Sustainable development refers to a model of economic, social and political development that is in harmony with the environment. This means that it is necessary to make rational use of natural resources so that it is possible to meet the needs of today's society, but without compromising the availability of these same resources for future generations. This is the most widely used definition of sustainable development, presented in the Our Report Common Future, in 1987, produced within the scope of the World Commission on Environment and Development.
Sustainable development is supported by three basic principles:
the environmental
the economic
the social
In light of this, the United Nations proposed, in 2015, the so-called 2030 Agenda. It is an action plan that sets out 17 goals to be met by member countries by the year 2030 to achieve sustainable development.
Among the goals set are the eradication of poverty and hunger, social and gender equality, access to sanitation, the guarantee of quality education and the protection and conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The reach of this development model depends on collective efforts, which include the action of civil society, companies and national states.Read too: Environmental conferences - meetings with state leaders to discuss sustainability
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Video lesson on sustainable development
Definition of sustainable development
The term sustainable development designates a development model that aims to articulate the economic, social and political progress of national states with environmental preservation, leading to consideration to finitude of most natural resources that society makes use of.
By definition, sustainable development is nothing more than a type of development that meets all the needs of today's society. in technical and productive terms and that, at the same time, do not compromise the availability of the same resources natural for future generations. Although there are other ways to define what sustainable development is, this is the main one and it was presented in the 1987 Brundtland Report, also known as the Our Common Future Report.
Discussions about the urgency of rethinking the productive industrial model (which began with the Industrial Revolution and definitively transformed man-nature relations) gained more strength from the second half of the 20th century onwards. At the time, the depletion of natural resources and the most severe impacts of anthropic action on the environment they were already showing their first signs, demonstrating that it would not be possible to maintain the development model in vogue without long-term consequences. It was therefore necessary to reformulate it.
Almost a decade before the definition of sustainable development was established, the United Nations Conference on the Environment in 1972, in the city of Stockholm, Sweden, where questions were raised about the economic and industrial progress of society as opposed to environmental preservation.
In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development, chaired by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, produced the document that serves as a reference for the conceptualization of new development model and also appears as a guide for upcoming meetings and conferences, which would systematize the strategies and goals to achieve this reality proposal. Are they:
Eco-92 or Rio-92, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992;
Rio+10, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002;
Rio+20, held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012;
Sustainable Development Summit held in New York in 2015.
See too: What are carbon credits?
Examples of sustainable actions
Sustainable actions are those that promote the balanced and rational use of natural resources in order to preserve the environment. Its practice is not unilateral, and depends on civil society, companies and representatives of States. In addition, they can be developed individually or together, and range from small everyday gestures to large-scale actions.
We list below some of the practices considered sustainable. We emphasize that many others can be listed and followed, and this issue is quite comprehensive.
Proper disposal of garbage and waste, both domestic and industrial;
Correct separation of organic and non-organic waste, in addition to carrying out selective collection and recycling practices;
Use of clean and renewable energies, such as solar energy;
Adoption of alternative means of transport that are less polluting or, still, the prioritization of collective transport to the detriment of the individual;
Use of products that are biodegradable, avoiding the use of articles made with plastic and other materials that take a long time to decompose in nature and can, therefore, pollute ecosystems terrestrial and marine;
Avoid wasting Water;
Save electricity;
Practice conscious consumption, paying attention to environmental certification and the origin of the products;
Reduction of logging and the practice of burned;
Creation of environmental protection areas and proper inspection;
Promotion of reforestation actions.
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What are the principles of sustainable development?
The principles of sustainable development are also described as being the pillars of this model.
Thus, we have three pillars that serve as a basis for sustainable development, namely:
environmental sustainability: rational use of environmental resources for conservation purposes;
economic sustainability: actions taken in the financial, productive and technological spheres;
social sustainability: aims to ensure social well-being by reducing inequalities and guaranteeing citizens' basic rights.
These areas are directly related to each other, and it is based on the direct actions taken within the scope of each of them that it will be possible to achieve sustainable development.
Video lesson on sustainability, environmental degradation and human responsibility
What are the goals of sustainable development?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by member countries of the Nations United during the Sustainable Development Summit held in 2015 at UN headquarters in New York (USA).
It is an agenda made up of 17 general objectives and 169 goals to be achieved, by the year 2030, by the nations through action plans and public policies aimed at social, environmental and economic development, with a focus on eradicating poverty and guaranteeing sustainability. The document that systematizes this plan is entitled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
Listed below are the 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda:
Eradication of Poverty;
Eradication of hunger and guarantee of food security;
Ensuring access to quality healthcare and promoting well-being;
Quality, inclusive and equitable education;
Gender equality;
Sustainable management and access to water and sanitation;
Affordable and clean energy;
Decent work and economic growth;
Inclusive and sustainable industrialization, resilient infrastructure and innovation;
Reduction of inequalities;
Make cities and communities safe, resilient and sustainable;
Responsible consumption and production;
Action against global climate change;
Conservation of marine life;
Protection of terrestrial ecosystems;
Peace, justice and effective institutions;
Strengthen the global partnership for sustainable development.
Read too: What are non-recyclable materials?
How important is sustainable development?
The consumption pattern and the economic development model that emerged with the Industrial Revolution intensified as that there was an improvement in the technological means of production and communication, modifying the relationship between human beings and nature.
The unrestrained extraction and use of natural resources sometimes gives the false impression that their supply is infinite, but that is not the case. Even renewable resources can be impacted by phenomena such as pollution it's the global warming.
Sustainable development is important for, on the one hand, Theshold the best management of natural resources so that they do not run out, and that it is possible to meet the needs of present and future generations. On the other hand, its importance lies in the fact that the practices linked to this model aim to reduction of environmental impacts and the aggravation of extreme weather phenomena, in addition to promoting the achievement of a better quality of life for the various populations that inhabit the planet Earth.
What to do to achieve sustainable development?
Achieving sustainable development is not a task to be done by a single group of individuals or entities. The fulfillment of the agenda established by the United Nations as well as the general care for nature depend on the collective effort and setting standards and action policies from higher powers, which act on a territorial scale.
In other words, the individual actions and evaluating the way we act in our daily lives are important for us to advance towards greater harmony with the environment. Still, the promotion of sustainable attitudes, public policy geared towards environmental preservation and the conservation and recovery of ecosystems, the state planning and management plans oriented towards ensuring sustainability are essential for us to reach this development model.
Allied to this, one cannot ignore the performance of companies and internal incorporation, at all stages of the production chain, of measures aimed at reducing its environmental impact and contributing to cleaner and ecologically viable production.
What is sustainability?
The term sustainability it is directly linked to the concept that we have been working on so far, sustainable development. Being sustainable means having the ability to maintain oneself, to sustain oneself. Thus, the principle of sustainability concerns the rational use of natural resources, seeking a balance between its natural replacement capacity and human need.
By Paloma Guitarrara
Geography teacher
