Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development in South Asia * Sustainable Development (SD) implies economic growth together with the protection of environmental quality, each reinforcing the other. Sustainable Development, thus, is maintaining a balance between the human need to improve lifestyles and feeling of well-being on one hand, and preserving natural resources and ecosystems, on which we and future generations depend.The main features that all the definitions have are as follows: * A desirable human condition : a society that people want to sustain because it meets their needs * A enduring ecosystem condition: an ecosystem that maintains its capacity to support human life and others * A balance between present and future generations; and within the present generation. Principles Defining Sustainable Development * Sustainable development requires the promotion of values that encourage consumption standards that are within the bounds of the ecologically possible and to which all can reasonably aspir e. Meeting essential needs depends in part on achieving full growth potential, and sustainable development clearly requires economic growth in places where such needs are not being met. * Sustainable development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on Earth; the atmosphere, the waters, the soils, and living beings. * Most renewable resources are part of a complex and interlinked ecosystem and maximal sustained yield must be defined after taking into account system-wide effects of exploitation. Sustainable development requires that the rate of depletion of non-renewable resources should foreclose as few options as possible. * Sustainable development requires the conservation of plant and animal species. * Sustainable development requires that the adverse impacts on the quality of air, water and other natural elements are minimized so as to sustain the ecosystem’s overall integrity. * Two major events in the recent past have fairly lucidly articulated the sus tainable development challenges and priorities for the global community over the next decade. These include the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) –Johannesburg 2002. * Poverty eradication has been clearly identified as the foremost global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development particularly for the developing countries. United Nations Millennium Declaration * At the dawn of the new millennium, the United Nations General Assembly reviewed sustainable development initiatives and processes around the world.Recognising the gravity and urgency of challenges, the global community committed itself to eight goals and eighteen targets to be achieved by 2015. * Indicators of achievement were identified for each of the targets and responsibility entrusted to multilateral agencies to coordinate global efforts. * The declaration, often referred to as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) committed to: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4.Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability, and 8. Develop a global partnership for development World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) * The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held at Johannesburg in September 2002 was enriched considerably by the preparatory processes of stakeholders including governments, inter-governmental agencies and civil society groups. WSSD Plan of Implementation focuses on the following: . Reinforcing the Millennium Development Goals, including: a. Poverty eradication b. Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production c. Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development d. Health and sustainable development 2. Sustainable development in a globalising world 3. Sustainabl e development in regions 4. Means of Implementation 5. Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development South Asian Perspective on Sustainable Development Developing countries and regions need to identify their own priorities and initiate concerted action with maximum self-reliance and minimal external assistance to retard the poverty and environmental degradation. * Various regional and national assessments point towards four broad thematic priorities for the next decade. These tend to converge with recent global mandates and commitments: †¢ Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security †¢ Conserving the Natural Resource Endowments †¢ Securing the Economic Base Strengthening Institutional Systems †¢ Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security * Ensuring food security through accessibility, affordability and well planned sustainable food production, storage and distribution strategies. * Promoting income security through micro-finance and micro-enterpris es as a means of livelihood and developing effective marketing and distribution links with medium and large-scale industries. farming of poor communities through affordable and socially acceptable technologies and practices. Enhancing energy security through improved access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources. * Ensuring health security through significant investments in primary health care infrastructure and systems which are linked to referral systems in towns and cities. * Providing security from natural disasters through preventive action including large-scale afforestation, rehabilitation of degraded lands, hazard resistant structures and other long term measure. * Conserving the Natural Resource EndowmentsWith almost half the land area in the region degraded in one form or the other; the water resource base threatened due to overexploitation and pollution; cities like Mumbai and Dhaka having the dubious distinction of being among the most polluted in the world; and the biodiversity under severe threat; South Asia has no option but to focus seriously on conserving its natural resource endowments. * Providing water security for human consumption, including livestock and The three areas that require immediate and sustained attention are: †¢ Arresting industrial pollution †¢ Managing urbanisation Conserving biodiversity Securing the Economic Base * The long-term sustainability of the South Asian sub-region is critically dependent on a firm and secure financial and economic base which is currently rather fragile. Each country in the sub-region has to strengthen its financial and economic systems while also focussing on poverty eradication and survival issues. * Considerable mutual support and assistance is possible through technology cooperation and sub-regional trade arrangements. * Promoting Technology Cooperation * Building a Sub-regional Trading Bloc Depending on Minimal External Assistance * Strengthening Institutional Systems * All recent assessments reiterate the need for strengthened institutional systems to cater to the emerging priorities of eliminating poverty and creating human security; * managing population growth and its impact; conserving the natural resource endowments; and securing the economic base. * Any successful effort to bring about sustainable development will necessarily require countries of the sub-region to establish mechanisms for formulating policy and implementing it at the