Sustainable Development (Leaving Cert CASD): Revision Notes
Sustainable Development
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is about finding a way to meet our current needs whilst ensuring that future generations can also meet their own needs. Think of it as borrowing from the future rather than stealing from it.
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The concept revolves around balancing three key pillars that work together - you can't have true sustainability by focusing on just one area whilst ignoring the others.
The three pillars are:
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Environmental sustainability - protecting our natural world, ecosystems, and resources so they remain healthy and available for the future
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Economic sustainability - creating economic growth that benefits everyone and can continue long-term without damaging society or the environment
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Social sustainability - ensuring fairness, justice, and equality in society so that all people can live decent lives
How sustainable development evolved over time
Understanding the history of sustainable development helps explain why it became such an important global concept:
1960s-1970s: Environmental awakening
Growing public awareness of environmental damage became widespread during this period. Oil spills, deforestation, and pollution were becoming impossible to ignore. Influential books like "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson in 1962 helped raise public concern about environmental destruction.
1972: Stockholm Conference
The first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment took place, marking a crucial moment when world leaders officially recognised that environmental protection and economic development are interconnected rather than separate issues.
1987: The Brundtland Report
Also known as "Our Common Future," this report introduced the most widely accepted definition of sustainable development that we still use today. It emphasised intergenerational equity - our responsibility to future generations.
1992: Rio Earth Summit
This major international conference adopted Agenda 21, which was a comprehensive global action plan for sustainability, along with the Rio Declaration establishing key environmental principles.
2000: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The UN established specific targets focusing on reducing poverty, improving health, and protecting the environment, giving the world concrete goals to work towards.
2015: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Building on the MDGs, the UN created 17 comprehensive goals addressing poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental protection, with a target date of 2030.
Problems with traditional development approaches
Before sustainable development became popular, traditional development had several significant flaws:
Economic growth obsession
Traditional models focused almost entirely on increasing GDP (Gross Domestic Product), often completely ignoring inequality, cultural identity, and environmental damage. Success was measured purely by economic numbers rather than overall wellbeing.
Global inequality
The benefits of development have been shared very unevenly around the world. Often, the Global South (developing countries) suffers environmental damage from industries that primarily serve the Global North (wealthy developed countries).
Environmental destruction
Rapid industrialisation, widespread deforestation, and heavy fossil fuel use have led to serious problems including biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change. Traditional development treated the environment as an unlimited resource rather than something precious that needs protection.
Criticisms of sustainable development
Despite its good intentions, sustainable development faces several important criticisms:
1. Too vague and overused
The Brundtland definition is quite broad and can be interpreted in many different ways. Critics argue this allows governments and corporations to claim they are being "sustainable" without actually taking meaningful action to change their harmful practices.
2. Greenwashing problems
Some companies use the term "sustainable" primarily for marketing purposes whilst continuing environmentally harmful practices. For example, oil companies might fund "carbon offset" schemes to appear green whilst simultaneously expanding their drilling operations.
Real-World Example: Greenwashing in Action
An oil company might:
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Step 1: Launch a high-profile advertising campaign about their "green initiatives"
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Step 2: Invest a small percentage of profits in renewable energy projects
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Step 3: Continue expanding fossil fuel extraction operations with the majority of their resources
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Result: Public perception of environmental responsibility while actual environmental impact remains largely unchanged
3. Conflicting goals
Economic growth often directly conflicts with environmental limits. For instance, expanding airports might boost economic development but also increases carbon emissions. It's extremely difficult to balance social, economic, and environmental priorities equally in real-world situations.
4. Western-centric approach
The concept of sustainable development was largely developed in international institutions dominated by Western perspectives. Indigenous and local communities' viewpoints are sometimes excluded, despite these groups often having more holistic and effective approaches to sustainability.
5. Implementation challenges
Although the UN has created ambitious SDGs, many countries struggle to achieve them due to insufficient funding, lack of political will, or inadequate global cooperation. There's a significant gap between good intentions and actual results.
Understanding the bigger picture
It's important to recognise that traditional development has historically prioritised economic growth, often at the expense of environmental protection and social equity. Sustainable development attempts to find a better balance by reconciling economic progress with environmental limits and social justice.
However, many critics argue that fundamental change is needed. Unless we challenge the basic assumption that endless economic growth is necessary and desirable, sustainability may remain more of an aspiration than a practical reality.
Exam Tips
When writing essays about sustainable development, structure your response effectively by:
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Starting with the Brundtland definition to establish your understanding
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Providing the historical timeline (Stockholm → Brundtland → Rio → MDGs → SDGs) to show development
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Presenting the strengths, such as the integrated approach and global framework
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Discussing the critiques, including vagueness, inequality issues, and greenwashing
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Concluding with a balanced judgement that recognises both the usefulness and implementation challenges
Key Points to Remember:
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Sustainable development balances three pillars: environmental protection, economic growth, and social justice - all three must work together
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The Brundtland definition is key: meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs
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Historical evolution matters: from 1970s environmental awareness to today's SDGs, showing increasing global recognition of these issues
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Implementation is challenging: despite good intentions, translating sustainable development theory into practice faces significant obstacles
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Critical thinking is essential: understanding both the benefits and limitations of sustainable development approaches helps you evaluate their real-world effectiveness