GREEN SKILLS II

REVISION NOTES

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development is the development that satisfies the needs of the present without
compromising the capacity of future generations, guaranteeing the balance between economic
growth, care for the environment and social well-being.
The important principles of sustainable development are as follows
 To carefully utilise all resources.
 To conserve resources so that they meet the demands and requirements of the future generations.
 To minimise the depletion of natural resources.
 Respect and care for all forms of life.
 People should learn to conserve the natural resources in order to protect the living beings.
 Conserving the Earth’s vitality and diversity.
 Improving the quality of human life.
 Changing personal attitude and practices towards the environment.

IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is necessary for the maintenance of the environment. The importance of
sustainable development are as follows
 Proper Use of Means and Resources: Sustainable development teaches people to make use of
means and resources for the maximum benefit without wastage. It helps to conserve and promote
the environment.
 Development of Positive Attitude: Sustainable development brings about changes in people’s
knowledge, attitude and skills. It aware the people the responsibility to use and preserve natural
resources. It creates the feeling that natural resources are the common property of all and nobody
can use the property according to his personal will. It helps to conserve natural and social
environment.
 Development Based on People’s Participation: People’s participation is to be given priority in
development work in order to achieve the aim of sustainable development. It creates the interest
of local people in development work and environment conservation with the feeling of ownership.
 Limitation of Development: Limited but effective use of means and resources are enough for the
people to satisfy their basic needs. Limited and non-renewable means and resources go on
decreasing in globally due to over-use. Development works should be conducted as per carrying
capacity.
 Long Lasting Development: Sustainable development aims at achieving the goal of economic
and social development without destroying the Earth’s means and resources. It attempts to create
the concept of maintaining the present work for the future and conserving the natural resources
for future generation. So, due to the realisation of importance of sustainable development, now
there is a transcending concern for survival of the people and planet. We need to take a holistic
view of the very basis of our existence. It is important to reconcile ambitious economic
development and preserving the natural resources and ecosystem.
 Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable development has three main components
economy, environment and social inclusion. It seeks to ensure economic development, while
protecting the environment through participation of the societies and communities. The United
Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015, has set seventeen specific goals towards
achieving sustainable development. Given are summarised in the graphic below

GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger

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 3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
These above 17 objectives are interrelated and often the key to one's success will involve the issues
most frequently linked to another.

They can be summarised as follows in short:

 Eradicate poverty and hunger, guaranteeing a healthy life
 Universalize access to basic services such as water, sanitation and sustainable energy
 Support the generation of development opportunities through inclusive education and decent work
 Foster innovation and resilient infrastructure, creating communities and cities able to produce and
consume sustainably
 Reduce inequality in the world, especially that concerning gender
 Care for the environment combating climate change and protecting the oceans and land
ecosystems
 Promote collaboration between different social agents to create an environment of peace and
sustainable development.

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PROBLEMS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Some problems related to sustainable development are as follows
 Poor management of natural resources combined with growing economic activities will continue to
pose serious challenges to environment.
 The most significant environmental problems are associated with resources that are renewable
such as air and water. They have finite capacity to assimilate emissions and wastes but if pollution
exceeds this capacity ecosystem can deteriorate rapidly.
 To assess the regenerative capacity of natural resources is difficult. In the cases of soil erosion,
atmospheric pollution etc., there is substantial uncertainty about the extent and outcomes of
environmental degradation.
 The overall effects of economic activities on the environment are continuously changing.
 Due to rise in income, the demands for improvement in environmental quality will increase as well
as the resources available for investment but it is not mandatory in some cases as problems are
observed to get worse as income rise.
 Rise in population is another problem that would further lead to severe environmental degradation
in the future.
 Another challenge is rise in demand for energy as it is estimated that the total manufacturing
outputs in developing countries will increase to about six times the current levels by 2030.
 Another challenge is rise in demand of food crops with the growth of population. To protect fragile
soils and natural habitats, this will have to be achieved by raising yields on existing crop land.

IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is necessary for the maintenance of the environment. The purpose of
development work is people's welfare. The target of development work is never achieved effectively
if the adverse effects are ignored.
The importance of sustainable development are as follows:
1. Proper Use of Means and Resource: Sustainable development teaches people to make low use
of means and resources. The use of mineral oil, drinking water, insecticide, chemical fertilizer,
forest product should be minimized. This will lead to the minimum use of means and resources
for maximum benefit without wastage. It helps to conserve and promote the environment.
2. Development of Positive Attitude: Sustainable development brings about changes in people's
knowledge, attitude, and skill. It aware the people of the responsibility to use and preserve,
natural resources like mine, forest, land, herb, etc. It creates the feeling that natural resources are
the common property of all and nobody can use the property according to his personal will. It
helps to conserve natural and social environment.
3. Development of Fundamental Parts: Sustainable development emphasizes on the progress of
health, education, agriculture, tourism and social reform for the development of human beings.
While making progress in these aspects environment conservation and promotion should be
conducted ahead in an integrated way.
4. Development Based on People's Participation: People's participation is to be given priority in
development work in order to achieve the aim of sustainable development. It creates the interest
of local people in development work and environment conservation with the feeling of ownership.
In this way, it increases the public involvement at all levels of environment protection and
promotion.
5. Limitation of Development: Limited but effective uses of means and resources are enough for
the people to satisfy their basic needs. However, more development works are carried on due to
greed. Limited and non-renewable means and resources go on decreasing in globally due to over-
use. Development works should be conducted as per carrying capacity Sustainable development
aware the people of the involvement in the policy making for the concept of limit of development.
6. Long lasting Development: Sustainable development aims at achieving the goal of economic
and social development without destroying the earth's means and resources. It attempts to create
the concept of maintaining the present work for the future and conserving the natural resources
for future generation.
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CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-:
The main challenges to sustainable development which are global in character include poverty and
exclusion, unemployment, climate change, conflict and humanitarian aid, building peaceful and
inclusive societies, building strong institutions of governance, and supporting the rule of law.
The Open Working Group of the United Nations, while acknowledging the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, has proposed the following aims for its Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) accompanied by specific targets for some:
United Nations Sustainable Development Summit (2015) sets global development goals. These goals
are termed as Agenda 2030. The goals are as follows
 End poverty in all forms everywhere.
 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
 Ensure healthy lives and well-being for all.
 Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.
 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
 Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
 Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.
 Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
 Reduce inequality within and among countries.
 Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and production.
 Ensure sustainable consumption and production.
 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
 Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources.
 Sustainably manage forests, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies.
 Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.

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