ASSIGNMENT

ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

SUBMITTED BY:
JOMON JOSEPH
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES II
SCHOOL OF GANDHIAN THOUGHT &
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
M G UNIVERSITY
 Sustainable Development

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Development has become the most debatable topic today. It has
raised many controversies between Development and Environment and that is why it is most
relevant today. In India this concept has even greater relevance due to controversy
surrounding the big dams and mega projects and related long term growth. Environmental
deterioration is increasing day by day due to deforestation, over-grazing, greenhouse gases,
etc. If not checked in time our very survival will be at stake. The efforts towards sustainable
development can help the earth to keep in balance.

What is sustainable development? The World Commission on Environment

and Development, in its report ‘Our Common Future’ in 1987 defined sustainable
development as “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainable development does not
mean a return to a pre-industrial or pre-technological era. It calls for continued economic
growth and for business and industry to play a key role in achieving sustainable livelihoods
for all people–alleviating poverty and improving living standards while maintaining the
integrity of the global environment. But the process has been hindered by a conceptual
obstacle: the belief that economic progress and environmental protection are mutually
opposite goals.

Business and industry have traditionally regarded the environment as an

almost limitless source of energy and raw materials, with the environmental costs of doing
business shifted to society at large or future generations. This thinking originated with the
industrial revolution and achieved its fullest realization in the decades of unprecedented
growth following World War II, when innovation produced such high-tech items as computer
chips and satellites, new and quicker modes of transport, agricultural green revolution, etc.
However, this only served to reinforce a belief in the virtues of unbridled industrial
development, even at the expense of the environment.

As the decisions of yesterday play havoc with the global environment of

 Sustainable Development

today, the idea that there should be little or no environmental constraints on business and
industry has been rendered obsolete. ‘In one area after another, environmental degradation is
eroding the potential for development’, was reported by World Commission on Environment
and Development in 1987.

Human survival is under attack due to environmental degradation. The factors

responsible for environmental degradation are population, deforestation and economic
development. The emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane are on rise
which has led to rise in temperature of earth. This has led to greenhouse effect which can
cause melting of ice caps leading to rise in sea levels. It can submerge coastal areas and even
few countries affecting the life of people and making them environmental refugees. We very
well know that refugees have social and political dynamics for problems when they migrate
causing security threats for those countries. Similarly ozone depletion can create a lot of
environmental problem. Ozone layer which protects from ultraviolet radiation is depleting
due to increase of chloroflouro carbons used in refrigerators. Ozone hole has been detected
which has serious repercussions because ultraviolet radiation can cause serious diseases like
skin cancer and cataract.

The issue of limiting or restricting the greenhouse gases has become a North-
South problem. Developed countries emit more than two thirds of the total greenhouse gases
due to over consumption of energy resources. Their economic development is far ahead of
the developing countries. Developing countries are at the initial stage of economic
development. It is the need of the developing countries to develop. So developing countries
are demanding that developed countries’ responsibility is greater in reducing the emission of
greenhouse gases. Moreover, the developed countries should pay for the pollution and
environmental degradation since they have polluted and degraded the environment more.
Also the developed countries should provide technical assistance to developing countries and
help in transfer of technology at affordable prices so that the damage done to the earth can be
repaired at the earliest. The arrangements can also be done for alternate or substitute
technologies which are environmentally sensitive so that development of developing
countries is not in jeopardy.

A middle ground in this debate appears to be taking shape. The developed

nations appear ready to decrease their share of environmental degradation and increase aid in
the form of technology transfers, education and new funding mechanisms, in exchange for
 Sustainable Development

commitments by developing countries to safeguard their environment and develop on a

sustainable basis. Various conferences and conventions have taken up since 1972 UN
Conference on Human Environment like IIPC, Montreal Protocol and Rio-Summit. In Rio-
Summit, a blue print for environmental action known as ‘Agenda 21’ was drawn up which is
really landmark development.

Balance is essential between development and environment changes in global

climate patterns, deforestation, species loss, air and water pollution, ozone depletion and
toxic waste disposal, all indicate the urgent need for sustainable practices. Environmental
laws are to be implemented. Environmental education and awareness has to spread at all
levels. The role of NGOs and activists is no less in educating and spreading the awareness.
The crisis is global. So both North and South have to make painful choices in the name of
mutual security in order to meet the goals of sustainable development.

Parameters of Sustainable Development:

The goal of sustainable development is an outcome achieved through joint

effort among several inter-related parameters and requiring coordination at both vertical and
horizontal levels. There exists dynamic triangular relationship among three keys viz.,
Environmental, Economic and Social parameters.

The people centred at social parameter forms the broad base of triangle as
active public participation holds an instrumental role. The interrelationship between
population, environment and development is complex. Besides key factors, efficient
manpower capacity building, institutional strengthening, including strong political will and
effective implementation/monitoring mechanism play equally important role for successful
outcome of sustainable development.

1. Environmental Sustainability:

Environmental sustainability relates with maintenance of carrying capacity of natural

resource base and life support systems. This emphasizes on area of conservation of
biodiversity hot spots, increase in forest cover, watershed protection and adoption of holistic
approach.

Equally important are reduction of environmental threats, environmental pollution and using
environment friendly clean and green technologies to mitigate local to global level
 Sustainable Development

environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, climate change from an inter-generational

equity perspective.

2. Economic Sustainability:

Economic sustainability provides important energy source like a battery to secure

environmental and social sustainability. This emphasizes on promotion of economic self-
sustenance of development projects through measures like adequate budgeting, budget
transparency and financial incentive.

The focus area includes; alleviation of poverty, increase in per capita income, promotion of
income generating activities including off farm employment and green micro-enterprises,
establishment of mechanism of fair sharing of benefit and natural resource accounting.

3. Social Sustainability:

Social sustainability focuses on upgrading human environmental quality of life with

fulfilment of basic needs and transforming man from most dangerous animal to most
important creative resource. It emphasizes local communities to be well informed on
sustainable ways of resource utilization.

It ensures active public participation at various level of development activity, collaborative

efforts in conservation and development activities, improvement in public health, education
and basic need, reduction of conflict among stakeholders on resource use. This will be
derived through upgrading public environmental awareness, enhanced gender equity and self-
confidence among local community with an emphasis on economically
disadvantaged/marginalized groups,

4. Institutional Sustainability:

Plans and programmes without action represent futile exercise. Strict implementation and
monitoring of relevant environmental policies, plans, laws, regulations and standards is
indispensable to attain the goal of sustainable development. There should be adequate skilled
and motivated manpower and strong institutional capacity to address environmental and
social sustainability.

Focus area lies to achieve environmental quality of life such as reduced air, water, soil, noise
pollution to accepted level of international standard and public confidence to get involved in
 Sustainable Development

environmental conservation activities. Institutional strengthening of project management

should be efficient to deal with environmental problems having local, national, and regional
to global level significance and including legally binding world conventions and treaties.

References

[1] http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-
study-notes/69118
[2] http://www.biologydiscussion.com/sustainable-development/sustainable-
development-definition-principles-and-other-details/16673
[3] https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5839GSDR%202015_SD_c
oncept_definiton_rev.pdf
[4] http://www.environmentalpollution.in/sustainable-development/sustainable-
development-useful-notes-on-sustainable-development/359