SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STATE OF FACT AND

OUTLOOK
Matei APAVALOAEI
Dumitru MIRON
Andreea ABRAHAM
Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies
E-mail: apavaloaei_matei@yahoo!ou"
dumitrumiron@reia#ero
andreeaa$raham@yahoo!om
ABSTRACT
%hi# paper ha# a# !entral theme the !on!ept o& #u#taina$le development' term $ein( u#ed
more and more o&ten $y poli!yma"er# and a!ademi! repre#entative# %he author# aim to hi(hli(ht #ome
o& the !on!ept)# inherent #hort!omin(#' a# they are pre#ented in li$ertarian literature' and al#o #ome o&
the de!laration# and mea#ure# adopted re!ently' de!laration# and mea#ure# $a#ed on the idea o&
#u#taina$le development *iven the pro&ound impli!ation# o& the poli!ie# adopted in order to a!hieve
inter(enerational #u#taina$ility' the ultimate (oal o& thi# paper i# to #timulate a de$ate +hi!h ta"e# into
a!!ount the +ea"ne##e# $ut al#o the lo(i!al impli!ation# o& the idea o& #u#taina$le development
KEY WORDS :
#u#taina$le development' &inan!ial !ri#i#' international trade' property ri(ht#
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STATE OF FACT AND OUTLOOK
Due to the increasingly turbulent economic climate that was characteristic of 2008
and that amplified in 200! humanity faces "interesting" times# As $oseph Stiglit% and
&icolas Stern emphasi%ed in a recent article: "'e are facing two crises: (###) a serious
financial crisis and an e*en worse climate crisis+
,
# Although the former has started beeing
felt relati*ely recently! since 2008! the ecological crisis! that we can fit into a wider spectrum
that ca be conceptually delimited by the e,presion -en*ironmental challanges+ has
represented a challenge and has demanded the appropriate solutions since the ./0#
After decades of ignorance! human 0ind seems to be slowly awa0ening# 'hat
yesterday seemed to be the only means of achie*ing economic prosperity - the capitalist
system based on free mar0ets and minimal state inter*ention 1 is now beeing replaced by a
new system in which -pri*ate consumption ma0es way for public in*estments+
-
# And e*en
more than that! a system that is also able to surpass the ecological crisis by -directing+ the
abo*e mentioned in*estments twoards -the greate challanges posed by energy! climate
change! food! water and biodi*ersity+# 2rom Sachs3 point of *iew "the free mar0et ideology
is anachronistic" considering the en*ironmental problems# 'e should also -turn the terrible
economic crisis into the opportunity to launch a new age of sustenability+# De*elopment and
sustainability are the ob4ecti*es of the "capitalist model of 556 century+# 7he 8nited
&ations En*ironment 9rogram has e*en de*eloped a new concept: A :reen &ew
Deal
.
!meaning a program of public in*estment in infrastructure and technology through
which countries can ensure economic reco*ery! 0eeping the unemployment rate under
control and in the long run obtaining new competiti*e ad*antages
1
Stiglit%! $# ; Stern &# <200/ 0=bama3s chance to lead the green reco*ery+! 1inan!ial %ime#
2
Sachs $# <200> ?@ewriting the ruleboo0 for 2Ast-century capitalism+! %he *uardian! a*ailable on-
line at +++(uar(ian!ou" <http233+++(uardian!ou"3!ommenti#&ree3-44536an3-73o$ama8poli!y8
te!hnolo(y
3
9NEP' 0%o+ard# a *reen Ne+ Deal : E!onomi! #timulu# and poli!y a!tion &or the dou$le !run!h;'
a*ailable on-line at +++unepor(
<+++unepor(3greene!onomy3do!#3Green_New_Deal_#tatement_-447,-4-pd& /
%he authoritie#) tone $e!ome# even more #eriou# A# 9N)# =e!retary *eneral' Ban
>i8moon
?
