Читать книгу Sociology - Anthony Giddens - Страница 260

Rather than simply calling for economic growth to be reined in, more recent developments turn on the concept of sustainable development. This was first introduced in a report commissioned by the United Nations, Our Common Future (WCED 1987). This is also known as the Brundtland Report, after the chair of the organizing committee, Gro Harlem Brundtland, then prime minister of Norway. The report’s authors argued that use of the Earth’s resources by the present generation was unsustainable.

The Brundtland Commission regarded sustainable development as ‘development which meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (WCED 1987) – a pithy definition, but one which carries enormous significance. Sustainable development means that economic growth should be carried on in such a way as to recycle physical resources rather than deplete them and to keep levels of pollution to a minimum. However, the definition is open to criticism. How many generations should be considered – five, ten, or more? How can we know what are the ‘needs’ of the present generation? How can we compare human needs in developing countries with those in the relatively rich countries? These questions are still debated, though the concept of sustainable development – however problematic – continues to motivate many individuals and voluntary groups.