Sustainable Development: Guiding Principles and Values
- Ajay Pratap Singh
- Aug 6, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 6, 2023
Dr Dheeraj Kumar
Abstract
Sustainable development is a widely accepted concept that aims to protect and enhance environmental quality while addressing the needs of the current generation without compromising the rights of future generations. It is a strategy that aims to achieve an equilibrium between developmental activities for societal benefits and the conservation of the environment, serving as a security to the present and an inheritance to future generations. Sustainable development is crucial in mediating the discord between development goals and the right to a healthy environment. Environmental issues in developed nations are primarily triggered by industrial and technological advancements, while those in underdeveloped countries are triggered by poverty, overpopulation, and illiteracy. Sustainable development is a contemporary necessity to ensure that both development and environmental protection progress in equilibrium. The Brundtland Report (1997) defines sustainable development as the kind that fulfills the needs of the present without jeopardizing the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. The principles of sustainable development include inter-generational equity, use and conservation of natural resources, environmental protection, and the precautionary principle. By adherence to these principles, sustainable development can ensure a balance between development and the environment, promoting a healthy and sustainable future. The "polluter pays" principle, a key element of sustainable development, was incorporated by the OECD to deter trade-harming subsidies and protect the environment from pollution in industrialized societies. The European Community recognized the principle and incorporated it into its Environment Action Programme, emphasizing preventive action, rectification of environmental damage, and the polluter's responsibility to bear environmental protection costs. The principle was recognized internationally and was included in Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration at the Earth Summit, 1992. Principles 9 and 11 of the Rio Declaration emphasize the need for state cooperation, participation, and international economic systems to promote sustainable development. Poverty eradication is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, and India requires cooperation from developed countries to support poverty alleviation programs and maintain wholesome environmental conditions. Forest protection is also crucial, as the state bears the legal and moral obligation to safeguard these resources. A balance must be struck between environment and development, underpinning sustainable development, focusing on resource conservation, efficient use, and environment-friendly corporate policies.
Keywords
Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection, Brundtland Report, Polluter Pays Principle, Poverty Eradication, Forest Protection
July-Dec 2023, Volume 1