Concept of Sustainable

Development UNIT 3 APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT*

Structure
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Status Quo Approach
3.3 Community Capacity Building Approach
3.4 Industrial Sector Approach
3.5 Integrated Systems Approach
3.6 Human Development Approach
3.7 Green Accounts Approach
3.8 Conclusion
3.9 Glossary
3.10 References
3.11 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

3.0 OBJECTIVES
After reading this Unit, you should be able to:
Explain the Status Quo Approach;
Discuss the Community Capacity Building Approach;
Examine the Industrial Sector Approach;
Describe the Integrated Systems Approach;
Elucidate the Human Development Approach; and
Bring out the relevance of Green Accounts Approach.

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Although Sustainable Development (SD) concept was conceived in the 1970s, it
became the central point of development discourse with the World Commission
on Environment and Development in 1987 (WCED or the Brundtland
Commission), and its Report on Our Common Future, culminating in Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.

In 1992, SDGs were defined by the UN, but the nations were mostly unsuccessful
in moving towards their achievement. The world leaders came together in 2012
and developed the framework to achieve Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), but they could not set an agenda for achieving any Sustainable
Development Goals. We will deal with the SDGs in detail in our next Unit.The
High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability developed a framework of universal
principles of SD, which are given below:

*
Contributed by Dr. Anupama Puri Mahajan, Former Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Public
38 Administration, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
 It should be universal in character, covering challenges faced by all countries Approaches to Sustainable
Development
rather than just developing nations.
It should express a broadly agreed global strategy for sustainable
development.
It should incorporate a range of key areas that were not fully covered in the
MDGs.
It should be comprehensive, reflecting all the three dimensions of SD.
It should incorporate near-term benchmarks while being long-term in scope,
looking ahead to a deadline of perhaps 2030.
It should engage all stakeholders in the implementation and mobilisation of
resources.
It should provide scope for the review of these goals in view of evolving
scientific evidence (UN, 2013).
In 2015, The UN laid down 17 SDGs under which 169 indicators have been
developed for the nations to follow. 193 member nations pledged to work under
the umbrella of these SDGs, of which India is also a participating member. This
Unit deals with the approaches to SD under which there are numerous approaches,
but only the major ones will be dealt in this Unit.

3.2 STATUS QUO APPROACH

The supporters of the Status Quo approach believe that there is no need for making
any fundamental changes, as there are no such problems that are impossible to
solve. Although changes are required, which can be made by making adjustments,
there is no imperative need to change the means of decision-making or power
relations (Hopwood, et al., 2005). This is based on the human tendency of sticking
to what they know and their general resistance to change. Another factor that
contributes to status quo is the lock-in mechanisms that the existing systems
have for stabilisation. Selecting from alternatives becomes difficult because of
the inertia generated by the growing benefits through an ongoing activity. The
fundamentals in this approach are:

More growth will lead to SD and support the decision of the governments to
reduce the progressive nature of taxation.

Business is the driver to sustainability.

The best means to achieve SD are increased information; changing values;

new technologies and innovations.

Markets will use sustainable processes to produce goods and services by

employing changes in taxation and subsidies by being well-informed.

The reduced role of governments will lead to the emergence of green

capitalists who will indulge in corporate citizenship and ethical business to
achieve SD.

Increase in good governance on the one hand, and reduction in corruption

on the other will help in reaching closer to sustainability. 39
Concept of Sustainable Techniques like EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment); EMAS Eco-
Development
Management and Audit System); BATNEEC (Best Available Techniques
not Entailing Excessive Costs); and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) can help
in attaining SD.

The supporters of Status Quo approach have not been known as having strong
commitment to environmental sustainability, as they think of technology as a
replacement for nature. Although this approach has been acknowledged by the
World Bank as an approach to reduce poverty,it does not talk about a strong shift
in policy approach for SD.

3.3 COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING

APPROACH
The Community Capacity Building or the CCB approach proposes skill-
development and increase in knowledge base in the populations living below the
poverty line. They need to be enabled with skill and knowledge to become
gainfully involved in a community so that they can contribute to the society. SD
caters to the majority of rural population and the ABCD Model of the Ford
Foundation aims at –Acquire, Develop, Improve or Transfer across generations
– the building of assets. Given below are three main areas in the CCB approach,
where the ABCD Model can be applied:

i) Resources: The financial holdings; natural resources (forests, wildlife); and

the livestock can provide sustainable livelihoods. They have cultural and
environmental importance in cleansing, recycling and renewing air and water
(UN, 2013).

ii) Social Bonds:The social bonds and community relationships encourage

investment of the community in providing support to the poor.

iii) Human Assets: The human assets refers to the skills in the individuals,
which can get them employment and wages in the rural areas.

