Sustainable Development and Its Objectives
Sustainable development is a way of life that we need to adopt to preserve resources for future generation’s use. By adopting this principle, we can maintain a balance in the ecosystem. In this article, we will be discussing the importance of sustainable development in detail along with other aspects of this concept.
Sustainable development is very important. It helps businesses and economies grow for a long time. When businesses use sustainable methods, they work better, save money, and make customers happy. Also, sustainable growth in the economy can create new jobs and encourage new ideas. Let’s drill down further to explore the importance of sustainable development in today’s world.
Table of Contents
- What is Sustainable Development?
- Need For Sustainable Development
- What is the Importance of Sustainable Development
- Objectives of Sustainable Development
- Goals of Sustainable Development
- Relationship between Sustainability and Sustainable Development
- What is the Emphasis and Importance of Sustainability for Overall Development of an Economy?
What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable development is a way to meet people’s needs today without stopping future generations from meeting theirs. Since many of our natural resources can run out, it is our social responsibility to use them wisely. That’s why people are now using more sustainable products and technologies. The goal of sustainable development is to use resources in a way that doesn’t upset the balance of nature.
In simple terms, you can understand, Sustainable development like taking care of a big, shared garden. We all want to pick fruits and vegetables for our needs today, but we also want to make sure there’s enough left for people to enjoy tomorrow and the days after. So, we need to use the garden’s resources wisely and not damage it, ensuring it can continue to provide for everyone in the future.
As per the 1987 Brundtland report, sustainable development is defined as:
With more research, experts have concluded that economic, social, and environmental protection is crucial for sustainable development.
Read LaterBest-suited Business & Management Studies courses for you
Learn Business & Management Studies with these high-rated online courses
Need For Sustainable Development
The importance of sustainable development highlights its need. Let us understand it further:
- In the present era, non-renewable resources are being consumed at a faster rate which endangers these resources since they cannot be replenished.
- As the population continues to increase, there has been a decrease in non-renewable resources which highlights the importance of sustainable development.
- One of the key aspects of sustainable development is finding alternatives that are long-lasting, less polluting, and environmentally friendly.
- Sustainable development will facilitate a more balanced ecosystem where human beings as well as other living organisms will thrive together.
Need and Importance of Sustainable Development
A significant reason behind the increased importance of sustainable development is the changing nature of our population. A United Nations report states that these changes can significantly impact sustainable development. If we don’t consider these changes, our efforts to support sustainable development will be ineffective.
The following reasons highlight the importance of sustainable development:
- Resources won’t run out: Sustainable development ensures we use resources wisely, so they last for future generations.
- Nature stays healthy: It protects our air, water, and habitats, keeping them safe for all living things.
- People save money: By using less energy and creating less waste, sustainable development can help us cut costs.
- Everyone gets a fair share: It promotes fairness, making sure everyone has access to resources and opportunities.
- Climate change is tackled: By using cleaner energy and protecting our forests, sustainable development helps us fight the harmful effects of climate change.
- We live healthier lives: It reduces pollution, giving us clean air and water, good food, and green spaces to enjoy.
- We’re prepared for problems: Sustainable development helps us be ready for challenges like natural disasters, financial troubles, or health crises.
- Cooperation is encouraged: It promotes working together among countries and people to solve big problems.
- The future is considered: Sustainable development is about making sure our kids and grandkids can have a good life too.
- Life gets better for everyone: It aims to improve everyone’s life with a clean environment, good jobs, and a fair society.
These reasons highlight the importance of sustainable development in ensuring a balanced and respectful relationship with nature, promoting social and economic well-being, and building a better future for all.
Boost your financial knowledge and expertise with an online MBA in Finance. Master trading, investment banking, taxation, risk analysis, and financial planning and analysis from top institutions like IIMs, XLRI, MDI, and Amity Online. Also learn essential soft skills, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and business transformation.
