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Environment and Sustainable Development : The Great Development
Challenge of the 21st Century
Conference Paper · March 2020
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Paper presented in the International Seminar on
Sustainable Development : Issues and Strategies
December 3, 4 2011
Department of Geography
University of Madras
Chennai - 600 005, India
Environment and Sustainable Development : The Great Development
Challenge of the Twenty First Century
Dr. A. Seilan, Assistant Professor of Economics, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. India
Introduction
Science that has emerged during the last few decades clearly demonstrates that the life-
supporting systems of the planet have already gone past their critical points. This is due to
humanity’s mindless use, exploitation, pollution, consumerism, and abuse of the resources of the
planet — air, food, water, oceans, energy, rivers, soil, fish, forests, oil, timber, energy, gas, coal,
minerals, and everything. In its endless adulation of greed, irrational accumulation of material
wealth, and seemingly insatiable quest for more comforts, pleasures, and conveniences, nothing has
been spared. The effects of this assault can be seen everywhere.
The consequences of the abuse and the assault on our planet’s resources, bio-capacity, and
life-supporting systems are dire indeed. If current trends continue, wild marine fish catch no longer
will be on the shelf by 2,050, due to excessive over fishing and pollution, one-third to one-half of
all marine species will be extinct by the same time or sooner, honeybees could be gone in 25 years
or less, half the world’s mammals are declining in population and more than a third probably face
extinction in 20–30 years. The Amazon and the entire world’s rainforests will be gone in 20 years
or less agricultural soil increase in salinity due to flood irrigation cultivation practices, excessive
water use, and water table declines worldwide, with four of the world’s five largest rivers no longer
reaching the oceans for most or all of the year, global drought conditions increasing to
unprecedented levels. Use of almost one billion cars worldwide and growing at 50 million every
year and the release of carbon dioxide equivalent to about 60 billion humans, adding up to the
daunting prospect of the annihilation of a large percentage of life on the planet to such an
unprecedented scale never seen in the fossil record.
Personal, societal, and institutional changes in behaviour, policy, and in legislation are
needed to halt and reverse the decline, wherever possible, and to move towards a sustainable
society. More significantly, the economic mechanisms are necessary to achieve the goal of
sustainability. The integration of environmental conservation with human progress has become one
of the main challenges for the modern world. The challenge before us is to adopt values and
principles that will guide us in using resources in such a way that adequate resources will remain
available in the future. The origin of the term ‘sustainable development’ started when the goal of
public policy was progress, and progress was meant for continuous growth towards a better future.
The Concept of Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development stands for meeting the needs of present generations without
jeopardizing the ability of futures generations to meet their own needs – in other words, a better
quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. Sustainable development ideologies
incorporate a series of concerns relating to the global impact of human activities by including
ecological limits, basic human needs, distributive justice between present and future generations,
economic growth, ethical, spiritual and religious values.
Sustainable development has three components: environment, society, and economy. If you
consider the three to be overlapping circles of the same size, the area of overlap in the center is
human well-being. As the environment, society, and economy become more aligned, the area of
overlap increases, and so does human well-being.
Figure No. 1
Scheme of Sustainable Development: At the Confluence of Three Constituent Parts
Sustainable development ensures the well-being of the human person by integrating social
development, economic development, and environmental conservation and protection. Social
development implies that the basic needs of the human being are met through the implementation
and realization of human rights. Basic needs include access to education, health services, food,
housing, employment, and the fair distribution of income. Social development works to empower
the poor to expand their use of available resources in order meet their own needs, and change their
own lives. Special attention is paid to ensure equitable treatment of women, children, people of
indigenous cultures, people with disabilities, and all members of populations considered most
vulnerable to the conditions of poverty.
Economic development expands the availability of work and the ability of individuals to
secure an income to support themselves and their families. Economic development includes
industry, sustainable agriculture, as well as integration and full participation in the global economy.
Social and economic developments reinforce and are dependent on one another for full realization.
UN General Assembly convened a conference on the “human environment” at Stockholm in
June 1972, which came out with guiding principles on “human environment”. It emphasized that
man has the fundamental right to environment of quality and also that he has a responsibility
towards protecting the environment for present and future generations. It also maintained that
natural resources of the earth must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations.
About a decade later, to address the issues concerning continuing depletion of natural
resources and unsustainable development, the World Commission on Environment and
Development was created in1983. Popularly known as Brundtland Commission (1983), it described
sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. After twenty years of Stockholm
Declaration, the UN Conference on ‘Environment and Development’ (also known as ‘Earth
Summit’) was held at Rio-de Janeiro in 1992 that adopted an action plan, popularly known as
‘Agenda 21’. The agenda 21 promised to reduce poverty, provide clean water and health care, and
protect the natural resources and so on. Also to be noted that some of the Millennium Development
Goals3 (see UNDP) have urged for ensuring environmental sustainability and reduction of the
percentage of the population under extreme poverty. Similarly, explaining implications of climate
change for sustainable development the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes (IPCC)
the importance of social and environmental equity in development. Thus all the major world
conferences and initiatives taken so far on environment and development have stressed on
economically viable development, socially equitable development and protection of the
environment for attaining sustainable development.
Principles of Sustainable Development
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development fleshes out the definition by listing
18 principles of sustainability.
• People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
• Development today must not undermine the development and environment needs of present
and future generations.
• Nations have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but without causing
environmental damage beyond their borders.
• Nations shall develop international laws to provide compensation for damage that activities
under their control cause to areas beyond their borders.
