What is sustainable development?
A widely-used and accepted international definition of
sustainable development is:
"Development which meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs."
This means that we must live within environmental limits
(limiting climate change and protecting limited natural resources),
and stimulate strong, healthy communities and a just society.
The world is changing
- The world’s population tripled in the last century and energy
use grew by a factor of 12.
- By 2015 there will be 2 billion more people, with most of the
growth in developing countries.
- Nearly 4 out of 5 people in the world live on less than $11 per
day.
- 50% of the world’s population have never made a telephone call.
- 60% of Europe’s largest cities are consuming groundwater faster
than it is being replenished.
- Private foreign direct investment in developing countries is
over four times the amount received in official aid.
- Only 25% of the public agree that companies communicate
honestly about their social and environmental performance.
Ref: Tomorrow’s Markets available on
the WBCD web site.
Why we must move towards sustainable
development
"I can tell you with assurance that
global, sweeping, concerted action is needed now. There is no time
to waste. Slowing and even reversing the effects of climate change
is the defining challenge of our age.”
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, launching the fourth assessment
report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 17
November 2007.
It has become clear that the world’s current
model is of unsustainable development, and is having a negative
effect on the environment and the climate. Our way of life is
placing an increasing burden on the planet.
This burden we place on resources and
environmental systems such as water, land and air cannot go on
forever. Especially as the world's population continues to increase
and over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day.
A decisive move toward more sustainable
development is not only the right thing to do, but is also in our
own long-term best interests. It offers the best hope for the
future. Whether at school, in the home or at work, we all have a
part to play. Our small everyday actions add up to make a big
difference.
Read how Chronos can help your company
learn about sustainable development and CSR.