Sustainable development (Brundtland definition) meaning

Key terms Expressions such as ‘responsible/sustainable business’, ‘corporate responsibility’ (CR), ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR), and ‘environmental, social, governance’ (ESG) appear widely in multiple settings among companies, advisers and legal practitioners across sectors. Yet, broadly, they all signal an enterprise acting responsibly within its everyday operations, as part of its day-to-day activities. An increasing number of businesses recognise that meeting national, state and local rules alone may no longer adequately shield them from legal, regulatory or reputational exposure, and that missing the escalating expectations in this sphere can carry significant financial consequences. In this note, we adopt ‘sustainable business’ as the overarching label for consistency. For further terminology, see Precedent: Sustainability glossary terms (The Chancery Lane Project). What is ‘sustainability’? The word ‘sustainability’ often sits alongside phrases such as ‘environmental sustainability’ or green business in common discussion. Although there is no single, settled definition, many bodies and sources rely on the Brundtland Commission Definition of sustainable development when attempting to explain the term. However, the Brundtland Commission Definition...

Defining sustainable development The scope and meaning of sustainable development remain hotly contested. Many descriptions draw upon variations of the renowned Brundtland definition and the three pillars model, often referred to as the triple bottom line of sustainability. Yet, in the absence of a uniform methodology, it is hard to determine how to deliver sustainable development, or to know exactly when, if at all, it has been realised. For detailed definitions of sustainable development, consult these Practice Notes: Sustainable development—definition and application at international level Sustainable development—definition and application at European Union (EU) level Sustainable development—definition and application at UK level Sustainability indicators Sustainability indicators offer a means to gauge—or at least to approximate—progress towards the policy objective of sustainable development. Origin After the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, states were encouraged to establish their own sets of sustainable development indicators (SDIs) designed to: align with their individual national circumstances and...

The basic definition The scope of sustainable development continues to be widely debated. The most familiar articulation emerged in 1987, when the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development (UNCED) issued Our Common Future, better known as the Brundtland Report. It portrays sustainable development as progress that fulfils current needs without jeopardising the capacity of future generations to fulfil theirs. Embedded within this are two central ideas: the notion of needs, particularly the basic needs of the world’s poor, which should command overriding priority the recognition of limits set by technology and social organisation on the environment’s capacity to satisfy present and future needs Most interpretations of sustainable development draw on elements of this Brundtland formulation; at the very least, it serves as the point of departure for the majority of definitions. Discussion also references adoption and evolution of the definition and concept by international institutions, including the UN General Assembly in 1987, the same year the Brundtland Report was published...