Sustainable Development A Context Direction 1 Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development. A Context & Direction 1
Sustainable Development “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” “Living off the interest of our environmental and resource capital rather than spending the capital itself ” “Thinking globally, acting locally” “Doing more with less” 2
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Interacting Systems Economic Environment 3 Social
The Three Goals of Economic Development ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES * Growth * Equity * Efficiency ECOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES SOCIAL OBJECTIVES * * * Empowerment Participation Social Mobility Social Cohesion Cultural Identity Institutional Development 4 * * Ecosystem Integrity Carrying Capacity Biodiversity Global Issues
Definition of Sustainable Development • The phrase “sustainable development” has be - come an essential part of the vocabulary in environment and development circles. It denotes a particular approach to the process of development. • The term is really a combination of two separate concepts - DEVELOPMENT and SUSTAINABILITY. 5
Definition of Sustainable Development (Contd. ) • “DEVELOPMENT” is usually understood as a process that moves towards people’s participation in the meeting of their own basic human needs such as food, health care, employment and housing. 6
Definition of Sustainable Development (Contd. ) • Positive processes of development are ones in which: Ø people participate to solve their own problems. Ø traditional cultures and lifestyles are respected. Ø people become less dependent on external aid and more capable of using and developing their own resources. Ø power and resources are shared. Ø women, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups participate in decisions. 7
Definition of Sustainable Development (Contd. ) • “SUSTAINABILITY” as the word suggests means that the development project or process is one that can be maintained in the long term. This means it must be economically, socially, and politically sustainable; it also means that it must be environmentally sustainable. Development must take place without destroying or undermining the ecological and resource base upon which it rests. 8
Definition of Sustainable Development (Contd. ) • The result is a new approach to development that combines some key development principles (factors that are necessary to ensure long-term economic, political, or social viability - such as involvement of women, appropriate technology, and community participation), with factors necessary to ensure environmental viability (impact assessment, consideration of the particular environmental context, etc. ) 9
Emergence of Sustainable Development Stockholm Conference (Eco-development) 1972 Brundtland Commission (our Common Future) 1987 UN Conference on Environment & Development (Agenda 21) 1992 (June) UN Commission on Sustainable Development 1992 (Dec. ) National Sustainable Development Action Plans 1992 + UNCSD Reviews Progress on Agenda 21 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1997 (Dec. ) 10
THE ROAD FROM RIO Changing Paradigms PRE - Rio POST-Rio Do more with more Do more with less “Me” generation Global village Throwaway society 3 R’s Regulations as the ceiling 11 Best available Control Technology Least cost Least risk Consumerism Environmentally friendly Products Mitigate / control Anticipate / Prevent Use resources Manage resources Planning for profit Integrated planning
KEY INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABILITY Energy Efficiency Environmental Efficiency Renewable Resource Stokes Customer Satisfaction Indicator New Business Opportunities Employee Partnerships Sustainable Technologies Open Information System Stakeholders Partnerships Financial Strengths Energy Externality Costs Persistent Toxic Substances Risk Liability Time 12 Fuel Consumption
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CDM Sustainable CDM Activities means applying the concepts and principles of sustainable development to activities within the CDM context. 13
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