Sustainable Development: Perspectives and Initiatives

The idea of sustainable development has its root in the oriental tradition, which teaches the values of conservation of nature and preaches harmonious co-existence of all living elements of the earth. Compared to this oriental ways of life, the western views on sustainable development were relatively new. In the vast literature of development economics, which had emerged as a new branch of economic discourse from mid twentieth century onwards, some erratic mention of this concept could be found. Only in 1972, this concept was explicitly put forward by Donella and Dennis Meadows in their book ‘Limits to Growth’, where the authors identified that the natural resources were limited and must be utilized judiciously for a sustainable future. Subsequently , the release of Burndtland Report in 1987, that defined ‘sustainable development’ as the process of development that met the needs of the present generations "without compromising the ability of future generations", prompted a serious debate on this concept, among the academics; social activists and policy makers across the globe. Sustainable Development broadly encompasses three aspects – Economic, Environmental and Social. In economic terms, it means optimal allocation of available resources across different generations. The environmental aspect refers to recognizing the limits of the ecosphere and preserving the natural condition of life, implying that the rate of utilization of natural resources should be less than the rate at which nature reproduces. In social terms, it refers to equity, freedom, justice and safety for all living beings; in terms of alleviating poverty, creating employment opportunities and building skills for an equitable and just society. During the last three decades (1987-2006), the concept of sustainable development has been interpreted (and also misinterpreted) from different perspectives. This volume has made an attempt to capture these perspectives and initiatives through seventeen articles written by eminent experts in the field. The papers have been presented in three different sections namely: Different Dimensions of Sustainable Development; Sustainable Development: Emerging Concerns and Sustainable Development: Country Initiatives.