What is Sustainable Development?
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has noted...
...while the classic definition of sustainable development: "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" expresses the idea, it has proven hard to put into practice and communicate to the general public.
Sustainable development is a holistic concept, a strategy that requires the integration of economic growth, social equity, and environmental management. Sustainable development aims to make global society not just better off, but better altogether.
One definition of sustainable development that appears to have more resonance with the general public is that used by the United Kingdom government: "Sustainable development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come." This focus of sustainable development on improving quality of life is becoming more widely accepted by government, companies, civil society organisations, and others. A quality of life focus makes the concept more aspirational, and it changes the tone and content of the sustainable development debate so that the emphasis is more on solutions than problems.