' #aid earlier thi# year2 @I a#" that to(ether +e ma"e -4,4 a year o& #u#taina$le
development 8 a!hieve MD*' addre## (lo$al +armin( i##ue' promote health (lo$ally and
ma"e the ne!e##ary e&&ort# &or a ro$u#t and la#tin( e!onomi! re!overy;
A
6t should not be o*erloo0ed that the European 8nion! which is considered to be the
main promoter of en*ironmental protection measures! has renewed its Sustainable
De*elopment Strategy in 200/! whose main tools are: institution and regulatory
moderni%ation! a new fiscal philosophy and a enhanced subsidies structure# 6n addition the
end of 2008 saw the adoption of the European Economic @eco*ery 9lan! that was aimed at
"creating 4obs in the short run and in long run gi*ing the E8 a first mo*er in ad*antage
which will bring benefits in terms of economic growth! energy security and en*ironmental
sustainability
# 6n other words! all that was considered true until now has become largely obsolete#
&ot only is stronger state inter*ention the only way to o*ercome the financial crisis but after
doing so a new functional mar0et economy model and a performant economy! capable of
puting into practice the concept of sustainable de*elopment! should become reality#7he
concept of sustainable de*elopment was created more that 22 years ago! and currently is
accepted and adopted by *irtually all international institutions
B
# But what does in fact
sustainable de*olpment stand forB
AnalyCin( the#e ne+ development#' it $e!ome# !lear that poli!y ma"er# mu#t +rite
in their a(enda# t+o main o$6e!tive#2 one on the #hort run 8 the &inan!ial !ri#i#' and one on
the lon( run %he lon( term o$6e!tive !ould $e #ynthe#iCed throu(h #u#taina$le development
In thi# paper +e re&erred only to the #e!ond (oal' (oal +hi!h +e have de&ined and
analyCed' hi(hli(htin( a #erie# o& #hort!omin(#' inadeDuate $oth !on!eptually and &rom the
#tand point o& the po##i$le e&&e!t# o& it# implementation
=u#taina$le development i# a pro!e## o& !han(e in +hi!h eEploitation o& re#our!e#'
dire!tion o& inve#tment#' the orientation o& te!hnolo(i!al development and in#titutional
tran#&ormation are related $oth to the need# o& pre#ent and &uture (eneration# %he main
promoter o& the !on!ept !an $e !on#idered the 9nited Nation# $y in!ludin( it in #everal
international do!ument# Al#o under the ae(i# o& thi# (lo$al (overnan!e player' the Forld
Gommi##ion on Environment and Development report +a# dra&ted in ,57H report al#o
"no+n a# the Brundtland Report 8 named a&ter the &ormer Nor+e(ian prime mini#ter' +ho
!haired the !ommittee Mandated $y the 9N *eneral A##em$ly' the !ommittee had the ta#"
to #tudy the dynami!# o& environmental deterioration and to &ormulate #olution# &or the
lon(8term #u#taina$ility o& human #o!iety %he &inal report' entitled @Our Gommon 1uture@'
o&&er# a num$er o& #olution# and in#titutional re&orm#' +hile a(ain hi(hli(htin( idea#
!ir!ulated #in!e ,5H- durin( the =to!"holm Gon&eren!e It #tand# out !learly the idea that
e!onomi! development and the environment are t+o in#epara$le dimen#ion#2 @Environment
i# +here +e live and development i# +hat +e all try to improve in the environment@
H
%he
report !hara!teriCe# the de!i#ion# made in developin( !ountrie# a# un#u#taina$le due to the
#!ale o& the a!tivity In the meantime' underdevelopment i# #een a# yet another !au#e o&
environmental de(radation %hi# lead# to the need &or a ne+ era o& (ro+th @e&&e!tive and
4
