What do you understand by Sustainable development?

What do you understand by Sustainable development? Discuss the premises and problematic of sustainable development in the context of contemporary world.

Today most of the government of the worlds are in the race of development. Economic prosperity and Global GDP growth is the proof these developments. However, to ensure that this growth is maintained, development should be in the sustainable manner. The concept of Sustainable Development was first discussed in the Brundtland Report (1987) that was released by UN Commission on Environment and Development. According to the Brundtland Report, ‘Our Common Future’ Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs (Monash Sustainable Development n.d.). There are two main key concepts under the sustainable development. First, is the concept of ‘needs’, focusing mainly on the world’s poor and priority should be primarily given to them. Second, is the idea of limitations in terms of technology and social organization that focuses on environment’s ability to meet present and future needs. (Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future n.d.). The concept of sustainability is given prime importance in the leading global framework that includes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs. 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by UN and these goals are universal applied to all countries.

To have a clear understanding of the concept of Sustainability and Sustainable Development from the sociological point of view it is important to understand the evolution of the concept of sustainability and to figure out the real meaning of development also the social pattern and obstacle that are part of this development. The first part of this essay underpins the fallacies of the development economics, the failure of the mainstream economy in protecting the environment and in delivering social justice to the citizens of the country. The second part of the essay deals with the conditions and circumstances of the 20th century that led UN to adapt the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)in September, 2000, and post 2015 development Agenda that further led to the adoption of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to be achieved by 2030. The third part of this essay underpins certain challenges of the welfare managements and GDP which is mainly used by the policymakers as measure of development is insufficient. Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) which is also known as the Green GDP is the real indicator of development that incorporates social, environmental as well as the economic values. The fourth part of this essay discusses about how India’s rank in achieving 17SDGs has worsened and India’s preparedness has worsened over the years in comparison to other countries.

So, how does the concept of sustainability evolve and what were the challenges in achieving the sustainable development goals? Debal Deb says that the concept of development is a historical legacy. He says that the current definition of Sustainable Development focuses in the improvement of the Economic status of the society, widening of the individual’s life fortune and betterment the quality of life. Although he says that historically this concept is linked to the 19th century theories of biological evolution and social progress. The theory of biological evolution was originally traced by Earnest Haeckel description of the ontogenic development of an organism. His study of embryonic development provided the ideological metaphors of social development and hierarchy. However this theory later served the racist and imperial ideas that were linked with the notion of development and progress. Haeckel coined the term ecology and it was his theory that became the base of Nazi’s Germany major ideological figure of racism, nationalism, and imperialism (Deb 2009).

Deb says that the 19th century philosophical ideas of progress were combined with the metaphors and ideas that were taken from the Haeckel’s ontological development theory. The theory of Social Evolution of Darwin that emphasizes ‘The Survival of the Fittest’ was also one of the influential theories. It is worth noting that in Darwinian view of the continuous evolution, no perfect model and evolutionary superiority was attributed to any organism. This fundamental feature of Darwinism was missed by social theorists of the 19th century. This misreading of the concept of the Social Darwinism was the base of the idea of Contemporary Europe verses non-Western inferior. Asian societies and cultures were regarded as “arrested progress’’ (Deb 2009).

Deb says that later this theory of Social Darwinism was also used for the justification of free market competition as a natural state to man. The early proponent of the free markets considered poor as the unfit. According to them state interference would only increase the number of unprofitable citizens and will increase the general distress. The laissez Faire capitalism favored the selection process that propelled the progress of civilization (Deb 2009).

Therefore, Deb says that the Social Darwinism failed to grasp the prime significance of Darwin’s achievement while describing the organic evolution. The society was seen as to be leading in the linear model. Even for Marx the development was not ‘the will of God’ but a continual process of social dialectic that was directional. According to Debal, in this uniformitarian and linear historical view of social evolution the non-industrial society that existed outside the Europe were considered as ‘contemporary ancestors’, ‘ the historical stage that west stage had lived out’ (Deb 2009).

The concept of development was based on the standard of the western economic growth as well as the norms and aspirations of the capitalist market in which the industrialization and urbanization acts as the measuring unit. The modern notion of development took new form from the US President Harry Truman’s who started ‘a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas’. Hence, the American model of industrial development was perceived as a necessary tool that was used to develop the ‘underdeveloped’ economies that were characterized by backwardness, poverty along with low capital and productivity (Deb 2009). Under this model, hunger, malnutrition, and illiteracy as facets of poverty were taken into consideration along with the social and political issue of equitable distribution of food. However, it ignores the traditional food and nutritional security and assumes that the food and health security can be achieved through the homogenization of foods as well as food culture (Deb 2009).

