RPK538 | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

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first class for sustainable development planning for this semester.. i'm looking forward into this subject since this topic quite popular nowadays ;) and i would like to share WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is all about.. let's check it out.. 

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (SD)

1. Mr GOOGLE - SD is refer to a mode of human development where resources are being used to meets the human's needs while ensuring the sustainability of natural systems and the environment so that the needs of present and future can be met.
2. Brundtland Commission -

"SD is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"

However the definition from Brundtland Commission always been quote and most widely recognized by all. Under this definition, it contains 2 key concepts which are:

1.  the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; 
2. the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs."

International Institute for Sustainable Development conclude that sustainable development as a system — a system that connects space; and a system that connects time.

what exactly it means??.. from my reading, the example of system that connect space is something like hazard issues from forest fires by Sumatera, Indonesia affects the air quality in Malaysia and system that connect time is something like affect of decision maker from previous generation towards new generation. for example economic policies endorse by government today will have impact on urban poverty for new generation. 

GOAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

inter-generational equity - implies fairness to coming generations  

According to Philip R. Berke and Maria Manta Conroy from APA Journal stated that sustainable development is a simple concept where current and future generations must strive to achieve a decent standard of living for all people and live within the limits of natural systems. This concept is being used to guide planning and effort translate the concept into planning practice. From the concept, 4 characteristic been identified which are:

1. Reproduction - Campbell (1996) define SD as 'the long-term ability of a system to reproduce
2. Balance among environmental, economic and social values (Kaiser et al.,1995; Neuman, 1999)
3. Link local to global concerns (Mega,1996) - SD requires communities to reach beyond their individual interest in future development to account for global and regional needs. 
4. Dynamic process that extends from the formulation of plan (Maclaren, 1996; Shepard & Ortolano, 1996).

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. 
2. Development today must not undermine the development and environment needs of present and future generations. 
3. Nations have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but without causing environmental damage beyond their borders. 
4. Nations shall develop international laws to provide compensation for damage that activities under their control cause to areas beyond their borders. 
5. Nations shall use the precautionary approach to protect the environment. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, scientific uncertainty shall not be used to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. 
6. Environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process, and cannot be considered in isolation from it.  
7. Nations shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command. 
8. Nations should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and promote appropriate demographic policies. 
9. Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens. Nations shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making environmental information widely available. 
10. Nations shall enact effective environmental laws, and develop national law regarding liability for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. 
11. Nations should cooperate to promote an open international economic system that will lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries. 
12. The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution. 
13. Nations shall warn one another of natural disasters or activities that may have harmful trans boundary impacts. 
14. Sustainable development requires better scientific understanding of the problems. 
15. Nations should share knowledge and innovative technologies to achieve the goal of sustainability. 
16. The full participation of women is essential to achieve sustainable development. The creativity, ideals and courage of youth and the knowledge of indigenous people are needed too. Nations should recognize and support the identity, culture and interests of indigenous people. 
17. Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development, and Nations shall respect international laws protecting the environment in times of armed conflict, and shall cooperate in their further establishment.
18. Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.

 

SOURCES: http://www.unep.org/training/programmes/Instructor%20Version/Part_1/readings/Principles_%20of_Sustainable_Development.pdf

As a conclusion, sustainable development need to be applied in planning requirement as the world is become worse from day to day because of human's work. if we don't start the effort to maintain this world, it is not a big surprise in the future if we have to pay an expensive price for all resources in the world to live. education regarding sustainable need to be teaches to younger generations starting from today. as for planners, applying sustainable in every development is a MUST in order to overcome the problem that exist currently and perhaps it will not become worse in the future. 

what we have today is from past and it is our responsibility to conserve and use it properly for future generation benefits