8& &ews Centre! ?Sustainable de*elopment tops 8& chief3s priorities for 20A0+! a*ailable on-line
at +++unor( <http233+++unor(3app#3ne+#3#torya#pINe+#IDJ..?A?KGrJ=e!retary8
*eneralKGr,JPriorit>
5
European Commission! ?2AD on the European Economic @eco*ery 9lan+! a*ailable on-line at
+++europaeu <http233europaeu3rapid3pre##Relea#e#A!tiondoIre&eren!eJMEMO3473H.A/
6
In the #tatement LO$ama8Biden =LDI Propo#al to %ran#ition %eam; &rom =u#taina$le Land
Development International' an or(aniCation dedi!ated to promotin( the #u#taina$le development
prin!iple' a Duotation &rom a #pee!h made $y the ne+ly ele!ted pre#ident i# prai#ed due to the &a!t
that the !on!ept o& #u#taina$le development i# mentioned &ive time# %hi# repetition i# meant to era#e
any tra!e o& dou$t re(ardin( the #tate)# head plan#
7
Center for 'orld in Balance! -=ur common future: @eport of the 'orld Commision on
En*ironment and De*elopment+! disponibil on-line la ++++orldin$alan!enet
<http233+orldin$alan!enet3a(reement#3,57H8$rundtlandphp/
#u#taina$le in term# o& environment and #o!iety; Environmental pro$lem#' to(heter +ith
poverty' (ro+in( and a(in( population and an emer(in( arm# ra!e hi(hli(ht a lar(ely
apo!alypti! pi!ture @&uture (eneration# $ein( the vi!tim# o& the#e event#@' !urrent
(eneration @$orro+in( environmental eDuity@ &rom &uture (eneration# intere#t &ree
A(ain#t thi# analy#i#' the !on!ept o& #u#taina$le development i# de&ined a# @the "ind
o& e!onomi! development to en#ure !on#umer)# #ati#&a!tion o& pre#ent need# +ithout
!ompromi#in( or harmin( tho#e o& &uture (eneration#@
7
%he !on!ept o& #u#taina$le
development i# mani&e#ted parti!ularly !omprehen#ive' $a#ed on three $a#i! pillar#2
e!onomi!' #o!ial and environmental =u$#eDuently' under the au#pi!e# o& 9NE=GO' a pillar
!alled !ultural diver#ity +a# added =u!h'the i##ue# !on!erned' !an $e (rouped into2
5
a/ the environmental &ield 8 $iodiver#ity <prote!tion and threat#' in parti!ular the
i##ue o& primary &ore#t# and (eneti!ally modi&ied or(ani#m#/' +ater <river mana(ement
#ide#' availa$ility' Duality/' rene+a$le natural re#our!e# <$iodiver#ity' &i#herie#/' depletion
o& &o##il re#our!e#' +a#te < treatment and re!y!lin(/' the (reenhou#e e&&e!t and (lo$al
+armin(' pollution <!ontaminated #ea +ater' #oil' air/' de#erti&i!ation' de&ore#tation'
ero#ion' et!
$/ e!onomi! &ield 8 the #o8!alled #u#taina$le a(ri!ulture' land ri(ht# <land re&orm/'
&ood #e!urity' international trade' &air trade' ener(y #e!urity' tran#port poli!y' e!onomi!
poli!y' intelle!tual and indu#trial property
c/ #o!ial #e!tor# 8 health <emer(in( di#ea#e#' a!!e## to medi!ine#' national and
international health poli!y/' nutrition <&ood #e!urity Dualitative and Duantitative/' &i(ht
a(ain#t poverty' population poli!ie# <population' &amily plannin(' +omenM# #tatu#' a(e/ ri(ht
to +or"' a!!e## to edu!ation' #o!ial or(aniCation' ri(ht to in&ormation' !on&li!t prevention
d/ area o& !ultural diver#ity 8 the ri(ht o& every !ulture to eEi#ten!e and a##ertion
in diver#ity and !ooperation' multilin(uali#m' the #tatu# o& traditional !iviliCation#
=u#taina$le development involve# the appli!ation o& limitation#' not a$#olute' $ut
@limit# impo#ed $y the pre#ent #tate o& te!hnolo(y and #o!ial or(aniCation on natural
re#our!e# and e!o#y#tem# a$ility to a$#or$ the re#ult# o& human a!tivity@
,4
Al#o te!hni!al
and #o!ial or(aniCation #hould $e mana(ed #o a# to #ati#&y the need# o& pre#ent (eneration'
e#pe!ially the !ore o& !itiCen# in developin( !ountrie# %hi# !o#tly pro!e## #hould $e $a#ed