Under this Model, many activities and programmes have been successfully
launched in which sustainability drives have been carried out, for example to
organise a cleaning drive by paying out of a small donation to the street people
who bring empty cans and plastic bottles. This serves two purposes, that is of
sustainability as well providing for the poor. This kind of participatory CCB
approach has helped the rural poor around the world, while integrating the three
dimensions of sustainable development -social, economic and environmental.

In the New Agenda published by the United Nations regarding the SDGs, it has
been clearly stated that the most vulnerable must be empowered. Those whose
needs are reflected in the Agenda include all children, youth, persons with
disabilities (of whom 80 per cent live in poverty), people living with HIV/AIDS,
older persons, indigenous peoples, refugees and internally displaced persons and
migrants (UN, 2015). The implementation of the SDGs will require a global
partnership by involving the governments, private sector, the UN system and the
civil society. The New Agenda also stated that the UN will work with the local
authorities and communities to renew and plan our cities and human settlements,

40
so as to foster community cohesion and personal security and to stimulate Approaches to Sustainable
Development
innovation and employment.

3.4 INDUSTRIAL SECTOR APPROACH

The Industrial Sector approach, commonly referred to as Industry approach
implies that the Industry or Business has an important role in addressing the
implementation and achievement of the SDGs. Industrial Sector Approach falls
under the integrated systems approach in a way because the three components of
SD have to be achieved simultaneously. Even if one component is neglected, it
will have an adverse impact on the other two thereby negating the positive impact.
The private sector has been highlighted as a partner with the potential to contribute
in multiple ways to development objectives, which are:
Stimulating economic growth and job creation;
Providing investment and finance; and
Sharing the resources and knowledge needed to shape innovative solutions
to global challenges.
The SDGs provide a focus for the world’s efforts to meet global challenges
including climate change, water management and sanitation; and equitable
education. The private sector has the capability to commercialise the sustainable
solutions and help in the achievement of SDGs (Wynn and Jones, 2020). The
UN agencies have urged the private industrial houses to formulate their strategic
framework according to the SDGs.

Sustainable Industrial Development (SID) means that business and industry will
have to adjust production structures and its product mix (European Commission,
1999) to which the industrial policy must assist in the process. An increased
interrelationship among the environment, industrial policies and promotion of
the role of industry is an important basic element in achieving SID. The industrial
policies and the environment are two important components for SD resulting in
an increased level of innovation and industrial competitiveness. This will further
open up more opportunities for employment and help in socio-economic
development.

The consumers have become aware of ethical and sustainable products and the
more options they get, the more the companies will be able to make profits.
There is immense scope in the development of efficient and innovative energy
technologies, as well as reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions and waste.
Some other areas for meeting the goals of SD are health, education, sanitation,
finance and communication products. Many theoretical frameworks that connect
the nature/environment and society have been made as a roadmap to sustainability.
The most important industry that can help is the finance industry by leading
rather than reacting to the issues arising out of unsustainability or sustainability.
Some industrial sectors that can be related to the SDGs are:
Focus on retail industry with SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and
production) by sourcing sustainable products from the manufacturers and
supplying them to the consumers through their company. For example, Fab
India sources its materials directly from the handloom workers and sells it
through its chain of stores;
41
Concept of Sustainable Banking industry can provide for financial products which can cover many
Development
goals that need to be addressed.
Use of energy efficient air conditioners, smart bulbs, renewable energy
solutions like solar panels with SDG 7 in view; and
Emphasis on education industry (schools, colleges, universities) with
SDG 4.

The above-mentioned examples depict how SDGs can be achieved through

systematic interlinkages.

Ways to achieve SDGs in the Industrial Sector Approach

The two main ways through which SDGs can be achieved are responsible
entrepreneurship and eco-efficiency. They are briefly explained below:

i) Responsible Entrepreneurship: According to the UN,companies can

manage their operations so that economic growth and competitiveness can
be strengthened, while keeping focus on environmental protection and social
responsibility. This can be seen in the strategies and operations of various
companies around the world, which have progressed from acting under
government regulatory pressure to voluntary changes because of consumer
awareness. This goal can be achieved only through responsible
entrepreneurship using new approaches of eco-efficiency by integrating
environmental concerns into their management strategies and planning.