However, Deb says that in these development programmes the environmental health and sustainability was not given much attention. Political left believed that the concerns for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation were ‘bourgeois’ concerns that aimed at depriving the poor of the opportunity to gain economic prosperity.

It is obvious that the 20th century world was in state of disorganization due to global inequality, HIV/AIDS epidemics, Financial Crisis, etc. Therefore, to bring solution the UN created the Brundtland Commission as a response to the global outcry on environmental economics and social challenges. This commission produce the iconic report ‘Our Common Future’ where the term Sustainable Development was popularized. During this time Agenda 21 the action plan was released and presented at the UN’s first Earth Summit that was Rio de Janeiro (3–14 June, 1992). Further in 2000 to reduce Poverty and Human Deprivation Collaborative action 191 member countries took part in this and 22 international organization were formed (SLX-Research Learning and Development Collection 2021).

As a result, 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were formed in September 2000 and agreed to be achieved by the year 2015. Poverty, hunger, disease, inequality, and environment degradation were the main issues that were taken into consideration. Initially, MDGs got mixed reaction and criticism as the new ideology of the capitalism and globalization. Still MDGs became the world’s central reference point for measuring the development (SLX-Research Learning and Development Collection 2021). According to the report published post 2015, MDGs have contributed to remarkable achievements, half a billion fewer people in extreme poverty, deaths from malaria have fallen by one quarter, contracting HIV is also under control and in 2011, 590 million children in developing countries attended primary school.

Post 2015 development Agenda, two of the world’s biggest challenges were considered. First is how to end poverty and second is how to promote sustainable development of billions of people. In September 2015, 193 countries of the UN Assembly committed to achieve the Sustainable development Goals by 2030. The SDGs consists of 17 goals and 169 targets (SLX-Research Learning and Development Collection 2021). To achieve these goals, role of government at all levels is necessary along with that multilateral institutions, businesses and civil society organizations also play a major role. Therefore, the goal was development but putting new agenda ahead one that confronts the challenges of the modern world head on. MDGs had many unfinished projects. Some countries achieve more and some less. A gap between the reality on the grounds and the statistical targets was observed (UN 2013).

To solve this issue and move ahead the panelist started to consult people to gain perspective. Farmers, indigenous and local communities, people with disability, young people, women, trade groups of different faith, grassroots organizations as well as global alliance were heard and their opinions and experiences were noted (UN 2013). According to this report, people living in poverty felt powerless due to uncertain jobs. They fear getting sick, lack of safety, insecurity, corruption, violence, etc. the poor are the excluded and abused sections of the society. Therefore, the importance should be given of transparent, open, and responsive government that recognizes the dignity and human rights of the poor sections of the society. This is important because the satisfaction of human needs and aspirations is the major objective of sustainable development.

For regards of long-term sustainability, consumption standards should be within the certain range in the developing countries that is possible for all and to which all can reasonably aspire. Sustainable development also requires societies that have high economic growth so that societies meet the human needs both by increasing productive potential and by ensuring opportunities that are equitable. Population size is also one of the important factors and it should be in harmony with the productive potential of the ecosystem through wise distribution of resources (Report of the World Commision on Environment and Development: Our Common Future n.d.). However, to meet the essential needs of the people society can compromise with the environment by overexploiting resources. example can be settled agriculture, the diversion of watercourses, the extraction of minerals, commercial forests, genetic manipulation, etc. Hence, the direction of teleological developments may solve the immediate problems but it can even lead to greater ones. The accumulation of knowledge and the development of technology can be the suitable solution to enhance the carrying capacity of the resource base and to use it more efficiently. Economic growth and development affect the physical ecosystem and biodiversity. Therefore, the rate of use should be within the limits of regeneration and natural growth. For the nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels and minerals rate of depletion and the recycling of the resource should be taken into account to ensure that resource doesn’t run out before figuring out the acceptable substitutes for future options. The resources that are considered as free goods like air and water are also important resources. therefore, the sustainable development requires that the adverse impact on the quality of air, water and other natural elements should be minimized (Report of the World Commision on Environment and Development: Our Common Future n.d.).