Objectives of Sustainable Development
The primary objective of sustainable development is to balance our economic, environmental, and social needs, ensuring prosperity for both current and future generations. This concept is often defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“
In simpler terms, the importance of sustainable development can be explained by considering it as a three-legged stool. One leg represents our economy, another represents the environment, and the third represents our society. If one leg is shorter or longer, the stool will tip over. Therefore, we must ensure that all three legs are balanced, so our world can remain stable and prosperous.
For example, when we utilise natural resources like oil and gas, we must do so in a manner that doesn’t harm our environment or society. We need to ensure that there is enough left for future generations and that everyone has fair access to these resources. This is the core objective of sustainable development.
Goals of Sustainable Development
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprise 17 global objectives established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. These goals are interconnected and designed to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. Here are the most important goals of Sustainable Development:
- Eliminating Poverty: This goal aims to eradicate extreme poverty worldwide and reduce it by at least half, affecting men, women, and children.
- Zero hunger: The aim is to create a world free of hunger and prevent diseases and deaths caused by malnutrition.
- Good health and well-being: This objective in sustainable living promotes efficient healthcare, a healthy lifestyle, and preventive measures for everyone.
- Quality education: To ensure that students have access to free primary and secondary education and affordable higher and technical education.
- Gender Equality: The aim is to give equal political, economic, and social equality for women, thereby creating more opportunities.
- Clean water and sanitization: To provide clean water to populations across the globe so that they can have better sanitary conditions.
- Affordable and clean energy: It helps in energy efficiency and increases the use of renewables for climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth: According to the national circumstances, sustain per capita economic growth. Least Developed Countries should have at least 7% gross domestic product growth per annum.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Developing reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and social well-being.
- Reduce inequality: The aim is to reduce disparities so that everyone gets an equal chance and collectively achieves sustainable development goals.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities: Ensuring everyone has access to affordable housing conditions and transportation. The aim is to facilitate sustainable human settlement planning worldwide.
- Sustainable consumption and production involve decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, promoting sustainable lifestyles, and enhancing resource efficiency.
- Climate change: The aim is to combat climate change and its impacts on saving lives. The aim is to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and to achieve net zero by 2050.
- Life Below Water: The aim is to create an understanding of the oceans and the resources that they offer. It also focuses on learning methodologies to keep our seas clean.
- Life on land: The aim is to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification and reverse land degradation. It is essential to take care of the ecosystem since it provides raw materials and ecosystem services.
- Peace, justice and strong institutions: Conflict, weak institutions, and limited access pose a threat to sustainable development. It is, therefore, essential to promote peace and facilitate inclusive societies.
- Partnerships for the goals: Government, society, the private sector, the UN, and civil society must act as global partners to achieve each goal of sustainable development.
Examples of Sustainable Development
Let us take a look at the examples of sustainable development in practice:
- Agroforestry in Brazil: In Brazil, farmers plant crops among trees to enhance soil quality while preserving biodiversity. This helps in recovering the degradation in the Amazon rainforest.
- Rice Intensification: Another real-life example of sustainable development is Rice intensification, which is done in Southeast Asia. This reduces water wage by up to 50% while increasing the rice yield.
- Cycling City: This major initiative highlights the importance of sustainable development. In Copenhagen, 49% of all trips to school or work are done by bike.
- The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex is the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, providing clean energy to over 2 million people.
- Room for the River: This is a river project in the Netherlands that has helped restore natural floodplains to protect cities from flooding and create recreational areas.
- Recycling Revolution: In Sweden, less than 1% of households go to waste. The country has turned waste management into an energy source through waste-to-energy plants.
Relation Between Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is closely linked to the normative concept of sustainability, which is a long-term objective. It refers to a way of life to achieve sustainability. The following are the different types of sustainability:
- Environmental sustainability: This type of sustainability is responsible for conserving natural resources and protecting global ecosystems. This type of sustainability aims to enhance the quality of human life without compromising the health of ecosystems. This involves analyzing the energy and resources in our day-to-day lives. Experts also identify factors such as deforestation that are detrimental to the environment. The aim is to adopt environmental practices that improve and cleanse our ecosystem.
