Agricultural growth, industrialization, urbanization and advances in science and technology have caused rapid growth of population and rising demand for natural resources, leading to their overuse. As the earth's resources are depleting at an alarming rate, all nations now focus on sustainable development as a major task.
1. Four Pillars of Sustainability
Sustainability is supported by four pillars:
- Cultural vitality
- Economic health
- Environmental responsibility
- Social equity
2. United Nations and Sustainable Development
Stockholm Conference, 1972
Sustainability was first featured in the principles adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm on 16 June 1972.
Brundtland Commission (WCED)
- The UN commissioned a group of 22 people from developed and developing countries to identify long-term environmental strategies.
- This World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, then the Prime Minister of Norway. It came to be known as the Brundtland Commission.
- It submitted its report, "Our Common Future", to the UN in 1987.
- The report sought global equity for future generations by redistributing resources towards poorer nations.
- It highlighted the three fundamental components of sustainable development – the environment, the economy and society – which later became known as the triple bottom line.