Concept and Pillars of Sustainable development

Concept of sustainable development is given by elaborating its pillars and principles.

1. Dr. Harpal Kaur Aujla (Associate Professor) AKAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION MASTUANA SAHIB SANGRUR

2. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is our society's ability to exist and develop without depleting all of the natural resources needed to live in the future.

3. Sustainable development was a term first coined in 1980. World Conservation Strategy: a union between three prominent environmental non-governmental organizations IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) , WWF ( World Wildlife Fund) UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme) where sustainable development took on the meaning of ‘conserving the earth’s natural resources. What the World Conservation Strategy had realized is that with the world’s economic growth, came the near-sighted exploitation of the world’s natural resources. The original, and sole, intent of the World Conservation Strategy was to bring nations together to stop the exploitation of natural resources, which in turn was negatively affecting the environment.

4. The term sustainability is broadly used to indicate programs, initiatives and actions aimed at the preservation of a particular resource.

5. Human sustainability aims to maintain and improve the human capital in society. Human sustainability examples include things such as access to : Food, Water, Healthcare, Education, Justice, Fair working conditions, Development of skills, Respect for human rights in general. Human sustainability aims to fulfil people's needs and aspirations, while empowering them to contribute to positive change. Secondly, it argues that human well-being is interdependent on the well-being/ happiness of other living beings and the environment. HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY

6. Social sustainability is about making sure that communities and societies can thrive and continue to exist in a healthy, fair, and equal way. It focuses on improving people’s quality of life, fostering strong relationships, and ensuring everyone has the chance to fulfill their potential. The 5 principles of social sustainability are  Social equity and justice, Diversity and inclusion, Democratic participation and empowerment, Livelihood security, Social well-being and quality of life. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

7. Economic sustainability is the meeting the economic needs of the present without diminishing the economic needs of the future. Our current economic system is not sustainable. It does not effectively provide for the economic needs of most people. Economic sustainability refers to practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting social, environmental, and cultural aspects of the community. ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

8. Environmental sustainability is the responsibility to maintain an ecological balance in our planet's natural environment and conserve natural resources to support the wellbeing of current and future generations. Renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass, crop rotation, crop cover, and smart water usage. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

9. Think twice before shopping. Ditch plastic and switch to reuse. Take extinction off your plate. Simplify the holidays. Choose organic. Ditch fast fashion and animal-based textiles. Be water wise. Drive less, drive green. Green your home. Boycott products that endanger wildlife. Fight for the right to choose when and if to start a family. Take action. Use your voice.

10. PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

11. Living within environmental limits is one of the five principles of sustainable development. But the practical meaning of ‘living within environmental limits’, and our methods to achieve it, have not yet been articulated clearly. It is easy to talk about environmental limits, and many of us accept that such limits must exist. Living within environmental limits

12. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity. ENSURING A STRONG, HEALTHY AND JUST SOCIETY

13. Economic sustainability is the practice of conserving natural and financial resources to create long-term financial stability. A system that's sustainable can last far into the future with minimal negative impacts. Alternative energy sources, such as wind power, solar power and hydropower, can offer a more sustainable, clean and affordable solution to energy needs. ACHIEVING

14. Good government depends on an ability to exercise power, and to make good decisions over time, across a spectrum of economic, social, environmental and other areas. Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this can not take place without the government being accountable to the people. It uses six dimensions of governance for their measurements, Voice & Accountability, Political Stability and Lack of Violence, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption. GOOD GOVERNANCE

15. USING RESONSIBILY

16. The UK’s Shared Framework for Sustainable Development , adopted in 2005 was: ‘Using sound science responsibly’. Gathering the science/knowledge and assessing its soundness is only one step in determining the way forward. This knowledge has to be applied ‘responsibly’. Decisions about environmental policies must be based on the scientific evidence and an analysis of technological options, but they must also take into account risks and costs, and be informed by values. The responsible use of sound science is a fine principle to follow, but leaves many questions to be answered.

17. Technology can help make cities more sustainable by improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing mobility. Smart city technologies such as intelligent lighting, building automation, and traffic management can improve the quality of life for urban residents while reducing environmental impact.

18. Concept of Sustainable Development: Importance The goals of sustainable development were first adopted by the United Nations Member States in 2015. The concept of sustainable development aims to encourage the use of products and services in a manner that reduces the impact on the environment and optimizes the resources in order to satisfy human needs. To understand why sustainable development is the need of the hour, take a look at the following key pointers that elucidate upon its importance:

19. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AT ALL LEVELS Environmental education is crucial for students as it develops a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Students learn about the importance of reducing waste, conserving energy, and preserving natural resources. Environmental education allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.

20. Marginal land, known as pasture land and grassland, is an area getting little to no water. Such land has low quality of soils. High mountains, steep slopes barren and/or rocky lands are marginalized lands. In some cases, marginal land is created from degrading arable lands while growing crops. Revegetation is done by replanting vegetation and rebuilding the soil of disturbed land for the main purpose to rehabilitate or protect degraded land.  WOODLAND AND REVEGETATION ON MARGINALISED LANDS

21. Ecologically compatible human settlements Large cities and towns use extensive land areas, which alter the natural state of land, degrade environmental integrity, fragment ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.  Taking into account the diversity of land resources and regions in a country, it is necessary to work for the highest possible population distribution throughout the country. The adverse urbanization effect might be reduced and, consequently, sustainable development will be supported. Besides, land resources might be developed more effectively, the fact having a positive effect on the sustainability as well ( Rastyapina, Ganzha & Prokopenko, 2020)

22. HEALTHY CROPLAND AND GRASSLAND Grassland soils generally contain more nitrogen, potassium and organic matter and less phosphorus than cropland soils. Grasslands can be natural, made up of indigenous species and managed with few external inputs. Or, they can be temporary, used in rotation, alternating between cropland and grassland and intensively managed.

23. TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES  Crop residues:  stalks, leaves, husks, and straw that remain after harvesting wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, and others Animal manure : feces, urine, and bedding materials Agrochemical containers  of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers Leftover feed : grains, forages, and other feed materials Harvest and processing waste : fruit peels, vegetable trimming, damaged or rejected produce, and byproducts from food processing Packaging materials:  plastic bags, cardboard boxes, and containers Green waste:  trimmings, prunings , plant debris, leaves, branches, and grass clippings

24. Benefits of Sustainable Development   Here are some of the pivotal benefits that can be reaped by implementing the concept of sustainable development: Global Equity : Environmental benefits need to equitably distributed over the present and future generations. Ethical Guiding Principle:  Incorporation of the characteristics and values that most people associate with ethical behaviour democracy, equality or social justice. Physical Sustainability:  Recognisation of the limits to nature and striving towards an overall global ecological balance. Intergeneration Equity:  Environmental resources and economic welfare should be available for future generations at least equal to the present ones.

25. DEFRA,  One Future – Different Paths: The UK’s Shared Framework for Sustainable Development  (2005), 8. O A Rastyapina  et al  2020  IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng.   962  042003. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution,  Twenty-first report: Setting Environmental Standards  (1998, Cm 4053), 113. https://diversity.social/social-sustainability / https://academic.oup.com/jel/article/33/3/507/6386713 https://sustainability.umw.edu/areas-of-sustainability/economic-sustainability/ https://sphera.com/glossary/what-is-environmental-sustainability/ https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/live_more_sustainably.html https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-economic-sustainability https://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education#:~:text=Environmental%20education%20is%20a%20process,make%20informed%20and%20responsible%20decisions . REFERENCES