Sustainable Development and Environment Impact Assessment

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The most widely accepted definition was given by Brundtland Commission in 1987 in it report "Our Common Future". It seeks a balance among three pillars

• Economic
  • Growth, employment, productivity, poverty reduction.
• Social
  • Equity, health, education, gender equality and social justice.
• Environmental
  • Conservation of resources, biodiversity, pollution control and climate stability.

The core idea is intergenerational equality and intragenerational equity and environmental sustainability.

Origin

Sustainable development evolved through several international milestones, that includes:-

1972 Stockholm Conference

• It was United Nations conference on human-environment relationship.
• It was the first major global conference linking environment and human development.
• It produced Stockholm Declaration.
• It lead to establishment of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).
• It emphasized that environmental protection should be integrated with development.

1980 World Conservation Strategy

• It was prepared by IUCN, UNEP and WWF.
• It promoted the idea of conservation and development together.

1987 Brundtland Commission

• It was officially called World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).
• It presented report "Our Common Future".
• According to this sustainable development is equal to development that meets present needs without compromising future generations.

1992 Rio Earth Summit

• The UN conference on environment and development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro.
• Its major outcomes were
  • Agenda 21
  • Rio Declaration
  • UNFCCC
  • CBD (Convection on Biodiversity)
  • Forest Principles

Agenda 21

It is a comprehensive non binding action plan for sustainable development for 21^st Century. It has four broad sections.

• Social and economic dimensions
  • Poverty, population, human health, settlement, etc.
• Conservation and Management of resources
  • Land, forest, biodiversity, agriculture, water, solid waste, etc.
• Strengthening the role of major groups
  • Women, children, youth, NGOs, workers, farmers, business and industries, scientific communities, etc.
• Means of implementation
  • Finance, technology transfer, capacity building, institutions, international cooperation, etc.

Millennium Development Goals

• It was adopted by the UN in 2000 through UN Millennium declaration for the period 2000-2050.
• There are 8 MDG with 21 targets and 60 official indicators.

8 MDG

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
• Achieve universal primary education.
• Promote gender equality and empower women.
• Reduce child mortality.
• Improve maternal health.
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
• Ensure environmental sustainability.
• Develop a global partnership for development.

Sustainable Development Goals

• It was adopted by all UN member states in 2015 under 2030 agenda for sustainable development for the period 2015-2030.
• It came into effect on January 2016.
• There are 17 SDGs that includes
  • SDG 1: No poverty
  • SDG 2: Zero hunger
  • SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing
  • SDG 4: Quality education
  • SDG 5: Gender equality
  • SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
  • SDG 7: Affordable clean energy
  • SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
  • SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • SDG 10: Reduce inequalities
  • SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
  • SDG 13: Climate action
  • SDG 14: Life below water
  • SDG 15: Life on land
  • SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
  • SDG 17: Partnership for the goals

Indian Government Response to SDG

• India adopted the 2030 agenda and 17 SDGs in 2015. Since, SDGs are not legally binding, India has sought to integrate them with national developmental policies, schemes and programs.
• NITI Aayog is the nodal institution for SDG in India.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation develops the national indicator framework.
• NITI Aayog SDG India Index measures the performance of states and UTs across SDGs. It has helped introduced
  • Competitive federalism
  • Peer learning
    • It means sharing of best practices.
  • Targeted interventions
    • Focus on lagging states
• In the 2023-24 Index India's composite score increased from 66 in 2021 to 71.
• India has shifted from global goals to national government mechanism to global-national-state-district-local government (global to local).
• Why this kind of decentralization is needed- because every state have its own priority like Kerala is focusing on health and education, Bihar is focusing on poverty, Rajasthan is focusing on groundwater.

Alignment of Government Schemes with SDGs

India has moved beyond measuring poverty purely through income. NITI Aayog National Multi-dimensional poverty index tracks deprivation across dimensions such as health, education, living standards. It also supports SDG 1.2, which calls for reducing multi-dimensional poverty.

Major Challenges

• Inter-states disparities.
• Gender equality.
• Malnutrition
• Learning outcomes
• Quality employment and inform ability
• Urban environmental problems
• Climate vulnerability
• Financial requirement
• Weak implementation capacity at local levels