What is “Sustainability”
The Short Definition of Sustainbility
Sustainability is an entity’s ability to preserve and restore ecological systems while synchronously providing equitable economic prosperity for all human societies and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future.
In international discourse, the notion of sustainability is often couple with discussions of development. In 1983, the United Nation’s Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development to mean “development that development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The Long, Operation Definition of Sustainability
The following principles were developed in 1972 by the United Nations, and published as The Rio Declaration, officially, the “Rio Declaration on Environment and Development”, adopted 16 June 1972 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
This declaration, lists explicitly the principles and methods by which humans should live, if their goal is to maintain a healthy and just human presence on this planet. Though long, it is still comprehensive and relevant today.
NOTE: Description of principles not in original declaration
Principle 1 – Humans should live in harmony with nature .
Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They
are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
Principle 2 – Governments have sovereign rights and responsbilities.
States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the
principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources
pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility
to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause
damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of
national jurisdiction.
Principle 3 – Save for the future.
The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental
and environmental needs of present and future generations.
Principle 4 – Environmental protection is economic prosperity.
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall
constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered
in isolation from it.
Principle 5 – Eliminate poverty
All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating
poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order
to decrease the disparities in standards of living and better meet the needs
of the majority of the people of the world.
Principle 6 – Care for countries that have fewer resources
The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the
least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special
priority. International actions in the field of environment and development
should also address the interests and needs of all countries.
Principle 7 – Cooperate globally
States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect
and restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem. In view of the
different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common
but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the
responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit to sustainable development
in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and
of the technologies and financial resources they command.
Principle 8 – Reduce our ecological footprint
To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people,
States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and
consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies.
Principle 9 – Improve and share scientific understanding and tools
States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable
development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific
and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation,
diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.
Principle 10 – Educate the public
Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned
citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall
have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held
by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities
in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making
processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation
by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative
proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.
Principle 11 – Create appropriate laws and regulation in each country
States shall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards,
management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and development
context to which they apply. Standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate
and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular
developing countries.
Principle 12 – International Trade must do no harm.
States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic
system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all
countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade
policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of
arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international
trade.
Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction
of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing
transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible,
be based on an international consensus.
Principle 13 – Penalize polluters and aid victims.
States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for
the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also
cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international
law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental
damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond
their jurisdiction.
Principle 14 – Do not export harm
States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the relocation
and transfer to other States of any activities and substances that cause severe
environmental degradation or are found to be harmful to human health.
Principle 15 – Follow the Precautionary Principle
In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely
applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats
of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall
not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental
degradation.
Principle 16 – Account for environmental costs
National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental
costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach
that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due
regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and
investment.
Principle 17 – Subject activities to Environmental Impact Reviews
Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken
for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact
on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.
Principle 18 – International community must respond to localized disasters
States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other
emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment
of those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community
to help States so afflicted.
Principle 19 – Consult all stakeholders.
States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information
to potentially affected States on activities that may have a significant adverse
transboundary environmental effect and shall consult with those States at an
early stage and in good faith.
Principle 20 – Fully include women.
Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their
full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.
Principle 21 – Mobilize young people
The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized
to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and
ensure a better future for all.
Principle 22 – Nation-States must recognize and support Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a
vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge
and traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity,
culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement
of sustainable development.
Principle 23 – Protect environments and resource of subjugated people
The environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination
and occupation shall be protected.
Principle 24 – War must not break international environmental laws
Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall
therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment
in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.
Principle 25 – We must have Peace.
Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.
Principle 26 – Resolve environmental disputes peacefully.
States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate
means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Principle 27 – Cooperate internationally to fulfill above principles.
States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership
in the fulfilment of the principles embodied in this Declaration and in the
further development of international law in the field of sustainable development.
