Explanations 
Flashcards 
StudySmarter AI 
Notes 
Study Plans 
Study Sets 
Exams 
Magazine 
Find a job 
Mobile App 
Jump to a key chapter
Understanding Sustainable Development
In environmental science, one of the most important topics is 'Sustainable Development'. By understanding this concept, it will give you a greater awareness of your environmental responsibilities and the conservation efforts this planet needs.
What is Sustainable Development?
It is necessary to put into perspective what Sustainable Development means. It is a development strategy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
This is the principle statement derived from the 1987 report 'Our Common Future' under the auspices of the United Nations.
You may think sustainable development just relates to the environment. However, it actually encompasses three key areas: the economy, society, and the environment. Prosperity, social equity, and environmental responsibility are all necessary to achieve the holistic goal of sustainable development.
To understand these concepts on a practical level, let us look at a common example:
Think about a community deciding to shift from using fossil fuels to renewable energy. The change would positively affect the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Economically, it can create new jobs and industries based around renewable energy technology. Socially, it can alleviate health problems in the community caused by poor air quality, leading to an improved quality of life.
Exploring the Principles of Sustainable Development
The principles of sustainable development serve as guideposts to make sure our development patterns can be maintained over the long term. They bend the curve of development towards sustainability.
Here are some important principles:
- Preserving biodiversity
- Using renewable resources at a rate at which they can be replenished
- Ensuring equitable use of resources
The key is balancing the aforementioned factors. This connects closely to the idea of carrying capacity, defined as:
The maximum number of individuals or species an environment can support without compromising future populations.
One of the formulas used to calculate carrying capacity in environmental science is:
\[ K = \frac{{{P}_{max}} - {D}_{min}}{{b} - {d}} \]where \(K\) is the carrying capacity, \(b\) and \(d\) are the birth and death rates respectively, and \({P}_{max}\) and \({D}_{min}\) are the maximum population and minimum death rate that the environment can sustain.
The Role of Biodiversity in Sustainable Development
Biodiversity is a key factor in sustainable development. It represents the variety of life on Earth and it’s a critical component that sustains our ecosystems.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
Despite its importance, biodiversity is under significant threat due to human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction and climate change. In order to achieve sustainable development, we must curb these activities and take actions to preserve and enhance biodiversity.
The Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also referred to as the Global Goals, are a collection of 17 interlinked goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs, established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015, are intended to be achieved by the year 2030 and are part of the UN Resolution 70/1, the 2030 Agenda.
An Overview of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
These 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by all United Nations Member States as a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. They were built on the principles agreed upon under Resolution A/RES/66/288, known as The Future We Want.
Each of the 17 goals has a list of targets to be achieved. The total number of targets is 169, which shows the comprehensive nature of the SDGs. Importantly, the targets are designed to be integrated and indivisible, holistic and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.
Here's what the 17 goals look like, in a summary:
| SDGs | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1.No Poverty | End poverty in all its forms everywhere |
| 2.Zero Hunger | End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture |
Even though it may look like an enormous task, these goals hold the key to substantial progress in areas that touch human life.
For example, Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, focuses on ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. The realization of this goal will significantly decrease diseases and the mortality rate associated with poor water quality and sanitation.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Its Impact
The 2030 Agenda is the United Nations' most ambitious undertaking ever to combat the pressing issues of our time, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. It is driven by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The impact of this Agenda is far-reaching and profound. It offers a lifeline to the world's most vulnerable people and seeks to protect the world for future generations.
Let's see how it impacts three key areas of human development:
- Economic Development: The 2030 Agenda promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. It aims to increase labour productivity and reduce the unemployment rate.
- Social Development: The 2030 Agenda promotes inclusive societies' principles to provide access to justice for all people and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
- Environmental Protection: The 2030 Agenda promotes practices that will help in combatting climate change and its impacts. It also aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
The Agenda's comprehensiveness and depth make it the world's best plan to build a better world and guarantee a healthy planet. It represents the shared vision of humanity and provides the roadmap to achieving a sustainable future for us all.
