Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Prof R RamakrishnanProf R Ramakrishnan

ramakrish54@gmail.comramakrish54@gmail.com

ssrn.com/author=646193ssrn.com/author=646193

For my research articlesFor my research articles

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Sustainable development is development Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of without compromising the ability of

future generations to meet their own future generations to meet their own needs.needs.

Gro Harlem Brundtland first introduced Gro Harlem Brundtland first introduced the concept of sustainable development the concept of sustainable development in 1987. He was then the Prime Minister in 1987. He was then the Prime Minister

of Norway and chairman of the World of Norway and chairman of the World Commission on Environment and Commission on Environment and

DevelopmentDevelopment. .

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Sustainability is concerned Sustainability is concerned withwith

these "these "3 Es3 Es".".

• EquityEquity• Environmental Integrity and Environmental Integrity and • Economic EfficiencyEconomic Efficiency

Sustainable development offers the Sustainable development offers the world a plan for saving the Earth. world a plan for saving the Earth.

Although the idea is simple, the task is Although the idea is simple, the task is substantial.substantial.

It means meeting four objectives at the same time.It means meeting four objectives at the same time.

Social progress which recognizes the needs of Social progress which recognizes the needs of everyoneeveryone

Effective protection of the environment Effective protection of the environment

Prudent use of natural resource and Prudent use of natural resource and

Maintenance of high and stable levels of Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment economic growth and employment

The principles of a sustainable The principles of a sustainable society are society are

Respect and care for the community of life.Respect and care for the community of life. Improve the quality of human life.Improve the quality of human life. Conserve the Earth's vitality and diversity.Conserve the Earth's vitality and diversity. Minimize the depletion of non-renewable resources.Minimize the depletion of non-renewable resources. Keep within the Earth's carrying capacity.Keep within the Earth's carrying capacity. Change attitudes and practices.Change attitudes and practices. Enable communities to care for their own environments. Enable communities to care for their own environments. Provide a national framework for integrating development Provide a national framework for integrating development

and conservation.and conservation. Create a global alliance.Create a global alliance.

Five related aspects to the Five related aspects to the concept of sustainability. concept of sustainability.

• Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability• Social sustainabilitySocial sustainability• Cultural sustainabilityCultural sustainability• Political sustainability and Political sustainability and • Environmental sustainability Environmental sustainability

Sustainability issues are to Sustainability issues are to be analyzed at various be analyzed at various

levels levels • Global level - Global level - Ozone depletion; Ozone depletion;

• Climate change; and Climate change; and • Air pollutionAir pollution

• Regional, National or Area-level Regional, National or Area-level Water pollution -Water depletion - Deforestation- Water pollution -Water depletion - Deforestation-

Fisheries depletion -Biodiversity- Fisheries depletion -Biodiversity- Desertification and Erosion.Desertification and Erosion.

• -Local level - a plot, a farm or a village-Local level - a plot, a farm or a village

Soil losses - Loss of soil quality (chemical Soil losses - Loss of soil quality (chemical or physical) - Loss of farm income or physical) - Loss of farm income

The international economy The international economy should provide a supportive should provide a supportive

international climate for international climate for achieving environment and achieving environment and

development goals by: development goals by: • Promoting sustainable development through Promoting sustainable development through

trade liberalizationtrade liberalization• Making trade and environment mutually Making trade and environment mutually

supportivesupportive• Providing adequate financial resources to Providing adequate financial resources to

developing countries and dealing with developing countries and dealing with international debtinternational debt

• Encouraging macroeconomic policies Encouraging macroeconomic policies conducive to environment and development. conducive to environment and development.

For sustainable For sustainable development to take place development to take place

there must be there must be • Interaction and coordination among all of the Interaction and coordination among all of the

agents in a locality, region, or country;agents in a locality, region, or country;• A redistribution of wealth; A redistribution of wealth; • A redefinition of the relationship between human A redefinition of the relationship between human

beings and nature; beings and nature; • Intergenerational equity; Intergenerational equity; • A redistribution of global wealth and A redistribution of global wealth and

opportunities; opportunities; • Nature's capacity for regeneration must be Nature's capacity for regeneration must be

respected; respected; • Communities must be self-sufficient; and Communities must be self-sufficient; and • There must be a dialectical uniting of theory and There must be a dialectical uniting of theory and

practice practice

Thank YouThank You