relevant levels: * †¢ Local †¢ National * †¢ Regional * †¢ Global * Enhance South Asian Cooperation * Asia is assuming importance in terms of its centrality to global geopolitics and * geo economics. Though characterised by tensions and conflicts, the continent is also * an area of potential economic growth. South Asia is home to a phenomenal skilled manpower. It also houses some of the largest emerging markets in the worl d. Such a diverse resource base can be pooled together for broader regional co operation, which in turn will engender durable peace and security in the region.Key areas of regional cooperation include: †¢ Joint action on Poverty Eradication and Human Security * Sub regional Trade and Economic Policies †¢ Sub regional Sharing and Management of Natural Resources †¢ Strengthening Implementation Systems SAARC Initiatives South Asian Food Bank South Asian Disaster Preparedness and Management System South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement / South Asian Free Trade Area South Asian Technology Bank South Asian Development Bank South Asian Biodiversity Conservation Agreement South Asian Energy Alliance Sustainable Development Science, Medicine and Technology What is sustainable development? Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is from Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report:[1] Sustainable development has various definitions; a well-known definition is that of the Brundtland Report. According to the Brundtland Report, â€Å"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.It contains within it two key concepts: * the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and * the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs. † Sustainable development then is the ability to fulfill the current needs while not halting the ability of generations to come to fulfill th eir needs. What is sustainability?Sustainability is the ability of an object to renew itself so that it will always be available. Sustainability means that, the object is available in the present and can continue into the future while still accessible in the future. Sustainability of the earth Sustainability, relating to the earth, means that the earth can continue producing or reproducing all it’s natural products which include: water, food, and air; all which defines our and enhances the quality of life for humans.The earth is a system and within this system are: our society, economy and environment. In order for earth to have sustainability, these three needs to work harmoniously and in equilibrium, In a quest for prosperity in all aspects of life, us – human beings are simultaneously destroying the system that we depend on. Threats to the environment include : * Climate change due to greenhouse gas emission * Increase in Toxic Waste * Lack of Fresh Water * Over fis hing – Lack of fish (food source) * Pollution – Water, Land, Air * Deforestation – Extinction of rain forests Overpopulation (Imbalance in the ration of people and resources) * Poor land management & inappropriate agriculture & soil erosion Threats to the economy include: * Industrial production and economy has decreased * Decrease in wage * Economic insecurity (due to the economy) Threats to society include: * Unemployment * Starvation * Poverty * Violence How to live sustainably? In order to live sustainably, humans need to reduce : 1. ) the dependence on fossil fuels and heavy metals. 2. ) the dependence on synthetic chemicals. 3. ) the destruction of Nature. . ) Insure we are not halting other humans from meeting their global needs. What is being done? A number of things by international organizations are being done from as early as 1970 to present. 1970’s brought both developed, developing and underdeveloped countries was brought together, by The Uni ted Nations Conference on the Human Environment, to discuss the rights of a human family to a healthy and productive environment. 1980’s – A World Conservation Strategy was published by the international union for the conservation of natural resources. the strategy discussed the importance to improve poverty before attempting to conserve nature. 1982- WCS initiative terminated with the approval of the World Charter for Nature. The Charter stated that â€Å"mankind is a part of nature and life depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems†. 1983 – the creation of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) 1984- WCED was deemed an Independent body by the United Nations General Assembly and ask to formulate â€Å"A global agenda for change† 1987- The WCED created a report â€Å"Our common future† discussed the global interdependence and the relationship between the economy and environment – stating â€Å"th e environment does not exist as a sphere separate from human actions, ambitions, and needs, and therefore it should not be considered in isolation from human concerns. The environment is where we all live; and development is what we all do in attempting to improve our lot within that abode. The two are inseparable. † 1992 -First United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. 993 -The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established to follow-up on the implementation of Agenda 21. 1997 – General Assembly devoted its 19th Special Session to design a strategy for the further Implementation of Agenda 21 2002 – World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was summoned to renew the global commitment to sustainable development. Bibliography DEPweb. (n. d. ). World Bank Group. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www. worldbank. org/depweb/english/sd. html Major Groups . :.Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n. d. ). Home . :. Sustainabl e Development Knowledge Platform. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://sustainabledevelopment. un. org/majorgroups. html Sustainability Basic Information. (n. d. ). US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www. epa. gov/sustainability/basicinfo. htm What is Sustainable Development?. (n. d. ). International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www. iisd. org/sd/ Sustainable Development Sustainable Development in South Asia * Sustainable Development (SD) implies economic growth together with the protection of environmental quality, each reinforcing the other. Sustainable Development, thus, is maintaining a balance between the human need to improve lifestyles and feeling of well-being on one hand, and preserving natural resources and ecosystems, on which we and future generations depend.The main features that all the definitions have are as follows: * A desirable human condition : a society that people want to sustain because it meets their needs * A enduring ecosystem condition: an ecosystem that maintains its capacity to support human life and others * A balance between present and future generations; and within the present generation. Principles Defining Sustainable Development * Sustainable development requires the promotion of values that encourage consumption standards that are within the bounds of the ecologically possible and to which all can reasonably aspir e. Meeting essential needs depends in part on achieving full growth potential, and sustainable development