on @politi!al +ill@ <in!entive#' penaltie# and (overnment &undin( o& pu$li! re#ear!h/ and
deterioration o& natural !apital !o#t# #hould $e internaliCed
%he report ma"e# re&eren!e to international trade related i##ue# Amon( o$#ta!le#
impo#ed on e!onomi! (ro+th in developin( !ountrie#' a &e+ are mentioned2 Llo+erin(
pri!e# &or !on#umer (ood#' prote!tioni#m' de$t $urden and redu!in( &inan!ial &lo+# &or
development@ It #tre##e# that the $ene&it# derived &rom trade are not di#tri$uted eDuita$ly
$e!au#e o& the di&&eren!e in e!onomi! po+er and level o& development %hu#' emer(in(
e!onomie# that depend lar(ely on eEport# o& ra+ material# in order to o$tain the ne!e##ary
import !urren!y re#our!e#' de#ta$iliCe their e!olo(i!al $alan!e $y over8eEploitin(
re#our!e# A# #olution#' the Gommi##ion propo#e# the e#ta$li#hment o& re#erve# in order to
!om$at @#ho!"#@ that appear on the +orld# mar"et !ommodity pri!e# %he attitude o&
developed !ountrie# that u#e tari&& e#!alation and import produ!t# made $y u#in( pollutin(
te!hnolo(y i# al#o !ondemned %heir !o#t# are not internaliCed $y developin( !ountrie# to
ena$le them to enter &orei(n mar"et# %here&ore' developed !ountrie# #hould provide
&inan!ial and te!hnolo(i!al aid to developin( !ountrie#' #hould inve#t in the#e !ountrie#
ina!!ordan!e +ith the prin!iple o& #u#taina$le development and #hould li$eraliCe mar"et#
&or pro!e##ed produ!t#
Althou(h the Brundtland Report !onvey# an interventioni#t type vi#ion and doe# not
mention anythin( re(ardin( &ree trade' the A(enda -, a!tion pla'n adopted at the Rio
Gon&eren!e #tated2 @Environmental and trade poli!y #hould #upport ea!h other An open
multilateral tradin( #y#tem ma"e# po##i$le a more e&&i!ient allo!ation and u#e o& re#our!e#
and thu# !ontri$ute# to in!rea#ed produ!tion and in!ome# and a relaEation o& environmental
8
E!onomi!# Di!tionary' second edition! Economica
9
Dutu E# <200F> %ratat de dreptul mediului! third edition! C#G# Bec0
10
I$id B
reDuirement#;
,,
%here i# al#o a #e!tion re(ardin( the ne!e##ity to avoid unilaterally trade
$arrier# $a#ed on the reDuirement# &or environmental prote!tion Ho+ever' it i# noted that i&
trade mea#ure# #hould $e implemented to a!hieve environmental o$6e!tive#' they mu#t $e
$a#ed on the prin!iple# o& nondi#!rimination' u#e the lea#t re#tri!tive mea#ure to trade and
en#ure a!!e## to in&ormation re(ardin( the provi#ion#' pay #pe!ial attention to developin(
!ountrie#' !lari&y the relation#hip $et+een *A%% and a(reement# !on!ernin( the
environment' en#ure pu$li! parti!ipation' en#ure !omplian!e +ith environmental poli!y
!han(e# o!!urrin( in the produ!tion and trade
A&ter pre#entin( the Brundtland Report' 9N *eneral A##em$ly adopted re#olution
??3--7 +hi!h !onvened an international meetin( +ith the theme o& development and
environment %hu#' in ,55- in Rio de Naneiro the hi(he#t #ummit o& the t+entieth !entury too"
pla!e2 the 9nited Nation# Gon&eren!e on Environment and Development' #u#taina$le
development $ein( in!luded in #everal do!ument# adopted on that o!!a#ion In Rio de
Naneiro' #ome prin!iple# eEpre##ed &or the &ir#t time in =to!"holm +ere re#umed $ut ne+ one#
+ere al#o li#ted %he#e prin!iple# have played an important role in !ondu!tin( later
multilateral and $ilateral a(reement#
,-
%he &ir#t !ate(ory o& prin!iple# in!lude#2
%he #tate #hould en#ure that that a!tivitie# +ithin it# territory or tho#e that are under
