Education has been the first step for me in understanding numerous aspects of my daily life, and it is my contention that is should be integral in my assessment of the environment as well. As a YES participant, I expect to expand my working knowledge of the social and political constraints in pursuing sustainability initiatives, while developing the tools necessary to implement efforts to circulate relevant information to the general public. It is my intention to gain the skills necessary to assess the climate needs of my community, and to promote sustainable living in its members. We all may not be able to promote recycling by cycling for months like Martina, but change cannot be found until every conscious person at least joins the race.
Here is a piece by Anubha on her personal definition of 'sustainable development':
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).
This definition, put forth by what is now called the Brundtland Commission, in my opinion does not provide a thorough understanding of “sustainable development” as it relates to environmental issues. While the statement does present a general idea of sustainability as it relates to our future development as a species, it does not address the core concern of sustainability, which should be environmental or ecological impacts, nor does it provide any guideline for action, policy, or behaviour.
The statement mainly encompasses notions of support and perpetuity which are implied by the term “sustainable”, the idea that use will not outweigh production. However, the definition does not allow for a full understanding of the term “development”, which denotes change, evolution, and growth. To at once conserve while simultaneously growing seems oxymoronic. Any development, be it economic, social, or technological, exploits resources; resource use, in turn, by definition is unsustainable, unless the raw materials being used are renewable.
Additionally, the definition provided by the Brundtland Commission fails to directly reference the environment as a key figure in sustainable development. In doing so, the phrase remains vague, applicable on the policy level to any type of “development”. As a result, the idea of sustainable development can be manipulated to serve the needs of governments or interest groups who may or may not have any ecological interests.
Finally, the concept of meeting the needs of future generations is commendable in theory, but impossible in practice. Developing and allotting resources responsibly is difficult in our time; how are we to predict the requirements and values of the next generation, and integrate those needs into our current economic market?
I propose a definition that incorporates the fluidity of the term “development”, with the concept of continuation. So, in my words, sustainable development should be a concerted effort to continuously modify procedures aimed at limiting humankind’s negative impact on the environment, while simultaneously bolstering initiatives that support the proliferation of an enduring ecological and social environment for all.
Check back for further updates on Anubha's experience in Switzerland at the YES 2009 program.
