ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In order to attempt a rationalization of sustainable development (or achieving "sustainability" in development activities) and how that relates to the environment, it may be useful to establish a proper understanding of some of these main concepts.

To begin with, what is the “environment” as it pertains to sustainable development? For this purpose, the “environment” can be considered as the combined features and assets that provide the basis for economic and social development, natural resource management and conservation. In this context, sustainable management strategies, options and “best design” practices must be planned and implemented in relation to the processes, components and attributes of abiotic (non-living), biotic and human factors in any given developmental landscape.

Or to use a more formal definition:

Environment = The combined features and resource capital, that provide the basis for development, environmental management and conservation. Includes the processes and components of, and services provided by, atmospheric, hydrological, geophysical, biotic, human and landscape factors.

Environmental quality = The status or value of the natural resource capital at a particular location at a specified time, relative to development, environmental management and conservation.

Some further discussions on these concepts that characterize "sustainable development”:

Development = The act of altering and modifying resources in order to obtain potential benefits.

Environmental Degradation = Adverse effects (reversible or permanent) on biophysical, social and economic resources, or any other reduction of the set of options available to future generations.

Adverse Effects = Any reduction in environmental quality of a system, or other depletion of the environmental resource capital. Defined in terms of, and measured by, environmental impacts.

Environmental Impact = Change in environmental quality due to external disturbance to a system. Includes positive and negative, primary and secondary, cumulative, synergistic,
short, medium and long-term, reversible and irreversible. Described in terms of magnitude (of effect), direction (of change) and probability (of occurrence), with or without mitigation

In terms of discussing “development” (the act of altering and modifying the resources of the natural environment in order to obtain potential economic and social benefits), it is important to note that it involves the application of human, financial and biophysical resources to satisfy social and economic needs, inevitably leading to some modification of the biosphere. The extent of development-induced modifications depend on the location, scale, intensity and duration of activities as well as adequacy of mitigation and compensatory measures, which define the scope for, and degree of balance in, environmental costs and benefits. As noted, ideally, for a development to be “sustainable” it should demonstrably be economically feasible and socially acceptable, without causing significant environmental impacts
or land degradation.

From a policy, regulatory and legislative perspective, very closely related to implementation of all of these characteristics of sustainable development, is the “Precautionary Principle” – a sustainability principle which states that if there are threats of serious irreversible environmental impact, lack of full scientific certainty will not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

Source: http://environmentalbase.zoints.com/blog...tryid=7121

Related Information & Discussions:

> http://environmentalbase.faunaboard.com/...ty-t14.htm

> http://www.sustainabilityforum.com/forum...ility.html

> http://sustainablelanduse.wordpress.com/...anagement/

> http://sustainablelanduse.wordpress.com/...ssessment/

> http://www.sustainabilityforum.com/forum...pment.html

> http://www.sustainabilityforum.com/forum...efits.html

> http://www.earthforums.com/cgi-earthforu...2/199.html

The research programmes of the institutions of the University shall include, among other subjects, economic and social change and development; the environment and the proper use of resources; basic scientific research and the application of the results of science and technology in the interests of development.
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Renita

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Though there are certain people in Israel that are helping to preserve
environment. But only few people can't do anything. We should spread awareness about environment conservation to whole world.
Recently i came across a web site that provides specialized training on environment. That is http://www.aarcherinstitute.com. The Aarcher Institute of Environmental Training, Maryland. Education and training is the sole mission of the Aarcher Institute. The Aarcher Institute of Environmental Training is an independently operated training institute supported by Aarcher, Inc. a well-respected environmental assessment, planning, and management firm. The Aarcher Institute's public training courses continually change and grow. The Aarcher Institute offers a full range of private training options http://www.aarcherinstitute.com/

Hi,

That is an awesome "Sustainable Development" article, thanks for sharing... Sustainable Development has to reach all the people for our next generation to survive in this wonderful world...

And Environmentalbase, thanks for the related discussions....

basic accurate analysis and the appliance of the after-effects of science and technology in the interests of development.


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Furnace filter

It was the basal accurate analysis and the appliance of the after-effects of science and technology in the interests of development.



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Programmable thermostat

Yes, i think you were right that universities must include such topics to aware people about Adverse affects of environment if we not preserve it and it is not to preserves by one or a two person the whole world need to put a lot of effort in doing so other wise only the whole world has to suffer.

Well some of the universities as well as in some of the standards there have already included this topic in their education so that they came to know about it more and more and they also understand the important of the environment.

Sustainable development will not be brought about by policies only: it must be taken up by society at large as a principle guiding the many choices each citizen makes every day, as well as the big political and economic decisions that have. This requires profound changes in thinking, in economic and social structures and in consumption and production patterns.