it# !ontrol do not dama(e the e!olo(i!al $alan!e o& the area# out#ide o& it#
admini#trationO
=tate# #hould !ooperate to prote!t the environmentO
%he ri(ht o& &uture (eneration# to have need# met in a &air and re#pon#i$le manner'
thu# impa!tin( the pre#ent (eneration P# o$li(ation#O
%he re#pon#i$ility o& #tate# to develop rule# on lia$ility &or environmental dama(e and
!ompen#ate tho#e a&&e!tedO
In thi# !onteEt' the =to!"holm 0&undamental ri(ht to the environment; i# no lon(er
mentioned' $ut the involvement o& all individual# in de!i#ion ma"in( !on!ernin( the
environment that may a&&e!t them' !an #till $e &ound in the Gon&eren!e)# do!ument#O
In the #e!ond !ate(ory o& prin!iple# that have $een rai#ed &or the &ir#t time in ,55- are
in!luded2
Other =tate# #hould $e in&ormed o& a!tivitie# that !ould have tran#8$oundary e&&e!t#
detrimental to the environmentO
%he o$li(ation o& !ondu!tin( impa!t #tudie# related to a!tivitie# that are predi#po#ed to
#i(ni&i!ant adver#e environmental e&&e!t# +hi!h are dependent on the de!i#ion o&
national authoritie#O
Pea!e&ul #ettlement o& environmental di#pute#O
%he polluter pay# prin!ipleO
%he pre!autionary prin!ipleO
Gommon $ut di&&erentiated re#pon#i$ility $et+een !ountrie#
%he !on!ept o& #u#taina$le development +a# a&&irmed and mentioned in #everal
international do!ument# 8 @(reen #ummit#@
,.
that &ollo+ed2 %he Bar$ado# A!tion Plan
<,55H/' %he Millennium De!laration <ON9 -444/! 7he $ohannesburg Conference <2002>
7he Eauritius 6mplementation Strategy <200H> - re(ardin( the implementation o&
#u#taina$le development &or i#land developin( !ountrie#! %he Con*ention on the 9rotection
and 9romotion of the Di*ersity of Cultural E,pressions <8&ESC= 200H >#
1rom the a$ove it &ollo+# that #u#taina$le development i# a !on!ept that appear# to
o&&er a !omprehen#ive #olution to environmental pro$lem#' poverty' underdevelopment and
e!onomi! (ro+th And all o& them' even more' have their #olution in a #imple and
@politi!ally !orre!t@ de&inition2 that type o& e!onomi! development that en#ure# #ati#&a!tion
11
9N *reat A##em$ly' A(enda -, 0Re#olution Adopted $y the *eneral A##em$ly;' availa$le on8line at
+++unor( <http233+++unor(3do!ument#3(a3re#3#pe!3are##,58-htm/
12
I$id B
13
I$id B
o& pre#ent need# +ithout 6eopardiCin( tho#e o& &uture (eneration# But !an the an#+er $e
that #impleI
2irst of all! e*en the en*ironmentalists argue that thi# de&inition i# va(ue In hi# treati#e'
M Dutu point out an International Gourt o& Nu#ti!e !a#e &rom the -A
th
o& De!em$er ,55H
=u#taina$le development i# de&ined in a LM#imple and !autiou#; manner' a# a #imple
!on!ept and not a# a !on!ept o& po#itive la+ %he author note# that due to a$#tra!tion and
(eneraliCation' the !on!ept ha# @relative appli!a$ility and in!rea#ed #u$6e!tivity on part o&
the 6ud(e +hen it !ome# to hi# a##e##ment But i& +e are to i(nore thi# &la+' +hi!h althou(h
apparently minor rai#e# Due#tion# i& +e are to thin" that it i# part o& the rhetori! o&
politi!ian# and i# one o& the !on!ept# u#ed $y international in#titution#' +e mu#t try to &ind
an an#+er to the &ollo+in( Due#tion2 +hat do they eEa!tly mean +hen they u#e itI
%he !on!ept u#ually implie# that !urrent (eneration need# #hould not adver#ely a&&e!t
tho#e o& &uture (eneration#' the latter havin( the ri(ht to have need# met &airly and
re#pon#i$ly %he idea that &uture (eneration# have ri(ht# i# a$#urd' #ay# Fil&red
Be!"erman One !annot have ri(ht# unle## he i# a livin( $ein(
,?
