PHM-Exch> Sustainable Development: From Brundtland to Rio 2012

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from : EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *Sustainable Development: From Brundtland to Rio 2012

*

John Drexhage and Deborah Murphy, International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD)

Background Paper prepared for the High Level Panel on Global Sustainability

*United Nations Headquarters, New York - September 2010

*

Available online PDF [26p.] at: http://bit.ly/eQDZIW

 “…..The term, sustainable development, was popularized in Our Common
Future, a report published by the World Commission on Environment and
Development in 1987. Also known as the Brundtland report, *Our Common Future
* included the “classic” *definition of sustainable development*: “*development
which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”
*Acceptance of the report by the United Nations General Assembly gave the
term political salience; and in 1992 leaders set out the principles of
sustainable development at the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 It is generally accepted that sustainable development calls for a
convergence between the three pillars of economic development, social
equity, and environmental protection. Sustainable development is a visionary
development paradigm; and over the past 20 years governments, businesses,
and civil society have accepted sustainable development as a guiding
principle, made progress on sustainable development metrics, and improved
business and NGO participation in the sustainable development process.



Yet the concept remains elusive and implementation has proven difficult.
Unsustainable trends continue and sustainable development has not found the
political entry points to make real progress. As a result, climate change
has become the de facto proxy for implementation of the sustainable
development agenda; but the framework of the climate change negotiations are
not always the appropriate forum for broader strategic discussions of
sustainable development.


While sustainable development is intended to encompass three pillars, over
the past 20 years it has often been compartmentalized as an environmental
issue. Added to this, and potentially more limiting for the sustainable
development agenda, is the reigning orientation of development as purely
economic growth. This has been the framework used by developed countries in
attaining their unprecedented levels of wealth, and major and rapidly
developing countries are following the same course.



The problem with such an approach is that natural resources are in imminent
peril of being exhausted or their quality being compromised to an extent
that threatens current biodiversity and natural environments. Addressing
this challenge calls for changes at the consumer level in developed
countries. Developed countries have the wealth and technical capacity to
implement more sustainable policies and measures, yet the required level of
political leadership and citizen engagement is still a long way off.



The lack of action in developed countries is compounded by economic growth
in developing countries that follows the resource-intensive model of
developed countries. Without change and real action to address levels of
consumerism and resource use in developed countries, one can hardly expect a
receptive audience among developing countries when attempts are made to
direct attention to their economic development practices. More sustainable
development pathways are needed in both developed and developing countries;
which require a level of dialogue, cooperation and, most importantly, trust
that simply is not reflected in today’s multilateral institutions or
regimes.

 There is a huge gap between the multilateral processes, with their broad
goals and policies; and national action, which reflects domestic political
and economic realities. A huge constituency around the world cares deeply
and talks about sustainable development, but has not taken serious
on-the-ground action. Deep structural changes are needed in the ways that
societies manage their economic, social, and environmental affairs; and hard
choices are needed to move from talk to action….”

 *Table of Contents*


1. Introduction

2. The Origins of Sustainable Development

3. The 20 Years since Rio

3.1 Acceptance of sustainable development as a guiding principle

3.2 Progress on sustainable development metrics

3.3 Improvements in partnering with stakeholders

3.4 Difficulties in implementing sustainable development

3.5 Sustainable development has found a de facto ‘home’ in climate change

4. 20 Years Later: How does sustainable development

4.1 Some progress on sustainable development

4.2 But unsustainable trends continue

4.3 What underlies the less than expected progress on sustainable
development

5. Moving Ahead

References

 More information at: http://bit.ly/eYFEhZ
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