However, to achieve these sustainable development goals the presence of common interest is utmost important. But how can these be achieved? This can be achieved through education, institutional development, and law enforcements. Sustainable development promotes the development of the knowledge, skills, values and actions because these ultimately helps in creating awareness about the need of environmental protection and conservation. Further, it also encourages economic well-being by promoting social equity among citizens (Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future n.d.).

As mentioned earlier, for sustainable development, it is necessary to address the problem of the large number of people who live in absolute poverty and are unable to satisfy the basic needs. It is important because poverty reduces the people’s capacity to use resources in a sustainable manner and it also intensifies pressure on the environment. An example can be the economic stagnation of the 1980s. Rapid rise in the per capita incomes in the Third World can also be one of the solutions. It is necessary to revive the growth in the developing countries that are part of an interdependent world economy and that is where the links between the economic growth, the alleviation of poverty and environmental conditions operate most directly in any nation. Without ending poverty, prosperity cannot be built and without prosperity, environmental challenges cannot be tackled. The goal should be to promote less material and energy intensive activities and improvement in efficiency. Infrastructure investments also play crucial role since the way they manage natural resource revenues will ultimately determine the resources that are available tomorrow. The cities should ne turn into vibrant places that is full of opportunities, services, and different lifestyles and that promotes global ethic for new globalized world. Therefore, the sustainable development agenda is the necessary thing to do (Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future n.d.).

Also Read: Social Development

However, while achieving all these goals there are certain challenges of welfare managements that are being faced. Traditional accounts of national income focus singularly on the GDP that is simply the gross total of everything that is produced in the country. It is widely used by the policy makers, economists, and international agencies but the welfare of any nation cannot be inferred by the measurement of the national income only. This is because instead of distinguishing productive from destructive and sustainable from unsustainable, GDP simply assume all monetary transactions add to the social wellbeing. As a result, GDP fails to distinguish between the welfare enhancing and welfare degrading expenditures and ignores the non-monetized costs as informal exchanges. There is another indicator which is known as the progressive economic indicators Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) and Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). GPI is known as the Green GDP (Okechukwu Ukaga 2010). GPI attempts to corrects the deficiencies of the GDP and it incorporates all the aspects of non-market economy, and also separating welfare enhancing benefits from the non-valuable costs. However, no politicians, government reports or media outlets mention about the rise and fall of GPI anywhere near on par with GDP due to which public is also disengaged from the debate. Therefore, there are three main challenges that increases the global instability. First is, implementation and governance. Second is, changing climate conditions. Third, the lack of capacity building of professional such as engineers, architects, and accountant to achieve the sustainable development goals (Okechukwu Ukaga 2010).

So, what is India’s position in achieving the sustainable development Goals? According the report published by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in June, 2022 India’s position has worsened by 3 units and is currently ranked 121 out of 163 countries. It is important to look beyond the concept of developmentality and focus on the social patterns that acts as the barrier in case of India. For this, the Government must play a keen role and have to work on the fallacies in terms of bringing new effective policies and also aware the citizens about it through education.

To conclude:

The concept of sustainable development has a historical legacy. Today the government of almost all the countries are in the race of development. But to ensure that the growth is in sustainable manner it is necessary the development is in sustainable manner. The journey of the concept of sustainable development has not been very smooth. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the evolution and to how the notion of development has changed in modern world that led to the adoption of MDGs in 2000 and SDGs in 2015. Several reports have been published by UN to measure the development in various countries and among them one thing is almost that the focus should be eradicating poverty and human deprivation is must and it should be treated as the first goal that will further help in achieving other goals.

Also Read: Sociology of Development

References

Deb, Debal. 2009. Beyond Developmentality: Constructing Inclusive Freedom and Sustainablity. London, Sterling VA: Earthscan.

n.d. Monash Sustainable Development. https://www.monash.edu/msdi/about/sustainable-development/what-is-it.

Okechukwu Ukaga, Chris Maser, and Mike Reichenbach. 2010. Sustainable Development: Principles, Framework and Case Studies. New York, London: Taylor and Francis Group.

n.d. “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future.”

2021. “SLX-Research Learning and Development Collection.” Origin Story of Millennium Development Goals| MDGs Origin|.

UN. 2013. A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies Through Sustainable Development. The report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, New York: United Nations Publications.