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History
Sustainable Development: Where it began
The concept of sustainable development received its first major international recognition in 1972
at the UN Conference on the Human
Environment held in Stockholm.
The Brundtland Commission Report, 1987

popularised the concept of ‘Sustainable
Development’ and advocated it as a means for
resource conservation, which was subsequently
published in a book entitled Our Common Future.
Later, at the first Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil in 1992, assembled leaders signed the
Declaration on Global Climatic Change and
Biological Diversity. The Rio Convention endorsed
the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in
the 21st century.
More recently, the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg in
2002, attended by 191 national governments, UN agencies, multilateral financial institutions and
other major groups to assess progress since Rio.
Why sustainable development?
Sustainable development emerges as a compelling imperative due to the remarkable strides

humanity has made across various domains, particularly in the realm of technology. Regrettably,
the strides we've taken and the innovative technologies we've developed often fall short of being
ecologically considerate, leading to the degradation of our environment.
The excessive utilization of fuels and chemicals, such as petrol and diesel, has resulted in
pollution that imperils our planet's protective ozone layer. Similarly, the pervasive integration of
plastic into our lives, driven by past developmental choices, has given rise to an enduring
burden of non-degradable waste on our planet. Likewise, the discarding of modern gadgets
following their use contributes to an accumulation of non-biodegradable refuse.
This collective harm manifests as an unsettling disruption in our soil, water, and biodiversity. To
address these concerns, a balanced approach to development that safeguards both the
environment and its inhabitants becomes essential.
The concept of sustainable development, as introduced by the Brundtland Commission in its

1987 report "Our Common Future," offers a solution to the predicament of environmental
degradation. Recognizing the need to harmonize economic, environmental, and social
aspirations, world leaders realized that a strategy was necessary to avert the exploitation of
resources.
In this trajectory, the imperative is to conserve and augment our resources, adapting to the
burgeoning demands of an increasing population without plundering natural assets or
destabilizing environmental equilibrium. The tenets of sustainable development align with this
purpose. Notably, sustainability transcends environmental considerations alone; it does not
impede innovation, progress, or socio-economic advancement. On the contrary, it grapples with
the intricate challenges posed by economic development and environmental preservation alike,
presenting a holistic approach to propel us toward a harmonious future.
First steps:
The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for achieving
Sustainable Development in the 21st century.
Agenda 21 is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It aims
at achieving global sustainable development. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage,
poverty, disease through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared
responsibilities. One major objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should
draw its own local Agenda 21.
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, agreed to at the World Summit on Sustainable

Development (Earth Summit 2002), affirmed UN commitment to "full implementation" of Agenda
21, alongside achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other international
agreements.
The first World Public Meeting on Culture, held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2002, came up with the
idea to establish guidelines for local cultural policies, something comparable to what Agenda 21
was for the environment. They are to be included in various subsections of Agenda 21 and will
be carried out through a wide range of sub-programs beginning with G8 countries.
In 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development the attending members
reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 21 in their outcome document called "The Future We
Want". Leaders from 180 nations participated.
Agenda 2030, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, was a set of goals decided
upon at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. It takes all of the goals set by
Agenda 21 and re-asserts them as the basis for sustainable development, saying, "We reaffirm
all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development…" Adding onto those
goals from the original Rio document, a total of 17 goals have been agreed on, revolving around
the same concepts of Agenda 21; people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.

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History

Sustainable Development: Where it began

The Brundtland Commission Report, 1987

Later, at the first Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro,

Why sustainable development?

Sustainable development emerges as a compelling imperative due to the remarkable strides

The concept of sustainable development, as introduced by the Brundtland Commission in its

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, agreed to at the World Summit on Sustainable

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