The Concept of Sustainable Development

The concept of sustainable development integrates the economic, social and environmental dimension in an attempt to seek a balance in the interaction of the three dimensions. (Stevens, 2005) It is however a crucial issue to sustainable development when human species are trying to live past the capacity of the Earth to sustain both the human and other species. While doing so, it most particularly damages the natural balance of critical natural protective systems such as the creation of greenhouse effects to the depletion of the ozone layer. (Haughton, 1999)

Therefore, there was a call by the Brundtland Commission for a more holistic approach to be supplanted that is to move towards the triple bottom line approach (TBL). The TBL approach manages the use of resources with the consideration of the economic, environmental and social dimension in striking a balance in the interaction of the three elements. (Stoddard, Pollard, & Evans, 2012) This would mean improving the economic and social quality of life while limiting impacts on the environment as possible. (CH2M Hill & Good Company, 2009)

The notion of balance was further supported by the concept of equity in the Brundtland Report (WCED, 1987). Sustainable development hence involves a concept of intergenerational which allows for improvements in the life of the current generation while simultaneously avoiding uncompensated cost especially environmental damages to the future generation also referred as intra generational equity. (Pearce, Barbier and Markandya, 1990 cited in Turner, 1995)

However, despite the concept of balance to be incorporated in moving towards sustainable development, it has been argued on Brundtland’s view which declared that economic development is particularly essential in order to meet the social goals of sustainable development.(Geest &Ros, 2007) This brought about various debates including the concept of balance that can be misleading ; as economic growth