Sustainable Development > Definition
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development aims to meet the needs of human beings while maintaining the environment during the present in order to preserve it for the future. In other words, it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."Sustainable development is a growing concept that must be perceived as a journey or destination in order to gain more approval.
Sustainability requires that human activity only use natural resources at a rate at which theycan be replenished naturally. Inherently, the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with the concept of carrying capacity. The various concerns in our current society are often due to the reckless actions of human beings; sustainability will help diffuse some of the imminent threats while attempting to prevent others.
Sustainable development integrates three significant factors of sustainability: economic, sociopolitical, and environmental concerns. These pillars can be depicted as three overlapping circles in a Venn diagram, to convey that these aspects of sustainability are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually interdependent [Figure 1].
Figure 1: The 3 pillars displaying the reinforcing factors of sustainable development.
The three dimensions of this diagram display the dynamic relationship between the various aspects of sustainability. The main objective of sustainable development is to successfully develop these three aspects in a non-threatening manner. The topics within these categories vary drastically from issues of poverty to international law to climate change.
In order for our global community to maintain and preserve itself, sustainable development is necessary. It is absolutelyvital for the future survival of generations to come. The progression and development of sustainability must begin now.
