What is sustainable development?

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A concept, political orientations

At the top of the Earth of Rio in 1992, the concept of sustainable development was translated into political orientations. This concept defines references and principles which should guide our actions in a global way by planning and by taking into account consequences in the economic, social and environmental domain. These are 3 essential aspects in the quality of life. It is for that reason that sustainable development is often schematized by 3 groups which confirm each other.

Besides, sustainable development establishes the concept of double solidarity: the solidarity in place (North / South) and the solidarity in the time (current and future generations). Indeed, every human being all around the world, has the right to reach the global resources and the duty to assure the durability for the future generations.

Sustainable development implies to revise the mode of development and the modes of production and consumption.

An affair for all of us

To revise the mode of development requires a mobilization articulated both to the global and local plan, to the collective as well as to the individual plan. Sustainable development supposes the involvement of all actors: the political powers, the companies and the individual in his daily behavior.

The political powers, international institutions (UNO, OECD, European Union), the municipalities,... have the duty to implement the necessary means to respect commitments, for example the signing of treaties in Rio, Aalborg, Kyoto, Johannesburg,...

The municipalities have a specific role to be played in the involvement of civil society: raising awareness, education and participation.

On the other hand, the civil society, the inhabitants, the shopkeepers, the companies have an active role to be played for the positive evolution of the planet. It is in particular the addition and the reproduction of actions which give significant results. No action is without influence.

All the activities, even individual, have tangible repercussions: as consumer, we can buy in a responsible way and choose products stemming from fair trade. As a parent we can educate our children in the respect for differences. As business manager, we can take into account environmental and social impacts of our activities...

In the City of Brussels, the Eco-Advice service proposes advice to allow each to adopt this kind of behaviour.

(1) Definition expressed in 1987 by Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and President of the World Committee on the Environment and Development.

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