Proposal Sample comments

S.O. Idowu, N., Capaldi, L., Zu, L., & A. Das Gupta (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility, 2013

The word sustainability is derived from the Latin sustinere (tenere, to hold; sus, up). The way in which sustainability is used nowadays, is based on the English term sustain-ability, which is an expression of the possibility of a certain matter to be supported. Sustainability is seen as a paradigm for thinking about the future in which environmental, societal and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of an improved quality of life. The ideals and principles behind it lays on broad concepts such as intergenerational equity, gender equity, social tolerance, poverty alleviation, environmental preservation and restoration, natural resource conservation, and building just and peaceful societies. Sustainable development is the overarching paradigm of the United Nations. The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations General Assembly, 1987, 24). There are four dimensions to sustainable development – society, environment, culture and economy – which are intertwined, not separate. Sustainable Development is about engaging the world’s educational systems to work for a more sustainable future. We can shortly say that sustainability is thought of as a long-term goal while sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it.

SpringerBriefs in business, 2023

Political Studies, 2000

Sustainable development is defined as, development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Some authors tried to define the concept of sustainable development with a narrow focus. They tried to explain it with the depletion of renewable natural resources in a manner that does not diminish their "renewable" usefulness for future generations. At the same time they wanted to ensure effectively constant or nondeclining stocks of natural resources such as soil, groundwater, and biomass. Some economic definitions of sustainable development have also focused on optimal resource management, by concentrating on "maximizing the net benefits of economic development, subject to maintaining the services and quality of natural resources". Other economic definitions have focused on the broader notion that "the use of resources today should not reduce real incomes in the future”. It means, current decisions should not impair the prospects for maintaining or improving future living standards. Economic development does not necessarily mean economic growth, it has to solve basic problems like- employment generation, poverty reduction, improving living standard of the people- and at the same time preserve the environment and natural resources for future generation. The issue is the quality of the growth and how its benefits are distributed. Some, however, argue that "sustainable growth" is a contradiction in terms, and that redistribution of wealth not growth is the way to combat poverty. Sustainable development is also often defined as development that improves health care, education, and social well-being. Sustainable development also calls for development process where, ‘men, women, and children must be the centre of attention--with development woven around people, not people around development”. Sustainable development must be participatory and must involve local peoples in decisions that affect their lives. It should include a rapid transformation of the technological base of industrial civilization. Use of new technology that are cleaner, more efficient, and more sparing of natural resources in order to reduce pollution, help stabilize climate, and accommodate growth in populations and economic activity is a tool of sustainable development. Sustainable development gives importance on equity. Equity not only for present generation but also equity for human generations yet to come, whose interests are not represented by standard economic analyses or by market forces that discount the future.

Today, the objective of sustainable development is acclaimed by almost all international organizations, national governments, and also private enterprises. This general consensus seems mainly to rest upon the vague substance of the terms 'sustainable development' and 'sustainability' themselves, which leave much room for interpretation. Different definitions of 'sustainable development' or 'sustainability', often general and vague, lead one to question how these terms can be of any practical value. In this article, I do not attempt to provide a single definition or single acceptable approach to sustainable development or sustainability. My intention is to point out that sustainable development (sustainability) is not a (key) principle, especially not a principle of environmental law. It is rather a fundamental and overarching objective, aiming to continuously improve the quality of life and well-being for present and future generations, by linking eco...

2013

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