Understanding Sustainable Development
Definition
Sustainable Development
Brundtland Commission defines it as: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Other definitions emphasize the need to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection.
Key Tensions
- Broad definitions make implementation difficult and vague.
- There's often a trade-off between sustainability, economic growth, and social development.
- Competing priorities mean no perfect solution, always a balancing act.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Introduced in 2015 to replace the MDGs, part of Agenda 2030.
- Comprise 17 goals, covering poverty, health, education, equality, sustainability, and more.
- Emphasize universal responsibility, not limited to developing countries.
Criticisms of the SDGs
- Not legally binding: no penalties for non-compliance.
- Insufficiently ambitious: progress is slow, some indicators (e.g. $1.25/day poverty line) are outdated.
- Too top-down: may ignore local contexts and needs.
- Favor the global north: built on a neoliberal model benefiting powerful nations.
- Outdated assumptions: based on Cold War-era thinking about development.
Escobar’s Post-Development Critique
- Argues that sustainable development is just rebranded traditional development.
- From a poststructuralist view, sustainable development still promotes Western capitalist ideals.
- Advocates alternative models rooted in local cultures and knowledge.
- Uses Pacific Coast of Colombia as an example: after 30 years of interventions, poverty and violence increased.
Case study
Pacific Coast of Colombia
- Context:
- Region is rich in biodiversity and natural resources.
- Populated by Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities with unique cultures and traditional ways of life.
- Development Interventions:
- Over 30 years, projects were implemented to “develop” the region, often involving:
- Mining
- Oil palm plantations
- Infrastructure expansion
- These efforts were based on Western models of economic growth and ignored local needs and knowledge.
- Over 30 years, projects were implemented to “develop” the region, often involving:
- Outcomes:
- Worsening poverty and increased inequality.
- Environmental degradation (loss of forests and ecosystems).
- Violence and displacement, as development projects attracted conflict and disrupted communities.
- Locals felt alienated from decisions imposed on them.
- Escobar’s Point:
- These projects reflected “development as control”, imposing external models rather than empowering communities.
- He argues for alternatives to development that come from within communities, respecting local values, autonomy, and traditional knowledge.
Self review
- How do different interpretations of sustainable development emphasize economic, environmental, or social priorities?
- What are some of the major tensions between economic growth and environmental sustainability?
- How do the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attempt to address competing development priorities?