Another intere#tin( a#pe!t
+ould $e that #u#taina$le development advo!ate# ar(ue that &uture (eneration# have ri(ht#
$ut +hen they are $orn' the#e ri(ht# are #everely limited
,A
%he Brundtland Report al#o
#tate# that &amily plannin( poli!ie# #hould $e implementedO doe# thi# not tantamount to
denyin( the ri(ht to li&eI In#tead the !urrent (eneration# do have ri(ht#' to $e more eEa!t'
attention #hould $e (iven to property ri(ht#
All the pro$lem# po#ed $y eEternalitie#' ie #o!ial !o#t that are not ta"en into a!!ount
$y the mar"et pri!e o& the produ!t' pro$lem# that &orm the !entral !ore o& #u#taina$le
development' !an $e met throu(h $etter re(ulation o& property ri(ht#
,B
%here i# no need &or
#eparate le(i#lation' taEe#' #u$#idie# or impo#in( minimum or maEimum rate o&
development' o& !on!ept# meant to (uide the #tate poli!ie# All that i# reDuired i# the
prote!tion o& property ri(ht# a(ain#t phy#i!al inva#ion :tre#pa##in( that a&&e!t# the inte(rity
o& private property =u!h a de&inition o& property ri(ht# +ill ma"e pollution in +hatever
&orm it may $e' puni#ha$le $y la+ Al#o (uaranteein( property ri(ht# a(ain#t #tate a$u#e#'
#u!h a# nationaliCation or privatiCation o& #tate a##et# +ill determine o+ner# to mana(e
re#our!e# rationally' eliminatin( potential pro$lem# po#ed $y overeEploitation and la!" o&
!on#ervation
Fhat the advo!ate# o& #u#taina$le development !laim to $e a ri(ht o& &uture
(eneration#' i# a!tually a #imple moral o$li(ation2 parent# mu#t en#ure their !hildren +ith a
de!ent li&e and in mo#t !a#e#' (ive them a #tartin( po#ition on their +ay in li&e Inheritan!e#
and (i&t# have $een made &or !enturie# %here are !a#e# +here a(ri!ultural land or &ore#t#
have $een o+ned $y a &amily &or (eneration# and they !ontinue to $e +ell mana(ed even
today But +hy +ere the#e re#our!e# not overeEploitedI %he an#+er i# #imple2 the (ood
mana(ement o& re#our!e# i# due to the #timuli that private o+ner#hip in!orporate# Glearly
it i# not a merit o& re(ulation# or o& a ri(ht #e!ured $y la+O $ut that o& the !urrent
(eneration o& o+ner# o& &ore#t# and land that are tryin( to mana(e the re#our!e# a# +i#ely
a# po##i$le in order to maEimiCe their in!ome &or the lon(e#t eEtent o& time Ima(e#
depi!tin( de(raded #oil# and !leared &ore#t# !an $e #een not $e!au#e o& the a$u#e o& the
o+ner# o& tho#e (ood# $ut $e!au#e there are no !learly de&ined property ri(ht# over tho#e
re#our!e#
I& a (overnment +ould have intervened and pa##ed !ertain re(ulation# in order to
en#ure the a!!e## o& &uture (eneration# to pre#erved re#our!e#' the out!ome +ould have
$een a totally di&&erent one I& !urrent o+ner# +ould not have $een &ree to mana(e re#our!e#
a# they #a+ &it' they +ould per!eive thi# out!ome a# a #our!e o& &uture !o#t# Fith the
po##i$ility o& de!rea#in( &uture revenue in #i(ht' they +ould &a!e thi# threat $y #ellin( o&& the
re#our!e# It i# mo#t li"ely that the ne+ o+ner i# a politi!ally $a!"ed per#on or a ri#" ta"er
14
*ordon D 0A poverty o& rea#on2 #u#taina$le development and e!onomi! (ro+th $y Fil&red
Be!"erman;' %he Mi#e# Revie+ availa$le on8line at +++mi#e#or(
15
