Sustainable development

And its impact on environment

 Introduction to the topic
• Sustainability is related to the quality of life in a community -- whether the economic, social
and environmental systems that make up the community are providing a
healthy, productive, meaningful life for all community residents, present and future.

However, when society, economy and environment are viewed as separate, unrelated parts
of a community, the community's problems are also viewed as isolated issues. Economic
development councils try to create more jobs. Social needs are addressed by health care
services and housing authorities. Environmental agencies try to prevent and correct pollution
problems. This piecemeal approach can have a number of bad side-effects:
 Side effect of piecemeal solution
1]Solutions to one problem can make another problem worse. Creating affordable housing is a
good thing, but when that housing is built in areas far from workplaces, the result is
increased traffic and the pollution that comes with it.
2] Piecemeal solutions tend to create opposing groups. How often have you heard the argument
'If the environmentalists win, the economy will suffer,' and its opposing view 'If business has

its way, the environment will be destroyed .‘

3] Piecemeal solutions tend to focus on short-term benefits without monitoring long-term
results. The pesticide DDT seemed like a good solution to insect pests at the time, but the

long-term results were devastating .

 Continues…..
Rather than a piecemeal approach, what we need is a view of the community that takes into
account the links between the economy, the environment and the society. The figure below is
frequently used to show the connections:

Actions to improve conditions in a sustainable community take these connections into

account. The very questions asked about issues in a 'sustainable' community include
references to these links. For example, the question 'Do the jobs available match the skills of
the available work force?' looks at the link between economy and education. Understanding
the three parts and their links is key to understanding sustainability, because sustainability is
about more than just quality of life. It is about understanding the connections between and
achieving balance among the social, economic, and environmental pieces of a community.
 So, what is sustainable
development?????
“Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainable development promotes the idea that
social, environmental, and economic progress are
all attainable within the limits of our earth’s
natural resources. Sustainable development
approaches everything in the world as being
connected through space, time and quality of life.
 Features of sustainable development
• Ecological protection
• Density and urban design
• Urban Infill
• Village Centers
• Local Economy
• Sustainable Transport
• Affordable Housing
• Livable Community
• Sewage & Stormwater
• Water
• Energy
 Three dimensions of sustainable
development
• Economical dimension
• Social dimensions
• Environmental dimension
 Measuring sustainability
• Weak Sustainability preserves total capital, but not necessarily each of
the four kinds of capital. I.e., the different types of capital are viewed as
substitutable for one another.
• sensible Sustainability preserves total capital, as well as some minimum
level of each type of capital. I.e., the different types of capital are only
partially substitutable -- a combination of different types of capital is
required to maintain a functioning system.
• Strong Sustainability requires that each type of capital be preserved
independently. I.e., the different types of capital can complement, but not
substitute one another.
 Indicators of sustainability
POLICY ISSUES

Resource accounting

1] valuation of water
2]valuation of land,soil,forest
3]valuation of bio diversity
4]valuation of pollution impacts
5]valuation of eco system service
 Issues involved in sustainable
development
1. Growth
2. Poverty alleviation
3. Regional balance
4. Reduction in income inequality
5. Arresting environmental
depletion,degradation
6. Enhancing quality of life:
dignity, empowerment, gender balance
 The three core drivers of un-
sustainability
• Consumption
– Use of resources beyond the reasonable limits set
by nature
• Production
– Gross inefficiencies in production.
• Distribution
– Inequitable distribution e.g. distribution of global
income between rich and poor
 The principles of SD
• Protect the environment and at the same time
fulfill economic and social objectives
• Operational criteria:
– Economic objectives should not be maximized without
satisfying environmental and social constraints
– Environmental benefits should not be maximized without
satisfying economic and social constraints
– Social benefits should not be maximized without satisfying
economic and environmental constraints
 The principles – meant to deliver
1. Economic growth and equity; not leaving any
region behind
2. Conserving natural resources and the
environment; for us and future generations
3. Social development; Ensure rich fabric of
social and cultural diversity, ensure rights of
workers, empowerment and at the same
time ensure jobs, education, food, health
care, energy etc.
 Areas where SD is needed
* Agriculture

* Atmosphere

* Biodiversity

* Biotechnology

* Capacity-building

* Climate Change

* Consumption and Production Patterns

* Demographics

* Desertification and Drought

* Disaster Reduction and Management

 Continues..

* Education and Awareness

* Energy
* Finance
* Forests
* Fresh Water
* Health
* Human Settlements
* Indicators
* Industry
* Information for Decision Making and Participation
* Integrated Decision Making
 Continues…
* Science

* Small Islands

* Sustainable tourism

* Technology

* Toxic Chemicals

* Trade and Environment

* Transport

* Waste (Hazardous)

* Waste (Radioactive)

* Waste (Solid)

* Water
Conclusion;
Achieving sustainability in practice
Some success factors:
.Excellence in all relevant technical and scientific areas (education, training, ethical
practice)
• Genuine interdisciplinary effort within a logical framework (project
management, horizontal policies and regulation preventing ‘silos’ and turf wars)
• Professionals who understand that being technically excellent is not enough – an
appreciation of the importance of their contribution and those of others is just as
important
• Effective communication with the public – politicians, regulators, ordinary people
(public engagement, public education, effective listening)
• Joined up thinking and shared values and understanding of professionalism in their
personal practice, whether regulated or not
– Educators and trainers
– Practitioners
– Public employees receiving scientific, technical and engineering advice and
communicating it to the public
– Government devising land-use and other policies crucial to public safety
• Thank you………………..