This document discusses the concept of sustainable development. It defines sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. The document outlines several key principles of sustainable development, including satisfying basic human needs now and in the future, achieving more equitable living standards globally, preserving biodiversity and natural resources for future generations, and distributing environmental benefits equitably across populations. However, it notes there is no consensus on how to achieve sustainable development or what values and methods of implementation should be used.

1. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Prof. Prabha Panth,
Osmania University, Hyderabad

2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Sustainable – means the “capacity to continue
into the distant future.”
• There should be a) an action, b) a time
dimension, and c) the level of action should not
decrease.
• Sustainable development – present type of
economic development is not sustainable, as it
depletes natural resources and increases
pollution.
• If continued on the same path, the Earth will run
out of natural resources, and pollution destroy
the ecology of the Earth.
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3. Definition of Sustainable
development
• Brundtland, defined Sustainable development
as development “that meets the needs of the
present generation, without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.” –Our Common Future 1987.
• Contains two key concepts:
o Poverty Focus – the needs of the world’s poor to
which high priority should be given.
o Future’s Focus – limits imposed by technology and
social organisation on environment’s ability to
meet present and future needs.”
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4. Principles of Sustainable
development
Four principles – two developmental and
anthropocentric, and two sustainability and
bio-centric.
1. Developmental: (Basic standards of living now
and for the future):
i) Satisfy the basic human needs and reasonable
standard of welfare for all living beings, now and in
the future.
ii) Achieve more equitable standards of living both
within and among global populations.
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Prabha Panth

5. 2) Sustainability: (preservation of natural
resources now and for the future)
i) Care regarding potential disruption of
biodiversity and regenerative capacity of local
and global ecology.
ii) No undermining of possibility of future
generations to attain similar or improved
standards of living, through running down
natural resources stocks and pollution loads.
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6. Features of Sustainable
Development
1. Ethical Guiding Principle: like democracy or social
justice – different interpretations are possible.
2. Anthropocentric: places human beings and their
welfare above concepts of environmental
sustainability.
3. Physical sustainability: recognises limits to Nature, and
overall global ecological balance
4. Global Equity: environmental benefits to be equitably
distributed over present generation.
5. Inter Generation Equity: environmental resources and
economic welfare should be available for future
generations, at least equal to present ones.
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7. Interpretation of Sustainable
development
• Unfortunately, no common consensus among
countries over the mode and type of
sustainable development to be achieved.
o Who sets the values or standards for sustainable
development? Rich countries or poor countries?
o What are these values and norms? Are they
universally acceptable?
o How and who should implement them?
o How should they be implemented?
o At what level should they be implemented?
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