9earon $# -8nsustainable De*elopment+! a*ailable on-line at +++&aeor( <+++&eeor(3pd&3the8
&reeman3&eat,-pd&>
16
@othbard E# &# <A82> Iaw! 9roperty @ights and Air 9ollution' Gato Nournal *ol# 2! no# A: HH-
+hen it !ome# to $rea"in( the la+' that +ill not he#itate to overeEploit and deplete the
re#our!e# in hi# #ear!h &or Dui!" pro&it# Ba#i!ally tryin( to implement #u#taina$le
development idea &ail# Even more pro$lemati! it that $y tryin( to prote!t the ri(ht# o &uture
(eneration#' other ri(ht# and la+# have $een $ro"en' namely tho#e o& the pre#ent
(eneration 1rom thi# per#pe!tive the ethi!al &oundation# o& #u#taina$le development are
provin( to $e eEtremely #en#itive
=ome proponent# o& #u#taina$le development $elieve that &uture (eneration# #hould
$ene&it &rom an environment 6u#t a# &avora$le a# the pre#ent (eneration
,H
%hi# idea i(nore#
the &a!t that over time' the livin( #tandard# in!rea#e %oday +e en6oy the (ood# that are
$etter' #a&er' more diver#e' more varied in (reater Duantity' and more a!!e##i$le than did to
our an!e#tor# Fe !an al#o #ay that +e en6oy more #pare time $e!au#e la$or produ!tivity
and avera(e li&e eEpe!tan!y have in!rea#ed due to te!hnolo(i!al pro(re## Ba#i!ally i& you
u#e thi# hi#tori!al pattern' that ha# $een repeatin( it#el& &or a$out .'444 year#' it turn# out
that the &uture (eneration# are the one# that are in de$t to u#
Gowe*er! assuming that rights are gi*en to future generations! and that the decision is
ta0en to put together oil stoc0s! how are we to tell e,actly how large those stoc0s should beB
And why pic0 oil out of all the resources in the worldB Glearly the only an#+er that an
eEpert in any &ield !ould (ive' +ould $e a random one Fe have no +ay o& "no+in( +hat
re#our!e# +ill $e u#ed in &uture %+enty year# a(o it +a# e#timated that !opper re#erve# +ill
$e eEhau#ted A!!ordin( to the lo(i! o& #u#taina$le development re(ulation# &or thi#
indu#try #hould have $een adopted' in order to ena$le &uture (eneration# to en6oy !opper
re#erve# But #omethin( o!!urred' #omethin( that !annot $e predi!ted2 te!hnolo(i!al
pro(re## %hu# !opper' +hi!h +a# u#ed mainly &or ma"in( phone +ire# ha# not $een
eEhau#ted Gopper ha# $een repla!ed +ith $etter material2 opti!al &i$er' made &rom #and' a
re#our!e that then +a# !on#idered u#ele## I& !opper eEploitation +ould have $een
re(ulated' the re#ultin( out!ome +ould have $een a lo#e8lo#e #ituation
,7
' a# the #a!ri&i!e
made $y pa#t (eneration# +ould have $een &elt $y the !urrent (eneration a# +ell 8 a lo+er
#tandard o& livin( than the pre#ent one %hu# the &inal out!ome +ould have had no +inner
Pra!ti!ally in!rea#ed !opper !on#umption' a #trin(ent limited re#our!e' made
maintainin( livin( #tandard# po##i$le' a# +ell a# ena$lin( the !orre!t mar"et #i(nal# to $e
#ent' +hi!h in turn led to the di#!overy o& opti!al &i$er Fe !an o$#erve that +e &a!e a
paradoE' Lthe paradoE o& e!olo(y;2 &ir#t !on#umption o& a re#our!e ha# to ri#e' only then
!an the pre##ure $e relieved' a# ne+ #u$#titute# are di#!overed
Another element that i# +orth mentionin( i# the pre!autionary prin!iple' +hi!h +a#
