Sustainable Development
1. Read the texts below and listen to the corresponding audios and videos several times.
3. Interact in the course FORUM.
2. Mediate in chosen activities.
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DEFINITION
The best definition of Sustainable development was presented by the report Our Common Future (also known as the Brundtland Report):
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Sustainable development is thus the ability to meet the needs of the present while contributing to the future generations’ needs.
GOALS
Sustainable development focuses on two goals:To improve the quality of life for all of the Earth's citizens.
To stop using up the natural resources beyond the capacity of the environment to supply them indefinitely. Green development is generally differentiated from sustainable development in that green development prioritizes what its proponents consider to be environmental sustainability over economic and cultural considerations.
THE CONCEPT OF NEEDS
In addition to that, sustainable development has underlying concepts: the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs. There is an additional focus on the present generations' responsibility to improve the future generations' life by restoring the previous ecosystem damage and resisting to contribute to further ecosystem damage.
ACTIONS
Sustainable development requires action on the part of world states, governments and people. The detrimental situation of the environment, the enormous stress upon our natural resources and the huge gap between developed and underdeveloped countries, necessitate practical strategies to reverse the trends.
SEVEN CRITICAL OBJECTIVES
The World Commission on Environment and Development suggested seven critical objectives for environment and development policies that follow from the concept of sustainable development:
Reviving growth
Changing the quality of growth
Meeting essential needs and aspirations for jobs, food, energy, water and sanitation.
Ensuring a sustainable level of population.
Conserving and enhancing the resource base.
Reorienting technology and manage risk.
Including and combining environment and economics considerations in decision-making.
These recommendations are still valid; not to do things differently is dangerous and condemnable. Slow actions would be detrimental.
EMMA AND LIZ SPEAK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Emma: Hey, Liz! Have you heard about the Brundtland Report’s definition of sustainable development?
Liz: No, I haven’t. What does it say?
Emma: It defines sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Liz: That sounds important. So, what are the main goals of sustainable development?
Emma: There are two main goals: improving the quality of life for all Earth’s citizens and stopping the overuse of natural resources.
Liz: Interesting! How is green development different from sustainable development?
Emma: Green development focuses more on environmental sustainability, while sustainable development also considers economic and cultural factors.
Liz: I see. So, sustainable development also emphasizes the needs of the world’s poor and the limitations of our technology and social organization, right?
Emma: Exactly! It also highlights our responsibility to restore and protect the environment for future generations.
Liz: That’s a lot to think about. It sounds like everyone needs to take action to make a difference.
Emma: Absolutely. Governments, states, and individuals all have a role to play in achieving sustainable development.
Mediation & Forum
Comprehension
1. Sustainable development refers to:
a. ( ) The harmony between the environment, society and economy.
b. ( ) Compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
c. ( ) Damaging the ecosystem and the natural resources of underdeveloped countries.
2. Sustainable development stresses upon:
a. ( ) The relationship between man and development
b. ( ) A development that takes into consideration the needs of future generations.
c) The underlying concept of limitations imposed by technology.
3. Action to implement the concept of sustainable development is:
a. ( ) Slow.
b. ( ) Already taking place at a reasonable pace.
c. ( ) Waiting for decisions of the United Nations.
1. Watch the video Sustainability
2. Take notes about important facts (defintion, goals, objectives) and the message provided in the video.
3. Based on the content of the reading, the video and the dialog, give your opinion about the importance of Sustainable Development.
4. Please, share your opinionin the Forum.
Sustainable Development is important because____________________
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