Overall, the 2030 Agenda transforms the way the world conducts its affairs, breaking siloed approaches to development and replacing them with integrated, coordinated, and holistic solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
Sustainable Development and the Physical Environment
To truly understand the importance of sustainable development, it's critical to discuss its interaction with the physical environment. It's here that the effects of human actions become tangible, and the urgency of the sustainable development agenda is most clearly felt.
Understanding Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Climate change and sustainable development are intrinsically linked, making the understanding of their relationship crucial. The daunting realities of climate change pose major threats to sustainable development, yet reversing its course may also be one of the boldest ways to achieve sustainable development.
Climate Change refers to significant, long-term changes in the global climate, especially a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards, attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by using fossil fuels.
Climate change affects all dimensions of sustainable development. Rising global temperatures, sea-level rise, and unpredictable weather changes can jeopardise economic growth, exacerbate inequality and disrupt societal stability.
On the other hand, sustainable development presents a framework for addressing these formidable challenges. Goal 13 of the SDGs, for instance, focuses on urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Take this example:
When a country invests in sustainable agriculture practices, it doesn't just address Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) but also contributes to Goal 13 (Climate Action). Sustainable agriculture practices help to sequester carbon, thus reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.
In short, understanding climate change isn't just about recognising the threats it poses. It's also about recognising the opportunities it presents for achieving sustainable development.
Addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development aren't just twin challenges. They represent two aspects of the same challenge: building a world that can sustain its populace without sacrificing the planet.
How Sustainable Development Affects our Physical Environment
Sustainable development interfaces directly with our physical environment. By adopting sustainable practices, we aim to minimise the negative impact on our environment and maximise the positive.
The first impact of sustainable development is the preservation and restoration of ecosystems. By protecting natural areas, reducing pollution, and promoting biodiversity, sustainable development helps to maintain the balance of nature and slow the rate of environmental degradation.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems within which they live and interact.
A second impact is the mitigation of climate change. By promoting the use of renewable energy, efficient resource use, and low-carbon development paths, sustainable development can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help curb global warming.
For instance, consider this:
When a city adopts a sustainable transportation plan, it not only reduces its carbon footprint (helping to mitigate climate change) but also improves local air quality, reduces noise pollution and often results in improved health outcomes for its residents.
In summary, through the lens of sustainable development, human activities can bring about positive change in the physical environment, rather than contribute to its degradation.
Sustainable Development - Key takeaways
- Sustainable Development is a strategy that meets current needs without compromising the future generations' ability to meet their needs, as per the United Nations' 1987 report 'Our Common Future'.
- Sustainable development is not solely environmental but encompasses prosperity, social equity, and environmental responsibility. This includes areas like shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy for economic, social, and environmental benefits.
- Key principles of sustainable development include preserving biodiversity, using renewable resources at a sustainable rate, and ensuring equitable use of resources. The concept of carrying capacity, or the maximum number of individuals an environment can support without compromising the future, is connected to these principles.
- Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is crucial for sustainable development, enhancing ecosystem productivity. However, it is threatened by human activities like deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change.
- The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) consist of 17 interlinked goals intended to be achieved by 2030 as part of the 2030 Agenda. They aim to balance economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development with targets like ending poverty and hunger, promoting responsible consumption, and taking climate action.
- The 2030 Agenda is a comprehensive plan to combat issues like poverty, inequality, climate change, and many other challenges. The three areas of impact include economic development, social development, and environmental protection.
- Climate change affects all dimensions of sustainable development, posing major threats but also presenting opportunities to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, understanding the relationship between sustainable development and climate change is crucial.
- Lastly, sustainable development has a direct impact on the physical environment. By adopting sustainable practices, it is possible to minimize negative impacts while maximizing the positive, effecting both the preservation of ecosystems and the mitigation of climate change.
Learn faster with the 12 flashcards about Sustainable Development
Sign up for free to gain access to all our flashcards.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sustainable Development
About StudySmarter
StudySmarter is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Learn more