Can We Achieve Sustainable Development?

In simple terms, development refers to a change leading to improvement or progress. These developmental achievements should last into the future rather than being short lived that is, sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development aims at striking a balance between economic development of a certain country and its natural resources.

Development can be defined as a change that is desirable and contains a list of attributes, which a society strives/seeks to achieve. It embraces growth in quality of life, increase in real income per capita, it should lead to improved educational, health and nutritional status. It should give basic access to freedom, spiritual welfare, and fair distribution of wealth.

Sustainable development as a principle entered the development circles around the time of the United Nations conference on the Human Environment, 1972 (Stockholm Conference). Since then, several important principles of environmental management of sustainable development have been put forward. Aspects that characterize any process of sustainable development include:

Value for the environment- That is, if development is to be sustainable it must call for the increased emphasis or recognition of the value of the natural, built and cultural environment. Also, sustainable development policies should embrace concern for the future.

Equity- This means providing for the need of the disadvantaged in the society and a realistic concern for the future generation (inter-generational equity). Inter-generational equity is concerned with meeting obligations and being fair to the next generation by leaving them an inheritance of wealth not less than what we inherited. This equitable distribution of benefits from community projects will in turn elicit an extrinsic motivation for the project so that it continues benefiting them for a long time. Intra-generational equity calls for addressing the widening gap between the rich and poor and ensures that all those living have a fair share of the process of development.

Source: Nex Generation,Vol 2 #4 2016, written by Haykal Omar

Questions:

1)Do you agree with the definition of economic development given in the passage?

2)The article suggests that development should, "give basic access to freedom, spiritual welfare, and fair distribution of wealth." Briefly explain how these factors affect economic development.

3)Discuss at least 2 examples where economic setbacks were caused by the failure to focus on the inter-generational impact of past developmental activities.