Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs (Brundtland Report). It is a pattern of resource use that aims to
meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs
can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.
It contains within it two key concepts:

the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's

poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and

the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social

organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future
needs
The Brundtland Reports targets were multilateralism and interdependence of
nations in the search for a sustainable development path. The report sought
to recapture the spirit of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment - the Stockholm Conference - which had introduced
environmental concerns to the formal political development sphere. Our
Common Future placed environmental issues firmly on the political agenda; it
aimed to discuss the environment and development as one single issue.
The publication of Our Common Future and the work of the World
Commission on Environment and Development laid the groundwork for the
convening of the 1992 Earth Summit and the adoption of Agenda 21, the Rio
Declaration and to the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable
Development.
In addition, key contributions of Our Common Future to the concept of
sustainable development include the recognition that the many crises facing
the planet are interlocking crises that are elements of a single crisis of the
whole and of the vital need for the active participation of all sectors of
society in consultation and decisions relating to sustainable development.
Sustainable development ensures the well-being of the human person by
integrating social development, economic development, and environmental
conservation and protection. It refers to the "interdependent and mutually
reinforcing pillars of sustainable development as economic development,
social development, and environmental protection. As the goal of sustainable
development is to permanently improve the living conditions of human
beings, social and economic developments must be carried out in a way that
is environmentally and ecologically sound; ensuring the continual
rejuvenation and availability of natural resources for future generations.

Seven Dimensions of Sustainable Development : From the Philippine

Agenda 21
From the Philippine perspective sustainable development is a
multidimensional concept, involving no less than seven dimensions.
Sustainable development is viewed as the mutually beneficial interaction
between the legitimate interests of business and the economy, government
and the polity, and civil society and culture.
From this perspective, five dimensions of sustainable development are
clearly visible. These arethe human being, culture, polity, economy, and
Nature.