- Social sustainability: This is another pillar of sustainability that identifies the negative and positive impact of business processes on people. Businesses need to take initiatives for social sustainability since they, directly and indirectly, impact the community. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a crucial aspect of business operations, enabling organisations to contribute to the well-being of their community and the environment. While businesses leave a positive impact on society, they also bring innovations with their initiatives. This allows them the opportunity to explore new market niches.
- Economic sustainability: This is another crucial aspect of sustainability that supports long-term economic growth. The aim is to achieve this without leaving a negative impact on the environmental and social aspects of the community. Economic sustainability ensures the long-term sustainable value of natural resources through their optimal use, recycling, and recovery.
What is the Emphasis and Importance of Sustainability for the Overall Development of an Economy?
Within an economy, sustainability is essential for the following reasons:
- Long-term Economic sustainability: By ensuring sustainability, we also ensure that economic resources are not being depleted, which in turn ensures continued economic activity.
- Environmental Protection: By taking sustainable measures, the negative impact of economic activities on the environment is reduced.
- Social Equality: Another critical aspect of sustainable development is the ability to distribute economic benefits more evenly across society.
- Resilience: We can build an economic system that withstands social and financial shocks.
- Risk Mitigation: By implementing measures that ensure sustainability, we reduce risks associated with environmental degradation and social unrest.
To sustain and thrive in the current scenario, it is crucial to understand the importance of sustainable development. By understanding the objectives and roles, we can effectively manage our resources to safeguard them for future generations.
FAQs
What are the advantages of going sustainable?
Going green is all about using natural resources prudently so that they endure longer and next generations can use them too. The key benefits are:
- Conserves the environment – less pollution and less destruction of nature.
- Saves money – conserving energy and water can lower bills.
- Promotes health – clean air, water, and food result in a healthy life.
- Generates jobs – in green industries such as renewable energy and recycling.
- Sustains future generations – keeps resources in stock for the long term.
Which are the three pillars of sustainable development?
The three pillars of sustainable development are:
Environmental Sustainability – preserving nature and using resources responsibly.
Economic Sustainability – enabling people to earn a livelihood and maintaining the economy healthy without damaging the planet.
Social Sustainability – ensuring everyone has equal rights, education, healthcare, and a quality life.
Which are the four principles of sustainability?
The four principles of sustainability include social, economic, environmental and cultural sustainability.
How does sustainable development benefit the economy?
Sustainable development promotes long-term economic growth by preserving natural resources, encouraging innovation in green technologies, creating new job opportunities, and ensuring economic stability.
What role does sustainable development play in addressing climate change?
It promotes practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourages the use of renewable energy, and it helps communities adapt to climate impacts, all crucial in combating climate change.
How does sustainable development impact social equity?
It aims to reduce poverty, improve access to education and healthcare, and promote social inclusion, thus contributing to a more equitable society.
Can sustainable development help protect biodiversity?
Yes, it emphasizes the conservation of ecosystems and species, promoting practices that maintain biodiversity and the services that healthy ecosystems provide.
How does sustainable development relate to urban planning?
It encourages cities to develop in ways that are environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and economically viable, addressing challenges like pollution, overcrowding, and resource management.
Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Sustainability is important for development for the following reasons:
- For the future generations, we must preserve natural and physical resources. This highlights the importance of sustainable development.
- Sustainability is also important for minimizing environmental issues to ensure that the environment is safe for the coming generations as well.
- It is important to ensure that we maintain a balance in the ecosystem so that every living being can continue to exist safely.
Why is sustainable development crucial for the future?
Sustainable development is crucial because:
- It saves the world from environmental issues such as climate change and deforestation.
- It ensures that future generations enjoy clean air, food, and water.
- It ensures equity by allowing everyone to live a good life.
- It ensures long-term thinking instead of short-term profits, which may destroy the planet.
Comments
(1)
Top Picks & New Arrivals
