The Term Sustainability in The Brundtland Report in 1987

Impending climate change, overpopulation, poverty, depletion of resources, biodiversity loses, pollution, food security, economic crises and countless other issues are all traceable back to mankind’s unsustainable practices. Sustainability has often been deemed the only feasible approach to providing mankind with a worthwhile future.

The term “sustainability” has gained considerable support since its publication in the Brundtland Report in 1987. The acceptance of the report by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly gave the term serious political status and resulted in global following (****). Sustainability or sustainable development aims at alleviating poverty whilst improving the well-being of the planet through sustainable practices (Drexhage and Murphy 2010). Given our globalised, unsustainable practices and economic behaviour it was unsurprising that sustainability has received high interest and investment.

Sustainability is a complex concept that *** the complexity of this concept requires a systematic approach. Sustainability still remains. The requirement here is that all three pillars be sustainable to permit complete integration.

While sustainability is designed to integrate the three pillars (environmental, social and economic) it has often been partitioned as an environmental problem with focus on eco-efficiency and carbon reduction (Dyllick and Hockerts 2002). Despite the multi-disciplined approach required for true sustainability, the belief that economic growth is a sole solution to multiple problems is a controlling idea (****). This idea is the very reason sustainability received such intense focus. Natural resources are at risk of depletion and their quality compromised.

Agreeably there are claims that sust...

... middle of paper ...

...firstly researches and provides the basis of knowledge required to interpret and analyse the various models and their approaches. Secondly science seeks to communicate and make available the valuable knowledge it has attained.

Agreeably scientists are required to have a more direct role in policy and decision making particularly in society and economic matters (Mccool and Stankeey 2004). The way in which science

Science which importantly identifies, models and assesses the

Science which aims

Science which is limited in its linkages to business and society.

In conclusion, although sustainability is not implemented at the required level currently there is still hope. The controlling belief in globalization is starting to decline, providing renewed opportunities for sustainability.

“only when everything is gone will people realise we can’t eat money”