11 August 2006
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Sustainable Development Concept
Sustainable development is defined as a pattern of social and structured economic transformations (i.e. development) which optimizes the economic and societal benefits available in the present, without jeopardizing the likely potential for similar benefits in the future. A primary goal of sustainable development is to achieve a reasonable and equitably distributed level of economic well-being that can be perpetuated continually for many human generations.
Sustainable development implies using renewable natural resources in a manner which does not eliminate or degrade them, or otherwise diminish their usefulness for future generations. It further implies using non-renewable (exhaustible) mineral resources in a manner which does not unnecessarily preclude easy access to them by future generations. Sustainable development also requires depleting non-renewable energy resources at a slow enough rate so as to ensure the high probability of an orderly society transition to renewable energy sources.
Based on similar arguments, sustainable development has been alternatively defined in various manners also, some of them are as follows:
"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
--The World Commission on Environment and Development, Brundtland Commission 1987.
"Sustainable development ensures that the maximum rate of resource consumption and waste
discharge for a selected development portfolio would be sustained indefinitely, in a defined
planning region, without progressively impairing its bio-productivity and ecological integrity.
Environmental conservation, therefore, contrary to general belief, accelerates rather than
hinders economic development.
Therefore, the Development plans have to ensure:
- Sustainable and equitable use of resources for meeting the needs of the present and
future generations without causing damage to environment.
- To prevent further damage to our life-support systems;
- To conserve and nurture the biological
diversity, gene pool and other resources for long term food
security".
--State Of The Environment Report - 1999, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
"The primary objective of the Sustainable Development is to reduce the absolute poverty of the world's poor through providing lasting and secure livelihoods that minimize resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption and social instability".
--E. Barbier, "The Concept of Sustainable Economic Development", Environmental Conservation, 1987.
Sustainable Development Indicators 
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Thematic
Areas
Agriculture
and Water
Harvesting
Biodiversity
Biotechnology
Clean Technology
Climate Change
Desertification
Disaster Management
Energy
Forestry
Ecological Conservation
Population,
Environment and Poverty
Marine Ecosystem
Waste Management
Micro-organism and Environment
Trade and Law
Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Coastal Ecology
Environmental Education and Awareness
Protected Area Management
Heritage Conservation
Tourism and Environment |
