Sustainable Development: What Is to Be Done?

Abstract

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has promoted the concept of sustainable development since the mid-1970s yet no universally agreed definition of the concept exists within the organization. IIED declines to rigorously define sustainable development based on the belief that it is sufficiently powerful as it is commonly understood to be useful to development practitioners. It is however pointed out in the text that sustainable development involves trade-offs between biological economic and social systems. This paper introduces a book in which visions for a sustainable developing world and policies required to get there are put forth. Current world conditions are such that income disparities between and within nations are widening; the poor are being marginalized; population is growing rapidly; and the natural resource base and environment are being destroyed. Some macro international factors may be necessary but not sufficient to realize sustainable development on a national level. It is however clear that efforts must be focused at the grass roots or community level when trying to operationalize sustainable development. In so doing processes may meet basic needs while protecting the environment and empowering the poor; such steps may be termed under the rubric of primary environmental care. Further while political commitment and able leadership are needed to implement these visions the authors think that leaders in developing countries have the necessary political will to foster sustainable development for the future. Necessary knowledge is available for them to call upon when they are ready to act.