• Nations shall use the precautionary approach to protect the environment. Where there are
threats of serious or irreversible damage, scientific uncertainty shall not be used to postpone
cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
• In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an
integral part of the development process, and cannot be considered in isolation from it.
Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living standards in different parts of the
world are essential to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of the majority of
people.
• Nations shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the
Earth's ecosystem. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in
the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies
place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they
command.
• Nations should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption,
and promote appropriate demographic policies.
• Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens.
Nations shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making
environmental information widely available.
• Nations shall enact effective environmental laws, and develop national law regarding
liability for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. Where they have
authority, nations shall assess the environmental impact of proposed activities that are likely
to have a significant adverse impact.
• Nations should cooperate to promote an open international economic system that will lead to
economic growth and sustainable development in all countries. Environmental policies
should not be used as an unjustifiable means of restricting international trade.
• The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution.
• Nations shall warn one another of natural disasters or activities that may have harmful
transboundary impacts.
• Sustainable development requires better scientific understanding of the problems. Nations
should share knowledge and innovative technologies to achieve the goal of sustainability.
• The full participation of women is essential to achieve sustainable development. The
creativity, ideals and courage of youth and the knowledge of indigenous people are needed
too. Nations should recognize and support the identity, culture and interests of indigenous
people.
• Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development, and Nations shall respect
international laws protecting the environment in times of armed conflict, and shall cooperate
in their further establishment.
• Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.
Challenges before Sustainable Development
People concerned about sustainable development suggest that meeting the needs of the
future depends on how well we balance social, economic, and environmental objectives — or needs
— when making decisions today. Many of these objectives may seem to conflict with each other in
the short term. For example, industrial growth might conflict with preserving natural resources. Yet,
in the long term, responsible use of natural resources now will help ensure that there are resources
available for sustained industrial growth far into the future. If we don’t balance our social,
economic, and environmental objectives in the short term, we cannot expect to sustain our
development in the long term.
There is a long list of challenges associated with sustainability; some of them are climatic
change, technological development, resource depletion, pollution, the global environment,
disintegration of economic and social conditions, poverty alleviation and the unequal distribution of
resources in poor and rich countries. Human beings are sharing the earth with other communities,
such as plants and animals, and none of these communities is independent of the other. In order to
deal with these co-dependent communities of people, plants and animals, a collaborative approach
is needed, including scientists from various disciplines, so that they can better understand the
constraints and conditions of these communities.
The Transition to a Sustainable Society
The transition to a sustainable society can be accomplished in a three step process.
First, human beings must come to the absolute realization that themselves and all life depend on
and are made of the same air, water, soil, and light that surrounds us and everything else and not the
other way around. A rigorous, disciplined, and profound respect for the world around us is vitally
necessary and indispensable.
Second, only the production and exchange of sustainable goods and services are effectuated among
its participants, in partnership with the environment and the world that surrounds us all, thus giving
rise to a new sustainable economy. This way, the perpetuation of sustainable living and sustainable
economies are assured, expanded, and maintained, from one business to another, from one
sustainable enterprise, individual and/or country to another.
Third, legislation must be enacted wherever feasible providing incentives to sustainable living,
enterprises, goods, and services.
Dimensions of Environmentally Sustainable Development
Economic dimensions : economic needs such as adequate livelihood and productive assets, and
systems, and how these interact with the environment.
Social and cultural dimensions : social and cultural needs and systems, e.g. health, education,
shelter, equity, cultural institutions and norms, and their relationship with the environment.
Political dimensions : political needs (ability to participate in decision-making processes) and
systems, and how they influence the environment.
Ecological dimensions : the maintenance of ecosystems and the natural resource base.
The Role of Different Sectors
To meet basic needs and for a better standard of living in the future, one needs to pay
serious attention to the integration of environment and development concerns for the achievement
of a sustainable path. A strong ethical framework and political courage on the part of elected
officials are required to ensure sustainable development. It needs actions and activities at the local,
regional, national and global levels. Governments, civil societies, academicians, religions,
businesses and international organizations should be involved in directing and supporting actions
for sustainable development. Implementation is a major responsibility of national governments, and
national strategies, policies and activities are crucial in this regard.
Academics from the planning departments of universities around the world can have an
important role in this regard. In this regard, multidisciplinary research for sustainable development
should be started. Finally, businesses, industries and trans-national corporations should emphasize
research relating to the development of environment-friendly technologies and management
systems in collaboration with academia and other related institutions.
Conclusions
The transition to a sustainable society constitutes an enormous challenge. As a civilization,
we must make a deliberate and conscious choice to a ubiquitous and relentless practice of
sustainability. To address these challenges, certain actions need to be taken, and more attention
should be paid to the proper integration of environment and development. Policies must incorporate
the Precautionary Principle and ecosystem knowledge. For sustainable development, governments,
civil society, businesses and international organizations must support sustainability. Actions and
activities are needed at the local, regional, national and global levels. Different communities,
NGOs, businesses and industry, academicians and international organizations need to play their
role. International agencies and NGOs must provide technical assistance, training, education and
awareness regarding sustainability. Academicians and professionals must provide input to the
formulation of better environment and policy. Governments must implement policies that encourage
business and industry to help in improving the environment. New technological development must
be environmentally sound and helpful, with improved health and safety practices. If we succeed in
this challenge and remain a while longer, we may have a chance to have a chance. In that case, our
choice was a better choice.
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