Introduction to sustainable development

Today, everyone is talking about sustainable development despite the fact that there is often imperfect knowledge on the subject. What are its origins and what are its main principles?

Definition and history

In 1968, new movements surfacing in a majority of free-market economies are starting to challenge the consumer society. That same year, a think tank uniting members of academia and industry as well as national and international officials, created the "Club of Rome" ⁽¹⁾. Their objective was to assess the long-term consequences of economic approaches based on a short-term vision. In 1972, they published "The Limits to Growth", a book which dropped like a bomb: at the height of the post-World War II boom, it questioned the virtues of Growth which assumed that natural resources were unlimited.

It was not until the 1980s and the advent of several environmental crises (hole in the ozone layer, acid rain, Chernobyl...) that the Sustainable Development (SD) concept emerged. In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development proposed a definition of it in the Brundtland Report: SD is "development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs". Shortly thereafter, several international conferences contributed to the foundations of SD. Accordingly, in 1992, the Rio Conference (Earth Summit) focused on forests, biodiversity, climate change, and it defined the concept of Agenda 21, a road map for implementation at the local government level ensuring that a sustainable development approach be established ⁽²⁾.

The conjunction of environmental and economic crises, increasing social differences, revolutionary information access methods and the search for meaning are all contributing to the growing importance of the SD concept.

Cornerstones and fundamental principles

The Latin approach to sustainable development, which is the most widely spread, places SD at the intersection of three cornerstones: economic management, social progress and the preservation of the environment. This vision still grants a great deal of importance to the economy. The Nordic approach, though, is more focused on nature: the economic sphere is part of the social sphere, which itself is part of the environmental sphere. SD therefore maintains the balance between these three spheres over time.

SD is based on six main principles:

• The precautionary principle, which seeks to avoid that which is irreparable;
• The prevention principle, which advocates avoiding risks;
• The management principle, which aims to limit waste;
• The responsibility principle, often summarised by the "polluter pays" expression;
• The participation principle, which highlights the necessary involvement of the entire population;
• The solidarity principle, which is both geographic and generational.

Everyone is concerned!

As explained by the participation principle, SD requires that everyone be involved. Different participants have been identified.

Institutional players have a crucial role. They define the main course of things at both the international level (conferences and directives) and national level (laws). At the regional authority level, they also have a role of "designing" a sustainable society (sustainable city...).

NGOs also play a dominant role. Their actions aim to protect nature, raise awareness and warn people about crucial issues and they sometimes have to exert pressure so that these issues are taken into consideration by society.

Businesses have an all-encompassing role in SD. They supply goods and services to the population. Their environmental and social impact is direct, through their activities, but they also have an indirect impact as the goods and services that they sell can influence consumer behaviour.

Lastly, each individual has a role in SD. In daily life, of course, through the lifestyle and consumption choices that each person makes. But also as a member of society: whether you are a company director, an employee, a student, an association member, a government employee, everyone has the opportunity to act at his or her own level.

Sustainable development: criticism of the approach

One of the first criticisms targets the use of the word "development": this concept is often linked to economic growth, which is considered as being one of the main causes of environmental degradation. Some critics therefore consider that the economic aspect of things is given too much weight.

Others fear that SD will become a tool of protectionism for northern countries, which will have a monopoly on "sustainable economy" with regards to southern countries. Some critics believe that SD could also lead to totalitarian-like abuse, because it would dictate lifestyles and could restrict individual freedoms. Lastly, some believe that SD is nothing more than a marketing tool for capitalist countries.

All of these criticisms are often linked to the language that is used, the interpretation that is made of it, the unfamiliarity with the SD concept and the lack of seriousness that some companies have expressed. However, these criticisms must not make us lose sight of certain fundamental aspects. On the one hand, a significant proportion of humans require growth of their living standards. On the other hand, development must not be restricted solely to the economic sphere: humanity must still evolve further in order to reduce the social gaps between populations, and to reduce its pressure on the environment. We must find the keys to a balanced and sustainable society.

Written by Florent Planas for "One year for the Planet" (translated by Anyword).

Find out more…

1. Club of Rome website : www.clubofrome.org
2. Rio Declaration : www.un.org/documents/ga/conf151/aconf15126-1annex1.htm