Sustainable Development Principles and Environmental Solutions

Sustainable Development: Responding to Environmental Crises

Sustainable Development and International Agreements

• Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (1987).
• Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio in 1992, sustainable development principles and environmental considerations have been reflected in international agreements at all levels. However, the meaning is not always consistent: some understand sustainability in terms of solidarity between peoples and generations, while others focus on the continuity of the economic system and societal welfare. These perspectives often conflict.

Key Sustainability Indicators

• The Ecological Footprint: An indicator that quantitatively assesses the human impact on Earth.
• Defined by Rees and Wackernagel in 1996, the Ecological Footprint measures "the surface area of land and water required to produce the resources consumed by a citizen, a town... and to absorb and detoxify the waste it generates, regardless of where these areas are located."

Agenda 21: A Global Action Plan

• Born from the UN Rio Summit (1992), Agenda 21 is a strategic action plan designed to apply sustainability criteria across all organized human activities.
• It is a comprehensive work plan for adoption by institutions such as municipalities, businesses, and schools. Each entity develops its own Agenda 21, contributing from its specific remit to create a framework for sustainable development.
• Municipalities have been the institutional sector most involved in developing these agendas.

Understanding Energy Sources

• Energy sources are the natural resources from which we can obtain energy.
• Primary energy is supplied directly by natural systems, including fossil fuels, nuclear power, geothermal energy, wind, and sunlight.
• Secondary energy forms are derived from primary sources and have been developed for packaging and transport from production sites to consumption sites. Examples include electricity from power plants, fuel gas, and hydrogen.
• Units of energy: The Joule (J) is the standard unit, with multiples often used.