Sustainability – a frequently discussed topic

Development and healthy environment of present and future generations 

Sustainability is a frequently discussed topic recently, especially among civil society organizations and in the civil sector in general. Donors look for sustainability of projects they provide financial support for, ecologists talk about sustainable development in the production of food, organizations of marginalized citizens stand up for decreasing poverty and differences in the standard of living.

The definition of the World Commission for Environment and Development explains sustainability in the following way: “Development is sustainable when it meets the needs of present time, but it does not make a compromise with the opportunity for the future generations to meet their needs”. This definition is quite global and it does not refer only to the short-term effects upon present generations, but also to the long-term effects on future generations.

Some other definitions explain sustainable development as “economic development, socially responsible and rightful, ecologically acceptable, based on the basic postulates of civil society” and “sustainable development implements adaptation and improvement in a context where communities try to protect natural processes and functions of the nature and to protect the resources for the future generations”.

These definitions imply that sustainable development as a concept has a wide meaning and very little specifics, therefore it is difficult to explain. Defining sustainability as a combination of development, equality and environment, the following questions impose: What is developed? What is to be sustained and how long should it be sustainable? Thus, for example, if we talk about sustainable development in agriculture, it means that there should be balance between the present and future food production and other needs in agriculture through a method of using the nature and natural resources without harming the environment. It means that we should find a way to use natural resources and it should be balanced with the needs of the future generations.

In order to clarify the concept of sustainability in terms of what it covers and how the questions related to sustainable development are treated, as an illustration we can use the “Rio Declaration”. Namely, the United Nations Conference for Environmental Protection and Development (11MCEO), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 was a turning point in the way of thinking and understanding the concept of sustainability. 179 countries took part at the Conference and they reached a consensus for global partnership in direction towards balancing the needs for healthy economy, social development and high-quality environment. This common agreement is in the Declaration for Environment and Development, whose 27 principles determine the rights and obligations of the countries in their insistence on development and welfare. According to these principles, the countries signatories of the declaration should direct their activities to provide global sustainable development. Some of the principles from the “Rio Declaration” are the following:

·  People have a right to a healthy and productive way of life in balance with the nature;

·  Today’s development must not endanger the need for development and healthy environment of the present and future generations;

·  In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection will be an integral part of the development process and it can not be considered out of it;

·  Rooting out poverty and decreasing the differences in the standard of living in some parts of the world are necessary to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of the majority;

·  Nations should root out or decrease unsustainable production and consumption habits, as well as promote a correct demographic policy.

The concept of sustainable development, although directed towards future, should be clear and acceptable for the present generations that should not feel that its application would endanger them or decrease their standard.

The volume, diversity and complexity impose making a division of sustainability in several kinds:

·        Sustainability of the environment

·        Social sustainability

·        Cultural sustainability

·        Economic sustainability

·        Political sustainability.

As a result of the activities of the ecological organizations and the public in the Republic of Macedonia, sustainability is mainly considered to be sustainability of the environment. The Macedonian Ecologists’ Movement, together with the Ministry of Urbanism, Civil Engineering, Traffic and Ecology, has promoted the national action plan for environmental protection. It was adopted in 1996 by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia. It is a strategic document that contains all aspects of integrated approach in environmental protection.

However, sustainability is not important only for keeping the environment. Sustainability is to be sought in decreasing poverty and excessive consumption, health care and education, business development and industrialization, development programs in urban and rural environments. Governments of all countries should work on preparing and adopting strategies for sustainable development and initiate participation of civil society organizations, scientific institutions and other social associations in the preparation implementation of the activities for sustainability.

 

CONCEPT PAGE

 

Development, by definition, is a process through which social problems are solved by application of systematic and well-defined activities.

 

Development intervention is an approach of pointing out issues and solving problems through development activities.

 

Sustainability of a development project is provided when the necessary level of support for the users can be sustained after completing the financial, managerial and technical support by the external donor.