clearly requires economic growth in places where such needs are not being met. * Sustainable development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on Earth; the atmosphere, the waters, the soils, and living beings. * Most renewable resources are part of a complex and interlinked ecosystem and maximal sustained yield must be defined after taking into account system-wide effects of exploitation. Sustainable development requires that the rate of depletion of non-renewable resources should foreclose as few options as possible. * Sustainable development requires the conservation of plant and animal species. * Sustainable development requires that the adverse impacts on the quality of air, water and other natural elements are minimized so as to sustain the ecosystem’s overall integrity. * Two major events in the recent past have fairly lucidly articulated the sus tainable development challenges and priorities for the global community over the next decade. These include the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) –Johannesburg 2002. * Poverty eradication has been clearly identified as the foremost global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development particularly for the developing countries. United Nations Millennium Declaration * At the dawn of the new millennium, the United Nations General Assembly reviewed sustainable development initiatives and processes around the world.Recognising the gravity and urgency of challenges, the global community committed itself to eight goals and eighteen targets to be achieved by 2015. * Indicators of achievement were identified for each of the targets and responsibility entrusted to multilateral agencies to coordinate global efforts. * The declaration, often referred to as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) committed to: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4.Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability, and 8. Develop a global partnership for development World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) * The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held at Johannesburg in September 2002 was enriched considerably by the preparatory processes of stakeholders including governments, inter-governmental agencies and civil society groups. WSSD Plan of Implementation focuses on the following: . Reinforcing the Millennium Development Goals, including: a. Poverty eradication b. Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production c. Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development d. Health and sustainable development 2. Sustainable development in a globalising world 3. Sustainabl e development in regions 4. Means of Implementation 5. Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development South Asian Perspective on Sustainable Development Developing countries and regions need to identify their own priorities and initiate concerted action with maximum self-reliance and minimal external assistance to retard the poverty and environmental degradation. * Various regional and national assessments point towards four broad thematic priorities for the next decade. These tend to converge with recent global mandates and commitments: †¢ Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security †¢ Conserving the Natural Resource Endowments †¢ Securing the Economic Base Strengthening Institutional Systems †¢ Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security * Ensuring food security through accessibility, affordability and well planned sustainable food production, storage and distribution strategies. * Promoting income security through micro-finance and micro-enterpris es as a means of livelihood and developing effective marketing and distribution links with medium and large-scale industries. farming of poor communities through affordable and socially acceptable technologies and practices. Enhancing energy security through improved access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources. * Ensuring health security through significant investments in primary health care infrastructure and systems which are linked to referral systems in towns and cities. * Providing security from natural disasters through preventive action including large-scale afforestation, rehabilitation of degraded lands, hazard resistant structures and other long term measure. * Conserving the Natural Resource EndowmentsWith almost half the land area in the region degraded in one form or the other; the water resource base threatened due to overexploitation and pollution; cities like Mumbai and Dhaka having the dubious distinction of being among the most polluted in the world; and the biodiversity under severe threat; South Asia has no option but to focus seriously on conserving its natural resource endowments. * Providing water security for human consumption, including livestock and The three areas that require immediate and sustained attention are: †¢ Arresting industrial pollution †¢ Managing urbanisation Conserving biodiversity Securing the Economic Base * The long-term sustainability of the South Asian sub-region is critically dependent on a firm and secure financial and economic base which is currently rather fragile. Each country in the sub-region has to strengthen its financial and economic systems while also focussing on poverty eradication and survival issues. * Considerable mutual support and assistance is possible through technology cooperation and sub-regional trade arrangements. * Promoting Technology Cooperation * Building a Sub-regional Trading Bloc Depending on Minimal External Assistance * Strengthening Institutional Systems * All recent assessments reiterate the need for strengthened institutional systems to cater to the emerging priorities of eliminating poverty and creating human security; * managing population growth and its impact; conserving the natural resource endowments; and securing the economic base. * Any successful effort to bring about sustainable development will necessarily require countries of the sub-region to establish mechanisms for formulating policy and implementing it at the relevant levels: * †¢ Local †¢ National * †¢ Regional * †¢ Global * Enhance South Asian Cooperation * Asia is assuming importance in terms of its centrality to global geopolitics and * geo economics. Though characterised by tensions and conflicts, the continent is also * an area of potential economic growth. South Asia is home to a phenomenal skilled manpower. It also houses some of the largest emerging markets in the worl d. Such a diverse resource base can be pooled together for broader regional co operation, which in turn will engender durable peace and security in the region.Key areas of regional cooperation include: †¢ Joint action on Poverty Eradication and Human Security * Sub regional Trade and Economic Policies †¢ Sub regional Sharing and Management of Natural Resources †¢ Strengthening Implementation Systems SAARC Initiatives South Asian Food Bank South Asian Disaster Preparedness and Management System South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement / South Asian Free Trade Area South Asian Technology Bank South Asian Development Bank South Asian Biodiversity Conservation Agreement South Asian Energy Alliance