As the idea of sustainable development has become increasingly more topical in the political arena, the question still remains as to whether our modern capitalist economies can preserve their most basic principle of maximising profits, whilst still protecting the environment. It is therefore the purpose of this essay to examine this. Can compromises be reached that enable us to protect and conserve the environment without hindering development.
Sustainable development is a dynamic process designed to meet today’s needs without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs; however, environmentalist have agreed that special measures have to be put in place to achieve this sustainable development .however the question still stand that we need to ask ourselves; if the survival of the people alive today is important or is the conservation of the environment on which the future human life will depend?.
Economic growth heavily relies on our natural resources therefore they play a pivotal role in our world today. However, economic theory suggests that being environmentally sustainable limits economic growth. Strong sustainability, which is what we should aim to achieve is outlined as; The existing stock of natural capital must be maintained and enhanced because the functions it performs cannot be duplicated by manufactured capital (Hart, 1998). In more recent years there has been in an increase in debates over sustainable development and how it is meant to be achieved. One factor hindering this is the poverty environmental trap is very common in developing countries. This trap is defined as the relationship between the poverty condition and the degradation of the environment (Finco, 2009). Some studies show that there is a connection between poverty and the environment as higher levels of poverty imply less environmental sustainability i.e. more natural resources being exploited. According to the
This concern for the global ecology was expressed by the United Nation’s Commission on Environment and Development when they stated, "humanity has the ability to make development sustainable - to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"(United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 1992). The responsibility of maintaining the balan...
Sustainable development according to the Brundtland's report is, “To meet the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. According to The World Conservation Strategy report (1980), by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), for development to be sustainable it must take into account the social and economic factors as well as the ecological ones.
The concept of sustainable development was introduced by Brundtland Report in 1987 (Williams, Wilmshurst, & Clift, 2011) while emphasizing our common future that recognize to protect the earth to save the humanity from manmade destructive activities(Krechovska & ProchazKova, 2014). With the aim of achieving so forth goal, sustainable development has given importance on the three fundamental components such as economic growth, environmental protection and social equity (Williams, Wilmshurst, & Clift, 2011). According to the world summit on sustainable development (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2002), sustainable development should be an optimal goal for the institutions at the national, regional and international stages and three important elements of socio-economic dimensions such as economic development, social development and
Quite often, these two sides appear to face each other with opposing prescriptions for future world development. The former argues for environmental protection and creation of a stable ecosystem; the latter supports jobs and increased development of Third World countries. Yet this false dichotomy between jobs and the environment need not exist. The key is promotion of worldwide sustainable development, or development that “meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations,” as defined by the Worl...
Harris, J.M. (2000). “Basic Principles of Sustainable Development.” Global Development and Environment Institute: Working Paper 00-04.
Economics of sustainability is mainly concerned with the quality of growth, rather than the quantity of growth. Analysts have made two important observations regarding the current growth models. The first is that as emerging economies continue to grow, most of the wealth is accumulated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, leading to large inequality in society. The second is that economic growth increases well-being in society, but only to the extent to which it provides for the basic needs of people. Beyond that, growth makes hardly any marginal contribution to well-being, while having damaging impacts on the environment. Therefore, sustainable development definitely has to take into account economic dimensions that supporting ways for people to create wealth without harming the ecosystems.
[WCED] World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987. Our common future. New York: Oxford University Press. 444p.
Conservation of land and nature simply suggests the sustainable use and management of natural resources, which include water, wildlife, air, and earth deposits. There are renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Conservation of natural resources usually puts emphases on the needs and benefits of humans, for instance, the economic, biological, cultural, and recreational values. Conservation development is vital for an improved future, but only when the modifications arise in ways that aren’t wasteful.
The World Commission on Environment and Development has defined conservation in a way not restricted to just preserving rather using the natural resources in way through which the human resources benefit, but, the same should not lead to exhaustion of natural resources for the future generations. Considering the fact that, traditional knowledge has existed primarily in the exploitation of natural resources; the same can assist the modern da...
In traditional opinions, environmental protection and economic growth are mutually contradictory. Economic growth is a high environmental cost, and protecting the environment will limit the economic growth. The reason of contradiction stems from the inappropriate understandings among development, economic growth and environmental protection. In fact, economic growth could have a harmonious relationship with environmental protection.
Apart from that, the uncontrolled of deforestation continues, the wildlife who live in the forest have lost their habitat. The wildlife found hardly can survive as there is no longer natural protection and the food chain is influenced as well. Subsequently, the preservation of forest bec...
Development is one of the most important factors of human life and one of the abilities which distinguish humans from animals. Over time, humans have realized their power to gain whatever they want from the environment. However, it has not taken too long for people to understand that this trend can end up with a disaster. Over consumption of limited natural resources can cause environmental degradation in an environment that humans are depends on it for living. This essay will look into the concept of economic growth and the effects of economic growth on the environment. Then, by analyzing the current situation, this essay will attempt to answer the question "how and how much can humans reduce environmental degradation?”