|
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development allows people to meet their basic needs and enjoy a good quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations.
In the last 20 years, it has become clear that our current model of development is unsustainable.
The negative effect our consumption patterns have on the environment and the climate suggests we’re living beyond our means.
Nicholas Stern’s Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change looks at the effect of climate change and global warming on the world economy. He concludes that one per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) needs to be invested each year to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Failing to invest, the report says, risks global GDP being 20 per cent lower.
The UK Government, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Administration have agreed a set of principles that provide a basis for sustainable development policy in the UK.
The Department has also set out its own contribution to sustainable development.
"The latest report from the International Energy Agency makes clear the scale of the challenge: if we continue with business as usual, by 2030:
- world energy demand will be 50 per cent higher than today with 80 per cent of this for fossil fuels
- the average oil price will remain over 60 dollars a barrel with most oil and gas coming from unstable regions
- global carbon dioxide emissions will have risen by almost 60 per cent."
- The Prime Minister's speech on climate change, 19 November 2007.
“I can tell you with assurance that global, sweeping, concerted action is needed now. There is no time to waste.
Slowing and even reversing the effects of climate change is the defining challenge of our age.”
- UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, launching the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 17 November 2007.
