What is Sustainable Development?

Definitions
Sustainable development has had many definitions, which have been refined over time. The model of economic development, which has been dominant since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, has always had its critics. By the 1980s growing awareness of global inequality and environmental degradation led to the setting up of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) sometimes called the Brundtland Commission.

In 1987 the WCED report, 'Our Common Future' made the link between environment and development issues and promoted the use of the term sustainable development:

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
WCED 1987

This definition has been questioned due to the confusion over 'wants' and 'needs'. Is it basic needs, like food and water? What about aspirations? Are the needs of the urban New Yorker the same as those of a Saharan nomad?

The World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment Programme and the World Wide Fund for Nature developed another definition in a joint report ‘Caring for the Earth’. This defined sustainable development as:

"Improving the quality of life while living within the earth’s carrying capacities." WCU, UNEP, WWF 1991

This definition stresses the need to look beyond standard of living in terms of material goods. It recognises that we all want a better quality of life, but the challenge is to try and achieve this without degrading the planet or other people, now or in the future. One problem with this definition is that it is hard to know what the earth's Carrying Capacity is until we have overstepped it. This can be seen in conflicts over issues like fishing rights and fishing quotas or bans.

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Related Links:

World Wild Life Fund