as well as protection of social and cultural heritage.We need to move towards a universal transition of inclusive green economy and sustainable consumption & production. Sustainable consumption is not necessarily about consuming less, but about how we are consuming better to live sustainablyintelligent and environmentally safe way. It can yield a variety of interlinked economic, social, health benefits and civil society empowerment. Improved and wise use of the global life support system is needed in order to check reversing of development gains not crossing ecological or social thresholds.

 

To increase capital to achieve greater resilience and secure future generations’ livelihoods:

 

Sustaining long-term development and improvement capacity of our planet from present degrading state requires efficient investment in natural, social and economic infrastructure capital of any nation. Thus enlarging our life support systems in order to achieve living aspirations of leaving no one behind, achieving greater well-being, prosperity for all and securing our future generations. Managing effectively the disruptive changes along with achieving human resilience to social, economic and environmental shocks will enhance our ability to adaptation. Sustainably managing the natural resources that can be the drivers for promoting peace and economic well-being. However the targets and indicators in achieving the above should be scientifically reliable, verifiable, and measurable based on the best available information and evidence.

 

 

9.  India and sustainable development

 

India is booming with growth and sustainable development becomes very important. India aims to its commitment towards social progress, accelerated economic growth and increased environmental conservation by fulfilling policies and programmes. One of the other ways in which India has shown its increased commitment towards sustainable development is through its growing participation in various international agreements

 

Seeing to this India committed itself in achieving SDGs from the 1990s when it started embedding the Sustainable Development program in its planning and policies. In 1991 the country faced severe economic crises and to whose response the broad economic reforms programme was put in place such as

 

Agriculture Productivity and Profitability

 

•     Input provision,

•     Irrigation

•     Drought protection

•     Price policy

•     Credit and insurance

 

Poverty eradication programme

 

•     Self-employment

•     Wage employment

•     Food safety

•     Social security

 

The Ninth Five- Year Plan (1997-2002) was explicitly recognized as the synergy between environment, health and development goals. It was identified as one of the core objectives for ensuring the need for environmental sustainability for the development process through participation of people and social mobilizationat all levels.

 

In 1991, the Industrial Policy Statement established a sound policy framework to encourage entrepreneurship through investment in research and development increasing the competitiveness for the benefit of the common man. , Financial sector reforms that were initiated in the 1990s sought to create an efficient, productive and profitable financial sector providing operational and functional autonomy to institutions and promoting financial stability of the system. In 2006 the National Environment Policy was formulated as a key policy document that laid down the foundation principles for sustainable development.

 

Further India has been active in all international forums related to environmental protection and has consented to almost all major multilateral environmental agreements and has established domestic policies and legislations in align to these international programmes. Today India is one among the 193 UN member states that has adopted SDGs and committed to 2030 AGENDA as a stakeholder for Sustainable Development. This means that all these SDG Goals will be part of the national planning and development programmes and the same will be monitored and evaluated at the local, state, regional and national level. Prime Minister Narender Modi at the UN Summit for Adoption of Post 2015 Development Agenda reaffirmed India’s commitment, saying, “Today much of India’s development agenda is mirrored in the SDGs.”

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Sustainable development is defined as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition was given in Brundtland Commission Report, “Our Common Future”.

 

AGENDA 21’s objective aimed at the alleviation of poverty, hunger, sickness and illiteracy worldwide while halting the deterioration of ecosystems which sustain life.

 

Sustainable development is possible by considering the earth’s resources as common for all. Participatory role of public and different nations for evolving technological innovations and conservationist life style is equally important to achieve economic growth, equity, ecological balance, and resource conservation.

 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, developed on the three dimensions of sustainable development – the economic, environmental and social, includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, as a universal and transformative development strategy for eradicating poverty and ensuring that no one is left behind.

 

Since sustainability appears on three levels: in the ecological dimension (environment), in the economic dimension (economy), and in the social dimension (society), it was built on few basic principles towards achieving sustainable development goals.

 

 

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