Level: SL and HL. Sections marked HL only are for Higher Level students.
Economic growth that destroys natural resources or leaves people behind cannot last. This topic explains sustainable development, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and (HL) the two-way link between sustainability and poverty.
4.7.1 The meaning of sustainable development
Definition
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of people today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
This idea, made widely known by the UN's Brundtland Commission in 1987, has three connected dimensions:
- Economic: rising incomes and productive employment.
- Social: access to education, health care, equality of opportunity and reduced poverty.
- Environmental: protection of natural resources, biodiversity and a stable climate.
Development is sustainable only if progress on one dimension does not come at an unacceptable cost to another. For example, growth that relies on clearing rainforests or burning coal may raise incomes today but reduce the resources available to future generations.
Example
Costa Rica reversed heavy deforestation by paying landowners to protect forests, and now earns significant income from eco-tourism. India has set a target of 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030 and has rapidly expanded solar power, while still relying on coal for most of its electricity.
🔒 Also in the full notes
- 4.7.2 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- 4.7.3 The relationship between sustainability and poverty (HL only)
- Exam practice: 5 questions with mark allocations
- 2 exemplar answers with full model answers and examiner commentary
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