Light

Sustainable Development

Definition

Sustainable development is a strategy by which communities seek economic growth without depleting their natural resources or causing severe ecological damage. It aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Analogy

Think of sustainable development like a long-distance runner. The runner knows they have to maintain a certain pace and use their energy wisely in order to finish the race. They can't sprint all out at the beginning, or they'll run out of energy before they reach the finish line. Similarly, sustainable development seeks to balance our current needs with preserving resources for future generations.

Related terms

Environmentalism: This is a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from harmful human activities, often closely linked with sustainable development as it also focuses on long-term ecological health.

Renewable Energy: This refers to energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). It's an important part of many strategies for sustainable development.

Ecological Footprint: This measures how much nature we have and how much nature we use. It's used in sustainability assessments to help us understand if we're living within our planet's means.