Sustainable Development: Protecting Earth and Future Generations - Research Paper

Introduction

The overall development experienced in the human race for the last few decades has led to continued climatic changes and numerous natural disasters. Wars, political instability, and socio-economic instabilities are other negative occurrences attributed to bad human activities. As a result, these activities have degraded the environment consequently endangering the earth, all organisms existing in it, and the future generations. Sustainable development was instituted to guide human beings on undertaking desirable behaviors and activities aimed at rational and efficient use of resources at our disposal in a bid to reduce the negative impacts subjected to the environment. Sustainable development concept was developed in the late decades of the 20th century with its main aim being continued utilization of all resources without placing future generations' existence at risk.

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The emphasis of sustainable development is on the concept of development (with ecological limitations), the concept of needs, and the concept of future generations. It begins with steps that foster socio-economic development with environmental conservation at the core. Through sustainable development, the resources at our disposal should be redistributed equally and soundly to all people to ensure everybody in the earth enjoys an optimal quality of life. The concept also ensures that resources exploitation of resources at the moment will not jeopardize the long term possibility of future generations accessing them. The essence of sustainable development is guided by the concept called the triple bottom line concept that involves the proper balancing of the three pillars of sustainability. These three pillars are environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability. (Klarin, 2018)

The triple bottom line concept is essential for sustainable development. Environmental sustainability as one of the pillars of sustainability is geared towards continued nurturing of the environmental quality that is needed for the provision of conducive economic activities and the best standards of living (Klarin, 2018). Social sustainability, on the other hand, focuses to promote and maintain equality and human rights as well as fostering available cultural identity, values, and diversity. Economic sustainability strives in ensuring that the human, natural, and social sources of capital are maintained and balanced to guarantee an improved quality of life for all citizens of the earth (Klarin, 2018). Successful balancing these pillars completely is not easily achievable, because each pillar is independent. One pillar can achieve sustainability, which can usually result in the unsustainability of the other, but we are advised to always endeavor to always try it.

Literature Review Concerning the Concept of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development was created from two fundamental elements that are development and sustainability. The interpretation of the two words has divided different economists and scholars. Some argue that sustainability and development are two juxtaposed concepts that could have counterproductive influences on each other. Neoclassical economists allude that there exists no contradiction between sustainability and development. Others also believe that sustainability and development are closely interlinked (such that one cannot happen without the other happening). Sustainability mainly focuses on maintaining, regenerating, and improvement of the available resources for exploitation by future generations. Development relates to economic growth and development, infrastructural development, and political power aimed at fostering the standards of living of humans. (Duran, Gogan, Artene, & Duran, 2015)

A Review of different sets of literature demonstrates four vital taxonomic meanings of development. First, development is emphasized as a means for structural transformation (Tezanoz, Vazquez, & Sumner, 2013). Secondly, development aims at the promotion of human development (Tezanoz, Vazquez, & Sumner, 2013). Thirdly, other works of literature indicate democracy as an indicator of how democracy and governance policies and structures have been successful in bettering the standards of living of the constituents of the particular region (Mineur, 2007). Fourthly, Development is a process that focuses on bettering the life qualities and improve the economic sufficiency of states, and it usually depends on global integration between different persons around the world (Tezanoz, Vazquez, & Sumner, 2013). Development consequently creates a favorable environment where people's way of living will become more enjoyable, longer, and healthy.

The classical theories of development allude that developmental aspects should be measured based on economic growth and development. These theories measure development using how a state has transformed its economy into industrialization. The classical theories classify nations into developed and underdeveloped nations. Developed nations are those that have managed to transform from a traditional agricultural economy into an industrialized sector economy. Developing or underdeveloped nations are characterized by widespread inequalities in the allocation of resources. The endogenous growth theory, on the other hand, suggests that development ought to be equated to four factors namely: capital, labor, technological development, and human capital. This theory demonstrates that investment, research and development, and human capital are the essential stimulators of any economic growth. (Todaro & Smith, 2014)

On the other hand, sustainability is defined as "the capacity to maintain some entity, outcome, or process over time, and carrying out activities that do not exhaust the resources on which that capacity depends" (Klarin, 2018, p.69). Under this topic, the definition relates to all activities undertaken by human beings. During the institution of the sustainable development concept, the researchers argued that sustainability should be aimed at all activities aimed mainly at ecological sustainability as well as with the earlier goals of economic sustainability and socio-cultural sustainability (Klarin, 2018). Sustainability, therefore, is mainly associated with maintaining the natural resources that enable our survival and capability to perform our activities.

