Definition Flashcards
(4 cards)
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. - Bruntland Commission Report 1987.
• Concept of needs- the world’s poor should be given overriding priority
• Concept of limitations- technological and social limitations for the future generations to meet their own needs.
Briefly describe the historical background of sustainable development.
The idea of sustainable development started with the idea of sustainable forest management. John Evelyn in his essay Sylva in 1662 stated that sowing and planting should be the national duty of all landowners to stop the over exploitation of forest resources especially timber. Sylvicultura economics in 1713 was a 400 page book published by Hans Carl Von Carlowitz on this topic which influenced many to create a sustainable environment and eventually created the idea of forest science.
This influenced the land ethics of many including Alexander von Humboldt. In 1962 Rachel Carsons book silent spring sought to describe the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation.
In 1980 the International union of conservation of nature developed a world conservation strategy and referred to sustainable development introducing this term and in 1987 the bruntland report was released by the United Nations world commission on Environment and development. This contained the widely used definition of sustainable development.
Timeline of Sustainable development
1662 - John Evelyn’s essay Sylva
1713 - Sylvicultura Economics by Hans Carl von Carlowitz
People like Alexander von Humboldt got influenced, forest science created.
1962 - Rachel Carsons silent spring
Rel between eco growth and env degradation
1980- International union of conservation of nature introduced the term sustainable development
1987 - Our common future bruntland report published by UN world commission on environment and development. Contained the widely used definition of sustainable development.
What are the components of sustainable development?
There are 3 components or pillars of sustainable development.
Environmental- This includes all the factors that benefit the environment. To create a sustainable environment one needs to control pollution and over exploitation of natural resources such as land water and air. Deforestation has to be controlled and renewable resources should be used as much as possible so that there are enough resources for the future generations.
Economic- This includes all the factors that benefit and sustain the economy including fiscally sound economic decisions, good business ethics, preventing unnecessary expenditure, cutting red tape, tax breaks and subsidies for a greener environment and financial aid to research agencies and universities to spread awareness of sustainable development.
Social- This includes the human factors that help in creating a sustainable future. Man cannot survive alone and needs to be socially active. Every man is a part of the community and through that they can gain knowledge and spread ideas about sustainable development. If a mans basic social and physical needs are not met there will not be any idea of sustainability for the future hence the meeting of the needs of the present generation is very essential to make one think about the future.
