Introduction

Question 1

Sustainable development definition : Brundtland report

Answer 1

Sustainable development is a …
“development which meets the needs of current
generations without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs””

Goal: to create a united international community…
– with shared sustainability goals…
– by identifying sustainability problems worldwide…
– raising awareness about them…
– and suggesting the implementation of solutions

Question 2

Strong and weak sustainability

Answer 2

Strong sustainability
* Environment as basis of the
social and economic dimension
* Eco centric view

Weak sustainability
* All three dimensions on the same
level, can “replace” each other
(main capital must stay the
* Anthropocentric view

Question 3

Sustainable development in politics

Answer 3

Idea of sustainable development is adopted by many institutions and experts as
a desirable goal
– United Nations (UN)
– the World Bank & the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
– National governments
– Environmental organisations & civil society

• Main challenges:
  – What is sustainability?
  – How can I measure sustainability?
  – How can I implement it?
  – How to deal with trade offs?
  –> shoulb be addresses in sustainbalitiy strategy

Question 4

History
…some milestones

Answer 4

• 1972: Club of Rome publishes “Limits to Growth”
• 1987: Montréal Protocol entered into force
• 1987: Our Common Future (Brundtland Report)
  shaped the term “sustainable development”
• 1988: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is established
• 1992: Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro: UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), set up UFCCC (UN Framework COnvention on Climate Change); Agenda 21
  1994: UNFCCC enters into force
  1997: COP 3 Kyoto –> Kyoto Protocol
• 2000: UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
• 2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
• 2005: Kyoto Protocol enters into force
• 2012: Rio +20, UNCED conference, decision for SDGS; 3 year stakeholder Process
• 2015: COP 21 in Paris–> UN Summit , NYC: Sustainable Development Goals enters into force & Paris Agreement
• 2016: Paris Agreement enters into force

Question 5

1992 Earth Summit

Answer 5

1992 Earth Summit
UN Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED, “Rio conference”)
–Relevant outcomes
* Agenda 21
* Rio declaration on environment and
development
* Climate convention
* Biodiversity convention
– Recognized the important role of
indicators to help countries make
informed decisions concerning
sustainable development

Question 6

The
Earth Summits:

Answer 6

• decennial meetings of world
  leaders
• to help defining ways for
  sustainable development at
  global level
   1972:Stockholm, Sweden
   1982: Nairobi, Kenya
   1992: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
   2002: Johannesburg, South Africa
   2012: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  (Rio+)

Question 7

Agenda 21

Answer 7

– Non binding, voluntarily implemented action plan with
regard to sustainable development
– Calls for harmonisation of efforts to develop a set
of indicators & their inclusion in reports and databases
* Implementation:
– The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
acted as preparatory committee for summits and sessions
on the implementation of Agenda 21
– UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Division for Sustainable Development
(UNDESA) monitors and evaluates progress towards the adoption of Agenda 21
– Think globally…act locally!
 Implementation by member states remains voluntary; its adoption has varied