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What is Sustainable Development?
What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable development is an increasingly common term which seems to mean a lot of things to different people however, in reality it has a very simple meaning. A widely used definition of sustainable development is:
'the idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone,
now and for generations to come.'
The need for development is as great as ever, but future developments cannot simply follow the model of the past. This is true for the world as a whole, and for every community in this country and we have to find a new way forward. This is the challenge of sustainable development.
The Government believes that four objectives need to be met at the same time in order to achieve sustainable development:
- social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
- effective protection of the environment;
- prudent use of natural resources; and
- maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
If we can do all four of these things at the same time, then we can improve our quality of life in a way that is better for us, our world and our future. Visit the Government's website for more information on the Government's approach to sustainable development.
The aims of Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development aims to:
Achieve a better quality of life for all. It achieves social and economic progress, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment
Shape our own future in ways which ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come
Look at the quality of people's lives and the condition of our communities that are affected by a combination of economic, social and environmental factors
Ensure that appropriate consideration is given to global problems to secure lasting solutions to these factors
Improve the efficiency of how we use resources and improve economic activities to create a healthy living environment
For the future, we need ways to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time and consider the longer term implications. Sustainable development is a goal that we should all aiming to achieve. In order to do this we must meet our needs in a way that:
protects the environment;
involves everyone in the decisions about our future;
ensures fairness and equality;
takes into account the needs of future generations - the community of tomorrow.
The need for Sustainable Development
Why doing nothing is not an option:
Current economic activities tend to mean more pollution and wasteful use of resources. A damaged environment impairs quality of life and may threaten long term economic growth
By not integrating the environmental agenda into decisions about social or economic development, the result will be increased global pressures including global warming, deforestation and ozone depletion
The negative factors of the global and environmental pressures will result in congestion, water pollution and green belt destruction. These will actually reduce our quality of life in the next century
One of the major results of ignoring the environmental impact of economic progress is the increasing inequality in terms of health between rich and poor
For many people in the world, not improving their quality of life means that people may not have access to their basic needs. These include access to food, water, health care, shelter, education, political freedom, guaranteed human rights, and freedom from violence
If we do not encourage communities to be more sustainable, our children and generations to come will inherit a society which is not worth living in.
For more information contact:
Simon Davies
Partnership & Projects Coordinator
Call 01732 227374
e-mail sus.dev@sevenoaks.gov.uk
17 March 2010
