COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY

TOPIC 4. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A GLOBAL MODEL

WEEK 4

Assistant Professor Iryna SKAVRONSKA

 This topic will cover the following chapters
1. The Concept of Sustainable Development:
Definitions, Scope and Principles

2. Models of Sustainable Development

3. Achieving and Promoting Sustainable Development

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 1. The Concept of Sustainable Development: Definitions, Scope and
Principles

Sustainable development is development

that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own
needs.
The Brundtland Report (1987)

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 This definition is limited in several ways:

1) As part of a political document, the definition appears to equate

‘needs’ with ‘wants’.
2) Because it does not clearly distinguish between different types of
economic structure, it appears to support growth in the use of
materials and energy, a form of economic growth that damages
the natural environment.
3) The definition does not mention the natural environment
explicitly, focusing only upon human needs or wants.

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 Sustainable development means ensuring dignified living conditions
with regard to human rights by creating and maintaining the widest
possible range of options for freely defining life plans.
The principle of fairness among and between present and future
generations should be taken into account in the use of environmental,
economic and social resources. Putting these needs into practice entails
comprehensive protection of bio-diversity in terms of ecosystem,
species and genetic diversity, all of which are the vital foundations of
life.
The Swiss ‘Monitoring of Sustainable Development Project’ MONET
Key elements of this definition include:
justice, intra- and inter-generational equity, maintenance of options,
meeting of needs, and maintenance of bio-diversity.

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 Examples of sustainable development:
• solar energy (harnessing the solar
energy to reduce pollution in the
environment);
• crop rotation (planting different types
of crops on the same land on a
rotational basis for improving soil
fertility);
• wind energy (the process by which the
wind is used to generate mechanical
power or electricity), etc.

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 The overall goal of sustainable development
is the long-term stability of the economy and environment
Other sustainable development goals
include:
• eliminating poverty,
• ending hunger,
• providing good health and education,
• achieving gender equality,
• reducing inequality, and
• promoting economic development.

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 Table 1. Components of Sustainable Development

Social Economic Environmental

Components Components components
• Workers health and • Creation of new markets • Reduce waste, effluent
safety; and opportunities for sales generation, emission into
• Impact on local growth; environment;
communities, quality of • Cost reduction through • Reduce impact on
life; efficiency and human health;
• Benefits to improvements and reduced • Use of renewable raw
disadvantaged groups energy and raw material material;
(for example, inputs; • Elimination of toxic
marginals). • Creation of additional substances.
value.

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 The idea of sustainable development is essential to
address the following issues:

1. To curb or prevent the environmental degradation.

2. To ensure a safe human life.
3. To check the exploitative technology and find alternative sources.
4. To check the over exploitation and wastage of natural resources.
5. To regenerate renewable energy resources.

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 Major Principles of Sustainable Development
1. Everyone has the right to healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
2. Present and future generations are equally entitled to this right.
3. Environmental protection must be seen as an integral part of any developmental
process.
4. Each country has the right to utilise its own resources, without affecting the
environment beyond its borders.
5. “Polluter pays” principle: the polluter must compensate the damage caused to the
environment.
6. Economic activities are combined with the principle of acquiring preventive
measures for environmental protection.
7. States must cooperate for environmental protection.
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 Major Principles of Sustainable Development
8. The alleviation of poverty and living standards, inequity in the different parts of the
world are an integral part of sustainable development.
9. States must limit and extinguish the unsustainable modes of production and
consumption, and enhance the appropriate demographic policy.
10. The most efficient way of solving environmental problems is the involvement of all
interested parties.
11. States must develop and encourage the informed participation of the population
in decision-making process (participatory democracy).
12. States must develop and implement effective legislation for environmental
protection.
13. Environmental protection must involve all social groups.
14. Peace, development, and environmental protection are interdependent and
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indivisible.
 2. Models of Sustainable Development
1. Capital Stock Model
The basic idea: if we live only off •ecological capital for the planning
the interest and not the capital, process includes bio-diversity,
the basis of prosperity is landscape, mineral resources, clean air
maintained — however, if we and healthy water;
consume the substance, our •human and social capital equates to
means of existence is endangered health, social security, social cohesion,
in the long term. freedom, justice, equality of
A study group of The World Bank opportunity, and peace.
(1994)
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 Types of Capital Stock
1. Natural capital stock is the stock of environmentally provided assets as, for example,
soil, forests. Thus, the environment is considered to be capital.

2. Man-made capital stock is traditionally considered as capital; produced assets that are
easily assigned monetary value and sold in world markets. Some examples include
furniture, automobiles, buildings. This is capital stock of the economy.

3. Human capital: this generally refers to the health, well-being, and productivity
potential of a society. Types of human capital include mental and physical health, proper
housing and sanitation, education, and work skills. These elements not only contribute to
a happy, healthy society, but improve the opportunities for economic development
through a productive workforce. A more recent approach created a
fourth kind, called social capital: like human capital, it is related to human well-being, but
on a societal rather than individual level. It consists of the social networks that support
an efficient, cohesive society, and facilitate social and intellectual interactions among its
members.
Examples of social capital include social equity, social cohesion, social security.

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 1. Capital Stock Model

∑ Capital stock of the Environment (CEn)

+ Capital stock of the Economy (CEc)
+ Capital stock of the Society (CS)
=
Capital stock of Sustainable Development (CSD)

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 2. Five Capitals Model of Sustainable Development

The model is used to show stocks and flows of resources as they

relate to a sustainable society and economy.
The purpose of this model is to illustrate the interconnectedness of
various types of capital and the dynamic process through which
organizations around the world can begin to achieve a balance
between their environmental, social and economic needs.
Leading global sustainability non-profit organization
“Forum for the Future”
(in the 1990’s )

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 2. Parts of the Five Capitals Model of Sustainable Development
1. Natural capital: Is the extension of the economic notion of capital
(manufactured means of production) to environmental goods and services.
2. Social capital: Is the value added to various outputs of an organization by
human relationships, and is generally referred to as the value of connections
within and between social networks.
3. Human capital: Is the stock of skills and knowledge embodied in the ability to
perform tasks that are used to produce economic value. This capital is often
accumulated through experiences and education.
4. Manufactured capital: Is any physical means of production or means of
protection beyond that which can be gathered or found directly in nature and
often refers to goods, services, and infrastructures controlled by an
organization.
5. Financial capital: Is capital in the form of currency used by individuals and
organizations to buy what they need to make their products or provide their
services.
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 2. Five Capitals Model of Sustainable Development

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 3. Achieving and Promoting Sustainable Development
Sustainable development can be achieved if the society pursues
the following points:
1. Restricting human activities.
2. Technological development should be input effective and not input utilising.
3. The rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of salvation.
4. For renewable resources, the rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of
production of renewable substitutes.
5. All types of pollution should be minimised.
6. Sensible use of natural resources.
7. Reducing food waste.
8. Promoting new green technologies and adopting renewable energy sources.

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 Six Key Transformations according to the UN

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 REFERENCES

Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development

Cooperation: Dialogues at the Economic and Social Council (2008).
United Nations. 295 pages.

Diesendorf, M., 2000, ‘Sustainability and sustainable

development’, in Dunphy, D, Benveniste, J, Griffiths, A and Sutton,
P (eds) Sustainability: The corporate challenge of the 21st century,
Sydney: Allen & Unwin, chap. 2, 19-37. Retrieved from:
file:///C:/Users/%D0%86%D1%80%D0%B0/Downloads/Models_of
_sustainability_and_sustainable_developme.pdf

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Thank you
for your participation