Technologies like eco-efficiency, life cycle thinking and sustainable product

design help in the implementation of SDGs. The companies conduct the Cost
Benefit Analysis to appraise the costs and benefits of environmental action and
to make presentations to their shareholders through environmental accounting
and environmental reporting. International best practices have helped in
formulating indicators for performance assessment and benchmarks to be
achieved.

ii) Eco-efficiency: Responsible entrepreneurship comprises of eco-efficiency

as a business strategy, as it is a combination of economic and environmental
aspects. The eco-efficiency strategy, aims at reducing the non-renewable
resources, waste, etc., thereby resulting in an increase in the service intensity
of goods and services. The governments also follows the strategy of eco-
efficiency and has made it an important element of SD policy strategy.

Principles for Environment Management for the Industry

The principles for environmental management have been formulated by the

International Chamber of Commerce (Woolard, 1992) to be used as a basis for
pursuing improvements and supporting the cause of SD. They are given below
in brief:

i) Corporate Priority: The corporate sector must ensure that policies,

programmes, and practices for their operations must be aligned with
environmental management.

ii) Integrated Management: These policies, programmes, and practices must

be an integral part of management functions.
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iii) Process of Improvement: The businesses must continuously make efforts Approaches to Sustainable
Development
to improve their processes, across the globe, concerning environmental
performance by using the following:
Technological developments;
Scientific understanding;
Consumer needs; and
Community expectations.
iv) Employee Education: The employees must be educated, trained and kept
motivated, so that they are able to operate in an environmentally responsible
manner.

v) Prior Assessment: The manufacturing and consumption of products and

services must be assessed prior to their final supply to the end-user so that
environmental and sustainability concerns are addressed.

vi) Customer Advice: The customers must be advised on the safe use,
transportation, storage and disposal of products.

vii) Facilities and Operations: There must be efficient use of energy and
materials; sustainable use of renewable resources; and reduction of adverse
environmental impact. Effective waste management also must be done.

viii) Precautionary Approach: Care must be taken to avoid irreversible

environmental damage by the companies in the manufacturing, marketing,
and the use of products or the conduct of activities as per the latest technology
and scientific temper.

ix) Research: The companies must carry out research on the effects of indusrial
operations involving the raw materials, products, emissions and wastes on
the enviroment. If any adverse effect is found, it must be corrected and the
approach must be readjusted.

x) Transfer of Technology: The companies who have the environment-friendly

technology must transfer technology to those who do not have access to it.

The UN has stated that promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation is

the key to SD. It has stressed on critical importance of industrial development
for developing countries, as a major source of economic growth, economic
diversification, and value addition. It has also focussed on promoting inclusive
and sustainable industrial development to effectively address the major challenges
such as growth and jobs, resources and energy efficiency, pollution and climate
change, knowledge-sharing, innovation and social inclusion.

In this regard, relevant cooperation within the United Nations system, including
the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which would
help in advancing the linkages between infrastructure development, inclusive
and sustainable industrialisation and innovation.

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Concept of Sustainable Check Your Progress 1
Development
Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers.
ii) Check your answers with those given at the end of the Unit.
1. Write a short note on the universal principles of sustainable development.
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2. Discuss in detail the Status Quo approach to sustainable development.
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3. Explain the dimensions of the Community Capacity Building approach to
sustainable development.
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4. Describe the Industrial Sector approach to sustainable development.
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3.5 INTEGRATED SYSTEMS APPROACH

The Integrated Systems approach refers to the designing and adopting of the SD
strategies and plans, which integrate environmental, social and economic
dimensions and recognise their linkages. The UN Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UN-DESA) stated in its published Report that there was a lack of
integration, inclusion and coherence because nations mostly focussed on economic
growth and poverty reduction. The planning approaches work in silos instead of
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addressing complex problems of the societies regarding environmental and Approaches to Sustainable
Development
sustainable development issues. The governments need to consider the
interlinkages between the systems and their sub-systems, for example, water,
energy and eco-systems and their impacts like climate change in the future. It
also said that the traditional sector-based approaches and tools are not fit for this
purpose, as the challenges are more complex and systemic in nature. This is the
basis for the importance of an Integrated Systems approach (ISA) in SD planning
and strategy formulation (UN, 2015).