#tated durin( the 9N Gon&eren!e on Environment and Development %he prin!iple i#
de&ined in the Rio De!laration a# @+here there are threat# o& irrever#i$le dama(e' la!" o&
#!ienti&i! !ertainty #hall not $e u#ed a# 6u#ti&i!ation &or po#tponin( mea#ure# e&&e!tive in
term# o& !o#t' to prevent !au#in( dama(e to the #urroundin( environment It #hould $e noted
that due to the un!ertainty that the !on!ept o& #u#taina$le development in!orporate# +hen it
!ome# to e#timatin( the e&&e!t# on the environment o& it# implementation' the pre!autionary
prin!iple demand# that no a!tion# are to $e ta"en in the dire!tion o& implementin( it %hu#'
even one o& the prin!iple# on +hi!h #u#taina$le development i# $a#ed' (ive# it# !riti!# the
opportunity to underline it# !ontradi!tory nature
CONCLUSION:
It $e!ome# !lear' a&ter a more !omprehen#ive analy#i#' that #u#taina$le development i#
not the pana!ea that !ontemporary (lo$al i##ue# !all &or %he Gon!ept i# !hara!teriCed $y
holi#m and idea# li"ely to $e adopted $y the (eneral pu$li! Our $rie& eEamination o& the
underlyin( idea# and prin!iple#' ha# revealed that it# pra!ti!al value i# nil But !an a
!on!ept in!apa$le o& #u#tainin( even it# #el& due to inerrant in!on#i#ten!ie# $e the
!orner#tone o& a #u#taina$le e!onomi! developmentI And even the ultimate (oal o& today)#
(overnment# and o& #ome o& the (reate#t name# in e!onomi!#I %he an#+er #eem# to $e Qe#R
17
Ibid. 14
18
Ibid. 15
REFERENCES:
Genter &or Forld in Balan!e' 0Our !ommon &uture2 Report o& the Forld Gommi#ion on
Environment and Development;' di#poni$il on8line la ++++orldin$alan!enet
<http233+orldin$alan!enet3a(reement#3,57H8$rundtlandphp/
Dutu E# <200F> %ratat de dreptul mediului! third edition! C#G# Bec0
E!onomi!# Di!tionary' second edition! Economica
European Commission! ?2AD on the European Economic @eco*ery 9lan+! a*ailable on-
line at +++europaeu <http233europaeu3rapid3pre##Relea#e#A!tiondoI
re&eren!eJMEMO3473H.A/
*ordon D 0A poverty o& rea#on2 #u#taina$le development and e!onomi! (ro+th $y
Fil&red Be!"erman;' %he Mi#e# Revie+ availa$le on8line at +++mi#e#or(
9earon $# -8nsustainable De*elopment+! a*ailable on-line at +++&aeor(
<+++&eeor(3pd&3the8&reeman3&eat,-pd&>
@othbard E# &# <A82> Iaw! 9roperty @ights and Air 9ollution' Gato Nournal *ol# 2! no# A:
HH-
Sachs $# <200> ?@ewriting the ruleboo0 for 2Ast-century capitalism+! %he *uardian!
a*ailable on-line at +++(uar(ian!ou"
<http233+++(uardian!ou"3!ommenti#&ree3-44536an3-73o$ama8poli!y8te!hnolo(y
Stiglit%! $# ; Stern &# <200/ 0=bama3s chance to lead the green reco*ery+! 1inan!ial
%ime#
9N *reat A##em$ly' A(enda -, 0Re#olution Adopted $y the *eneral A##em$ly;' availa$le
on8line at +++unor( <http233+++unor(3do!ument#3(a3re#3#pe!3are##,58-htm/
8& &ews Centre! ?Sustainable de*elopment tops 8& chief3s priorities for 20A0+! a*ailable
on-line at +++unor( <http233+++unor(3app#3ne+#3#torya#pI
Ne+#IDJ..?A?KGrJ=e!retary8*eneralKGr,JPriorit>
9NEP' 0%o+ard# a *reen Ne+ Deal : E!onomi! #timulu# and poli!y a!tion &or the dou$le
!run!h;' availa$le on8line at +++unepor(
<+++unepor(3greene!onomy3do!#3Green_New_Deal_#tatement_-447,-4-pd& /