🪴Economic Development Unit 12 – Environmental Sustainability in Development

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Environmental sustainability involves meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs
  • Includes responsible use of natural resources (water, forests, minerals)
  • Minimizes negative environmental impacts (pollution, habitat destruction)
• Ecological footprint measures human demand on Earth's ecosystems and natural resources
  • Compares human consumption of resources to Earth's capacity to regenerate them
• Carrying capacity represents the maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely
  • Determined by factors such as food availability, water, and space
• Anthropocene refers to the current geological age significantly influenced by human activities
  • Marked by climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental challenges
• Green economy promotes economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability
  • Emphasizes low-carbon technologies, resource efficiency, and social inclusivity
• Circular economy aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency
  • Focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials in a closed-loop system

Historical Context of Environmental Sustainability

• Environmental concerns gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s
  • Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1962) highlighted the dangers of pesticides
  • Earth Day first celebrated in 1970, raising environmental awareness
• 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm marked a turning point
  • Recognized the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development
• Brundtland Commission's report "Our Common Future" (1987) defined sustainable development
  • Emphasized meeting present needs without compromising future generations
• 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro produced Agenda 21, a comprehensive sustainable development plan
  • Established the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Kyoto Protocol (1997) set binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries
  • Aimed to combat global warming and climate change
• Paris Agreement (2015) brought nations together to combat climate change
  • Goal to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels

Environmental Challenges in Developing Countries

• Rapid population growth puts pressure on natural resources and the environment
  • Leads to deforestation, habitat loss, and increased pollution
• Poverty and lack of access to clean technologies contribute to environmental degradation
  • Reliance on wood for fuel leads to deforestation
  • Lack of proper waste management systems results in pollution
• Urbanization and industrialization strain infrastructure and the environment
  • Inadequate urban planning leads to slums and poor living conditions
  • Industrial pollution contaminates air, water, and soil
• Climate change disproportionately affects developing countries
  • Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (droughts, floods)
  • Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and small island nations
• Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation impact livelihoods and well-being
  • Overexploitation of resources (overfishing, poaching) threatens species
  • Destruction of habitats (rainforests, wetlands) disrupts ecosystem services
• Limited institutional capacity and governance challenges hinder environmental protection efforts
  • Weak enforcement of environmental regulations and policies
  • Corruption and lack of transparency in resource management

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • Builds upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established in 2000
• SDGs integrate economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development
  • Recognizes the interconnectedness of various challenges and the need for a holistic approach
• Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Targets include achieving universal access to safe and affordable drinking water
  • Aims to improve water quality, increase water-use efficiency, and protect water-related ecosystems
• Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
  • Focuses on increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
  • Aims to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Promotes the efficient use of natural resources and the reduction of waste
  • Encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Calls for strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards
  • Aims to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Targets include reducing marine pollution, protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, and ending overfishing
• Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  • Aims to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Economic Models for Sustainable Development

• Green growth emphasizes economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability
  • Promotes the development and adoption of clean technologies and renewable energy
  • Encourages resource efficiency and the reduction of environmental externalities
• Inclusive green growth aims to ensure that the benefits of green growth are shared equitably
  • Focuses on creating green jobs and improving access to clean technologies for marginalized communities
• Doughnut economics presents a framework for sustainable development within ecological boundaries
  • Aims to meet social needs while staying within planetary boundaries
  • Emphasizes the importance of regenerative and distributive economic systems
• Circular economy model aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency
  • Focuses on designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems
  • Promotes the use of renewable energy and the adoption of closed-loop production systems
• Natural capital accounting incorporates the value of ecosystem services into economic decision-making
  • Recognizes the economic value of biodiversity, clean air, and water
  • Helps to ensure that the true costs and benefits of economic activities are considered
• Payments for ecosystem services (PES) provide incentives for conservation and sustainable land management
  • Landowners or communities are compensated for maintaining or enhancing ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, watershed protection)

Policy Approaches and Governance

• Command-and-control regulations set specific standards and requirements for environmental protection
  • Examples include emissions standards, product bans, and land-use restrictions
  • Effective in achieving targeted environmental outcomes but can be inflexible and costly
• Market-based instruments use economic incentives to encourage environmentally friendly behavior
  • Carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems put a price on greenhouse gas emissions
  • Subsidies and tax breaks can promote the adoption of clean technologies and renewable energy
• Voluntary agreements and self-regulation involve commitments by industries to improve environmental performance
  • Can be more flexible and cost-effective than regulations but may lack accountability
• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) involve collaboration between governments and the private sector
  • Can leverage private sector expertise and resources for sustainable development projects
  • Require clear roles, responsibilities, and risk-sharing arrangements
• Participatory governance and community-based management engage local communities in decision-making
  • Can lead to more context-specific and socially acceptable solutions
  • Requires capacity building and the recognition of local knowledge and rights
• International agreements and conventions provide a framework for global cooperation on environmental issues
  • Examples include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • Require political will and effective implementation mechanisms

Case Studies and Best Practices

• Costa Rica's payments for ecosystem services (PES) program has successfully reduced deforestation
  • Landowners are compensated for conserving forests and adopting sustainable land-use practices
  • Program has contributed to the recovery of forest cover and biodiversity
• China's circular economy policies have promoted resource efficiency and waste reduction
  • Eco-industrial parks facilitate the exchange of byproducts and waste between industries
  • Circular economy practices have been integrated into various sectors (manufacturing, agriculture)
• Germany's energy transition (Energiewende) has driven the adoption of renewable energy
  • Combination of feed-in tariffs, subsidies, and targets has increased the share of renewables in the energy mix
  • Has created jobs and stimulated innovation in the clean energy sector
• Curitiba, Brazil's integrated urban planning has promoted sustainable transportation and green spaces
  • Bus rapid transit (BRT) system has reduced traffic congestion and air pollution
  • Green space planning has preserved biodiversity and improved quality of life
• Bangladesh's community-based adaptation to climate change has strengthened resilience
  • Participatory approach has engaged local communities in identifying and implementing adaptation measures
  • Measures include raised homesteads, floating gardens, and rainwater harvesting
• Namibia's community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) has promoted wildlife conservation
  • Local communities have been granted rights to manage and benefit from wildlife resources
  • Has led to the recovery of wildlife populations and increased income for communities

Future Trends and Challenges

• Climate change will continue to pose significant challenges for sustainable development
  • Increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events will affect vulnerable communities
  • Adaptation and mitigation efforts will need to be scaled up and accelerated
• Rapid urbanization will require sustainable urban planning and infrastructure development
  • Green buildings, sustainable transportation, and nature-based solutions will be crucial
  • Addressing urban poverty and inequality will be essential for inclusive sustainable development
• Transition to a low-carbon economy will require significant investments and policy support
  • Phasing out fossil fuels and scaling up renewable energy will be key
  • Supporting workers and communities affected by the transition will be important for social justice
• Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation will need to be addressed through conservation and restoration efforts
  • Protecting critical habitats and species will require effective governance and funding
  • Incorporating the value of ecosystem services into decision-making will be essential
• Sustainable consumption and production patterns will need to be adopted at a global scale
  • Shifting towards circular economy practices and reducing waste will be crucial
  • Promoting sustainable lifestyles and consumer behavior change will be important
• Financing sustainable development will require innovative mechanisms and partnerships
  • Mobilizing public and private finance for sustainable infrastructure and projects
  • Aligning financial systems with sustainable development goals and climate targets
• Ensuring inclusive and equitable sustainable development will be a key challenge
  • Addressing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion will be essential
  • Empowering marginalized communities and ensuring their participation in decision-making processes