Some scholars and strategists have given a Transition approach as a separate

approach, but in fact transition is a part of the ISA. Unless there is a transition
from the traditional methods, it will be difficult to reach any closer to the SDG
Agenda 2030. The areas for transition, laid down by the UN, are given below:
Supportive political system;
Effective planning agencies;
Access to information;
Strong UN system;
Consistent coordination;
Capacity-building for media and civil society;
Membership in multi-lateral agencies; and
Education in schools.
Issues in Transition: Transition is never an easy process and faces many
challenges. Some major factors impeding transition towards SD are:
Deficient participation of stakeholders;
Corruption;
Shocks and insecurity;
Lack of finance and debts;
Instability and internal/external conflict;
Gaps in knowledge;
Resistance to change;
Lack of transparency;
Recognition of civil society;
Lack of database; and
Youth employment.
The above-mentioned factors hindering the transition towards SD must be
considered by the international agencies and the nations before formulating
policies and implementing them regarding SDGs. A Systems approach is essential
because of the resulting negative feedback from working in silos, that is, in
isolation, for example, boosting economic growth without the social and
environmental consideration.

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Concept of Sustainable Importance of ISA
Development
The ISA is the best solution to implement SD because of the following reasons:

i) Holistic: The earth life-support system comprises of land, climate and water
in which the human habitat is a part of the whole. There is a need to look at
the eco-chain holistically as climate change is wrecking havoc, both socially
and economically. For example, floods or droughts lead to famines and
diseases, adversely affecting the society as a whole. The poor become poorer
and the rich become richer leading to social injustice.

ii) Local Consideration: The geographical position of a country or a region

has its own peculiar problems and one single policy cannot effectively
implement the SDGs. It is important to have data about the place on count
of geography, timespan, cultural norms, etc. However, global impact cannot
be materialised by local individual efforts.

iii) Combined Efforts via Synergism: Synergism means the combined efforts
of two or more than two agencies who work for more than one SDG for
better results in the ISA. There can be cost-savings if more than one SDG
are targeted for achievement simultaneously. The European Union estimated
in a study that integrated climate legislation could save 50 billion a year in
health costs and direct costs related to environmental degradation (Future
Earth,2019).

Implementation of ISA

The Future Earth Group is an international agency that works in determining

designs and solutions for the acceleration of global sustainability. It proposed a
seven-point scale to help the governments to assess the effects of potential SDG
policies. Given below are the seven points/indicators for the assessment of the
SDGs interactions:
A Scale to Score SDG Interactions
Interactions Name Explanation
+3 Indivisible Inextricably linked to the achievement of
another goal.
+2 Reinforcing Aids the achievement of another goal.
+1 Enabling Creates conditions that further another goal.
0 Consistent No significant positive or negative interactions.
-1 Constraining Limits options on another goal.
-2 Counteracting Clashes with another goal.
-3 Cancelling Makes it impossible to reach another goal.
Source: (Nilsson, M., et al., 2016)

The example given by the Future Earth is appropriate to explain the seven-point
scale of reducing air pollution.The Systems approach does not propose to
concentrate exclusively on the SDGs, but to acknowledge the macro-level
characteristics of a system like socio-ecological resilience. Dynamic links across
sectors, actors and countries must be developed. For example, in the finance
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sector, tax breaks could be established for private companies in high income Approaches to Sustainable
Development
countries that make very long-term investments (i.e., returns measured over
decades rather than quarterly) in lower income countries, to create locally
sustainable products and services, with partnerships that enable their economies
to grow. Improving such connections across sectors, actors and countries can
reveal a variety of creative means to improve systematic SDG implementation
(Stafford-Smith, M. et al.).

The SDGs are fruitless if not implemented successfully and the best way that has
emerged till now has been an Integrated Systems approach. The 2020 Agenda in
Para 6 stated that it is indivisible, in a sense that it must be implemented.

3.6 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

Human development refers to well-being of humans, which is an integral goal
for any society or a government to achieve. Human well-being is called Subjective
Well-Being (SWB) because individuals have their own perception of happiness
and well-being throughout the world according to a World Gallup Survey which
covers 98 per cent of population. The World Happiness Report is made by the
United Nations Sustainable Solutions Network. Human development is a process
and, at the same time, a result, focusing on the results of wider possibilities to
choose. It can be defined in the easiest way as a process of expanding options:
every day, a human being makes a series of economic, social, political and cultural
choices. The ultimate goal of human development is not to create greater wealth
or achieve greater economic growth, but the expansion of choices for every human
being (Human Development Report, 2001).

The World Happiness Report (WHR) 2020, that is the eighth report focuses
especially on the social, urban and natural aspects of environment. The purpose
of the WHR is to review the science of measuring and understanding SWB and
to use survey measures of life satisfaction to track the quality of lives in more
than 150 countries. Their main goal is to evaluate social environment for
happiness.

