Sustainability or Sustainable

Development and Engineering

October 26, 2015

ELEAP 1501

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Engineers and sustainability

National Academy of Engineers

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/

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Sustainable Development:
Historical Precedents
Development [Economic and
Technological] seen as a good thing
Began in 1940s
Harry Trumans idea
Modernization
Eradication of poverty
Modernization model found inefficient
and inadequate 1970s
UN Conference in Stockholm in 1972
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Historical Precedents Contd..
Resources were seen as finite
Sustainable development seen as an alternative to
economic and technological development.
In 1987, Brundtland Commission came up with a
definition of sustainable development.
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of the future
generations to meet their own needs.
Agenda 21 a more detailed plan not only local but
global sustainability

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Definition of Sustainability
[American Society for Civil Engineers]
Process of change in which
Direction of investment
Orientation of technology
Allocation of resources
Development and functioning of institutions
Meet the present needs and aspirations without
endangering the capacity of natural systems that
absorb the effects of human activities
And without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs and aspirations

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Question of Ethics
The shift to sustainable development is primarily an
ethical shift. It is not a technological fix, not a matter of
financial investment. It is a shift in values such that
nature is valued in itself and for its life support function,
not merely for how it can be converted into resources and
commodities to feed the engine of economic growth.
Respect for natures diversity, define sustainable
development as an ethical ideal. Out of the ethics of
respect for natures diversity flows a respect for the
diversity of cultures and livelihoods, the basis not only of
sustainability, but also of justice and equity.

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Objectives of Sustainable
Development
Efficient Allocation
Just Distribution
Sustainable Scale
Not compromise natural systems and future
generations
Involves political, social and moral dimensions
Identification, transfer and implementation of
most suitable technology for a new set of
conditions
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Components of Sustainability
Economic
Satisfying basic needs or
reducing

Biological/Environmental
Genetic diversity, resilience
and biological productivity

Social
Cultural diversity, gender
equality, social justice and
participation Figure 1: Sustainable development triangle key
elements and interconnections (corners, sides,
center). (Source: adapted from Munasinghe 1992a,
1994a) 8
Sources Used
Escobar, Arturo. (1997). The Making and Unmaking of the
Third World through Development in Majid Rahnema and
Victoria Bawtree (Eds.), The Post-Development Reader (pp.
85-93). New Jersey : Zed Books.

Farrell, Alex. (2000). Sustainability and the Design of

Knowledge Tools in Joseph R Herkert (Eds) Social, Ethical
and Policy Implications of Engineering : Selected Readings
(pg. 220-229). New York : IEEE Press.

Herkert, Joseph R. (Eds.). (2000). Social, Ethical and Policy

Implications of Engineering : Selected Readings (pg. 220-
229). New York : IEEE Press.

Sachs, Wolfgang. (1997). The Need for the Home Perspective

in Majid Rahnema and Victoria Bawtree (Eds.), The Post-
Development Reader (pp. 290-301). New Jersey : Zed
Books.