Sustainable development is development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, established this as the most widely used definition and placed sustainable development firmly on the international policy agenda.
The Reasoning and Mechanism
The report was produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland. It argued that environmental protection and socioeconomic development should not be treated as opposing goals: development must occur within environmental limits while improving human well-being.
In IB ESS Subtopic 1.3, sustainability measures the extent to which practices maintain the long-term viability of a socio-ecological system. Sustainable development applies this principle specifically to social and economic development.
| Concept | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Environmental sustainability | Resources can be replaced, while ecosystems can recover and regenerate. |
| Social sustainability | Structures such as healthcare, education, equity and community support human well-being. |
| Economic sustainability | Economic systems continue providing goods and services that meet future human needs. |
| Intergenerational equity | Present actions must not reduce the opportunities or resources available to future generations. |
The Brundtland definition therefore connects the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. For example, expanding renewable electricity may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create employment, but it is only sustainable if mineral extraction, costs and access do not impose disproportionate harm on vulnerable communities.
A common misconception is that the Brundtland Report created a legally binding global rule. It did not. It provided an influential framework and definition that shaped later international sustainability policy.
Exam Technique
For a define question, reproduce the full idea of present needs and future generations. For an explain or discuss question, connect all three pillars, identify trade-offs, and apply a named example. Do not treat sustainable development as environmental protection alone; the social and economic dimensions are equally examinable at both SL and HL.
