Sustainable Development Milestones and Energy Sources

Key Milestones in Sustainable Development

The Club of Rome (1968)

• Created by scientists, economists, businessmen, and civil servants concerned about the way modern societies were developing their economies.
• "The Limits to Growth" (1972, MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology): This projection for the next 100 years makes clear that our economic model is not sustainable, primarily due to resource depletion and pollution.

First Earth Summit (1972)

As the UN wanted to address environmental problems, they created the Brundtland Commission, which published "Our Common Future" (1987). This report defined "sustainable development" as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It emphasized that there are limits to growth and that development and social justice must progress together.

Rio Summit (1992)

The UN's Second Earth Summit was significant because scientists, civil servants, and representatives from many nations debated economic problems, climate change, and more. Agenda 21 outlined necessary steps to address climate change, emphasizing the link between economic growth and social justice, and the importance of considering future generations.

Core Concepts in Sustainability

Planned or Built-in Obsolescence

Planned obsolescence, also known as built-in obsolescence in industrial design, is a policy of planning or designing a product with a limited useful life. The goal is for the product to become obsolete—unfashionable or no longer functional—after a certain period.

Globalization and Capitalism

Globalization refers to the worldwide spread of capitalism. The main pillar of capitalism is to maximize profits through the sale of goods and services. The more goods and services offered, the greater the potential for wealth accumulation. This inherent drive links capitalist societies to consumerism and productivism.

Energy Sources and Sustainability

Fossil Fuels

• Associated with climate change
• Polluting
• Non-renewable

Wind Energy

• Renewable
• Inexhaustible source
• Supports sustainable development

Hydropower

• Renewable
• Utilizes water
• Supports sustainable development
• Inexhaustible source
• Can be polluting (especially big projects)

Solar Power

• Renewable
• Inexhaustible source
• Supports sustainable development

Nuclear Power

• Utilizes water
• Polluting (waste)
• Non-renewable (uranium)
• Produces long-lasting radioactive waste