Sustainability
Topic: Human Development: Concept, Approaches and Measurement · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Human Development"
Meaning
Sustainability is one of the four pillars of human development. It means opportunities must continue over time, so that every generation has the same chances. This means environmental, financial and human resources must be used with the future in mind. If any of these resources is misused, the next generation will have fewer choices. Sustainability is about people as well as nature. Neglecting education or health today also shrinks tomorrow's opportunities.
Example
NCERT points out that if a community does not send its girls to school today, those girls will have fewer choices as adults. The UNDP's planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, started in 2020, applies the same idea to nature. It lowers a country's score for high carbon dioxide emissions and material use, so countries such as Norway and Australia fall in rank.
Don't confuse with
- Productivity: productivity is about raising people's output now. Sustainability is about keeping opportunities open for future generations.