Environment and Development: Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development
Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is from Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

 It contains within it two key concepts: 1. The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and 2. The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

 Key theme of the 2010 HDR, is the enormous progress in human development over the past several decades with three caveats: 1. Income growth has been associated with deterioration in such key environmental indicators as carbon dioxide emissions, soil and water quality and forest cover. 2. The distribution of income has worsened at the country level in much of the world, even with the narrowing of gaps in health and education achievement. 3. While empowerment on average tends to accompany a rising Human Development Index (HDI), there is considerable variation around the relationship

 Adverse environmental factors are expected to boost world food prices 3050 percent in real terms in the coming decades and to increase price volatility, with harsh repercussions for poor households. The largest risks are faced by the 1.3 billion people involved in agriculture, fishing, forestry, hunting and gathering. The most disadvantaged people carry a double burden of deprivation: more vulnerable to the wider effects of environmental degradation, they must also cope with threats to their immediate environment posed by indoor air pollution, dirty water and unimproved sanitation.

Indias perspectives on Sustainable Development

The long-term impact of past industrialization, exploitation and environmental damage cannot be wished away. It is only right that development in this new century be even more conscious of its longterm impact.

Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods

Poverty and a degraded environment are closely inter-related, especially where people depend for their livelihoods primarily on the natural resource base of their immediate environment. The survival needs of the poor force them to continue to degrade an already degraded environment. Literacy and a basic education are essential for enabling the poor to access the benefits offered by development initiatives and market opportunities.

Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production

With increasing purchasing power, wasteful consumption linked to market driven consumerism is stressing the resource base of developing countries further. It is important to counter this through education and public awareness. In several areas, desirable limits and standards for consumption need to be established and applied through appropriate mechanisms including education, incentives and legislation. For e.g. Restriction on smoking, encouragement for e scooters etc.

 Protecting and Managing the Natural Resource Base of Economic and Social Development The integration of agriculture with land and water management, and with ecosystem conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and agricultural production. An environmental perspective must guide the evaluation of all development projects, recognizing the role of natural resources in local livelihoods. To ensure the sustainability of the natural resource base, the recognition of all stakeholders in it and their roles in its protection and management is essential.

Health and Sustainable Development

Human health in its broadest sense of physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing is to a great extent dependent on the access of the citizen to a healthy environment. Access to safe drinking water and a healthy environment should be a fundamental right of every citizen. Citizens of developing countries continue to be vulnerable to a double burden of diseases. Traditional diseases such as malaria and cholera, caused by unsafe drinking water and lack of environmental hygiene, have not been controlled.

 In addition, people are now falling prey to modern diseases such as cancer and AIDS, and stress-related disorders. Most developing countries are repositories of a rich tradition of natural resource-based health care. This is under threat, on the one hand from modern mainstream medicine, and on the other from the degradation of the natural resource base.

Strengthening Governance for Sustainable Development

Local Effective management of resources requires participation by all stakeholders. At the local level, strengthening democratic institutions generally leads to better and more sustained management of natural resources. National Requiring a balance between development requirement and environment protection. Making environmental clearances compulsory for projects and effectively implementing the same.

 International There is both a need and a scope for regional and global cooperation in sustainable development. Some of the areas of common concern are marine issues, trans-boundary environmental impacts, management of bio-resources, technology sharing and sharing of sustainable development experiences. There must be mechanisms for monitoring the compliance of countries to their obligations under various environmental agreements