The sustainable development concept has undergone numerous transformations since its introduction. The concept was introduced in the 18th century by the economic theoretician, Adam Smith. Other economists like Karl Marx, Malthus, and Ricardo further emphasized on the concept in the 19th century. Neoclassical economists in particular further stressed the need for government entities in advocating the promotion of renewable resources and pure water in the provision of public services. Sustainable development concept was initially introduced in the fields of forestry and nature conservation. Its main aim was to the conservation of the biological maintenance of the available natural resources. The concept later evolved into the social, cultural, and economic aspects of life as studies intensified. (Klarin, 2018)

The scholars emphasized the concept as the wave of industrial revolution set in, which ultimately led to more exploitation of natural resources that there was a renewal of the same. Human development polluted the environment, which spelled danger ecological consequences for future generations. The scholars recorded two main causes of environmental pollution. To begin with, anthropogenic causes like technological growth, urbanization, economic growth, infrastructural growth, industrial growth, mass tourism, and population growth contaminated the environment massively. Other pollutants were natural causes like floods, soil erosion, droughts, volcano eruptions, fires, winds, and earthquakes. The consequences attributed to these causes resulted in numerous ecological catastrophes like hunger, natural disasters, poverty, global climate changes, ecosystem imbalance, and other devastating consequences that demonstrated how dangerously unsustainable our globe was becoming, which required swift action. (Duran et al., 2015)

Scientists, leaders, humanists, and economist from ten countries called the Roman club gathered in Rome in 1968, to examine the current and future problems facing mankind. They aimed to involve the developed regions in their endeavor to solve the socio-economic and environmental problems facing the other developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. They warned on rapidly approaching negative implications on the environment due to economic growth and excessive industrialization (Arrow & Fisher, 2000). The reforms by the Roman Club led to the formation of the UN in 1945 with one of its main goals being sustainable development. UN consist of more than 190 member states, where conferences are seasonally conducted to address sustainable development activities (Klarin, 2018). The UN established a division called the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), which also instituted a department called the Global Network for Sustainable Development (GNSD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that are mandated with all activities related to sustainable development.

Over the years, numerous activities related to the concept of sustainable development have been undertaken in various conferences conducted by the UN member states. Some vital examples are outlined below. The Stockholm Conference on the Human environment of 1972, that focused on action plans to be undertaken for environmental conservation. The 1984 conference led to the establishment of the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). In 1987, the WCED presented the Brundtland report that explained the fundamental principles of the sustainable development concept. (Klarin, 2018)

The Rio Conference of 1992, formulated the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 Action Plan that established the sustainable development principles and action plan frameworks for the future. In the 2000 conference, eight-millennium development goals were created and set to be achieved by 2015. In 2012's conference, the UN reviewed how the commitments towards the Rio Declaration were unfolding in the 20 years that had passed by since they were formulated. Global green economy issues were also entrenched in this summit. And in 2015, a conference in New York formulated the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development. The New York Summit published the 17-millennium development goals and set the achievement date of 2030. (Klarin, 2018)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDGs were formulated during the UN's conference in New York in 2015. They are global goals that every UN member state around the world is supposed to adopt by 2030 (UNDP, 2019). They are universal action plans to protect the environment and establish that everybody in the world lives a life full of peace and prosperity by the year 2030. The SDGs are formed such that no one is to be left behind by 2030 (UNDP, 2019). The 17 sustainable development goals include:

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere,
• Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture,
• Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,
• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning,
• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,
• Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all,
• Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,
• Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for,
• Goal 9: Build resilient infrastruct...