What is sustainable development?
The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations. A sustainable society is one that uses resources efficiently and sensibly; treats the environment responsibly and sensitively; meets social needs in a way that is fair and enables people to take part in and influence decisions that affect them; and where economic success is a means to maximising wellbeing for all rather than an end in itself.
Significant changes to the way we live and work are essential to ensure a sustainable future. We are currently using resources at a level and rate that damages the environment and disadvantages those parts of society that already benefit least from our unsustainable lifestyles. If everyone in the world were to consume resources in the same way as we do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us. There is a scientific consensus that our actions are changing the earth’s climate, and the UK government’s Chief Scientific Adviser has described climate change as the most severe problem we face. However, despite the economic growth that has fuelled increasing rates of consumption over the past few decades, levels of 'life satisfaction' have barely changed – so our lifestyles don’t appear to be making us happier or improving our feelings of wellbeing. Sustainable development recognises that quality of life and wellbeing are affected not only by economic prosperity and security, but also by other essential elements such as good health, a pleasant and healthy environment, a thriving and inclusive society, high quality employment, cultural vitality, and good housing. Sustainable development also means respecting the absolute limits to the earth’s ability to provide resources and reabsorb pollution and waste, taking account of how our actions affect other parts of the world and avoiding passing burdens on to future generations.
The UK Sustainable Development Strategy ‘Securing the Future’ sets out five guiding principles for a sustainable future, defined in terms of a strong, healthy and just society, living within environmental limits, supported by a sustainable economy, good governance, and the responsible use of sound evidence in policy-making.
In order to achieve a sustainable future, ‘Securing the Future’ sets out four priorities for immediate action in the UK, which have been used to guide the development of this Framework:
- Sustainable Consumption and Production – Sustainable consumption and production is about achieving more with less, looking at how goods and services are produced and the impacts of products and materials across their whole lifecycle, and building on people’s awareness of social and environmental concerns. This includes reducing the inefficient use of resources, which is a drag on the economy, helping to boost business competitiveness and break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. – Sustainable consumption and production is about achieving more with less, looking at how goods and services are produced and the impacts of products and materials across their whole lifecycle, and building on people’s awareness of social and environmental concerns. This includes reducing the inefficient use of resources, which is a drag on the economy, helping to boost business competitiveness and break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation.
- Climate Change and Energy – The effects of a changing climate can already be seen. A profound change is needed to the way we generate and use energy, and in other activities that release greenhouse gases. At the same time we must prepare for the climate change that cannot now be avoided. – The effects of a changing climate can already be seen. A profound change is needed to the way we generate and use energy, and in other activities that release greenhouse gases. At the same time we must prepare for the climate change that cannot now be avoided.
- Natural Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement – Natural resources are vital to our existence and that of communities throughout the world. We need a better understanding of environmental limits, environmental enhancement and recovery where the environment is most degraded to ensure a decent environment for everyone, and a more integrated policy framework. – Natural resources are vital to our existence and that of communities throughout the world. We need a better understanding of environmental limits, environmental enhancement and recovery where the environment is most degraded to ensure a decent environment for everyone, and a more integrated policy framework.
- Sustainable Communities – Sustainable communities embody the principles of sustainable development at the local level. Developing sustainable communities will involve working to give communities more power and say in the decisions that affect them; and working in partnership at the right level to get things done. – Sustainable communities embody the principles of sustainable development at the local level. Developing sustainable communities will involve working to give communities more power and say in the decisions that affect them; and working in partnership at the right level to get things done.
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