Sustainable Development is a developmental approach that seeks to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It was popularized by the Brundtland Commission’s 1987 report, which introduced the concept of sustainability as a guiding principle for development policies. The idea is to balance the economic, social, and environmental aspects of development, ensuring that resources are used wisely and that development benefits society while preserving the environment.
Sustainability refers to the capacity to endure over the long term without depleting resources or causing harm to the environment, society, or economy. It involves making decisions today that do not result in long-term negative impacts for future generations. Sustainability is essential to achieving the goals of sustainable development by promoting practices that balance the well-being of people, the planet, and economic growth.
Herman Daly’s Three Specifications for Maintaining Sustainability:
- Maximum Scale of Human Activity: Daly emphasized that human activities should be within the Earth’s capacity to regenerate resources and absorb waste. Growth beyond a sustainable threshold causes irreversible damage to ecosystems and depletes resources needed for future generations.
- Equitable Distribution: Sustainable development also requires that benefits and resources are distributed equitably. Daly advocates for addressing inequality within and between nations, ensuring that development does not disproportionately benefit the wealthy or harm disadvantaged communities.
Stable Population: Daly stresses that population growth should be stable and within the carrying capacity of ecosystems. Overpopulation leads to excessive demand on natural resources, resulting in ecological degradation and decreased quality of life.