Main Areas of Focus in the WHR

Given below, are the major areas that WHR focuses on:
i) Social Environment for Happiness: The Report uses six factors to explain
happiness and the measurement of different aspects of the social environment.
They are:
Having someone to count on;
Having a sense of freedom to make key life decisions;
Generosity;
Trust;
Effects of inequality on average happiness; and
How a good social environment operates to reduce inequality.
ii) Urban Happiness: The happiness of city life has been compared among
the cities in the same country. The WHR found that city rankings and country
rankings were essentially identical and city dwellers were happier than those
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Concept of Sustainable living outside the cities although the urban happiness advantage was
Development
sometimes negative.

iii) Sustainable Natural Environment: People are becoming more aware and
conscious about their natural environment and want to protect it. The WHR
noted from its survey that the various pollutants have negative effects on
life evaluations. Although forests have positive effects on life evaluation,they
have none on emotions. According to their survey conducted in London, on
the linkage of natural environments and happiness amongst people, it was
found that people reported being happy mostly when they were close to a
river, canal, public parks or doing some activities like birdwatching, walking
in public parks, etc., in comparison to being sedentary at home.

iv) Sustainable Development and Human Well-Being: The WHR has given
information on the relationship between SD and well-being. The SWB, as
mentioned before, is a measure of well-being and the survey responses may
differ from emotional measures of well-being in comparison to the economic
measures such as income and development. The evaluation of SDGs in
relation to well-being, other indicators were added like the Human
Development Index, Index of Economic Freedoms, Global Peace Index,
Global Competitiveness Index, Environmental Protection Index (EPI) and
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The Human Development Index
(HDI) measures the level of welfare within a country by looking at three
indicators:
Life Expectancy Indicators – refers to life expectancy at birth;
Educational Attainment Indicators – refers to the adult literacy rate and
gross enrolment ratio; and
Standard of Living–measured by GDP per capita.
The results of the survey showed that the SDG Index remains significant alongside
the EPI and GDP per capita. Hence, the Human Development Approach helps in
making progress in terms of the SD and in benefiting the people and the planet.
This approach helps in determining which SDGs must be focussed upon more,
considering restricted budgets, although all SDGs are important.

3.7 GREEN ACCOUNTS APPROACH

All nations are making an effort to build a “Green Economy”, which signifies
human well-being and social equity together with reducing environmental risks
and ecological scarcity. In developing countries, the issue of SD and green
economy has gained attention. The Green Accounts approach refers to the national
accounts that incorporate environmental externalities. They help us understand
the impact of our social, political and economic actions on environment. The
concept of green accounting considers the environmental damage that is caused
by the activities of the humankind, but is not included in the traditional accounting
system. The conventional national accounting system does not cater to the SD
issues. This issue was resolved by Paul P. Craig and Harold Glasser by proposing
a Transfer Model approach to integrate the Green Accounts approach in the pursuit
of SD although there have been numerous studies and models on the topic.

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The approach emphasises on stocks and flows along with bio-geophysical aspects Approaches to Sustainable
Development
to give meaning and context to green accounts. Sustainable utilisation refers to
spending the interest while keeping the capital. Certain baseline conditions must
be guaranteed in bio-geophysical terms that comprise of stocks and flows, for
example, habitat, healthy food, clean water, etc., to sustain the species.
Principles of SD
Herman Daly, an economist, gave two principles to guide SD, which are:
i) Harvest rate must be equal to or lower than regenerative rates (sustained
yield); and
ii) The waste emission rates must be equal to or lower than the natural
assimilative capacities of the ecosystems into which they are emitted.
These principles are distinct from the traditional economic indicators because of
their bio-geophysical factors. Green accounting cannot relate to only renewable
resources. The Transfer Model approach suggests the incorporation of multiple
world views and uncertainty (Craig, 1994).

Check Your Progress 2

Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers.
ii) Check your answers with those given at the end of the Unit.
1. Explain the Integrated approach to sustainable development.
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2. Describe the Human Development approach to sustainable livelihoods.
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3. Discuss the Green Accounts approach to sustainable development.
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Concept of Sustainable 4. Examine India’s response to the implementation of Sustainable Development
Development
Goals.
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3.8 CONCLUSION
Sustainable Development Goals have been extensively formulated covering all
aspects that concern the environment, social, and economic needs of the present
generation,without harming the future of the next generations. Hence, it is an
international effort that spans an intergenerational and intercultural scope. The
2030 Agenda of SD can be achieved through multiple approaches, however, the
best approach is the Integrated approach, which incorporates the three components
into its strategy for simultaneous efforts to take shape. The basic purpose of
making an agenda to achieve SD is to have an international system for ranking
the countries trying to achieve the 17 goals and 169 targets. India has also aligned
itself with the SDGs by following a Holistic approach, that is, the Integrated
approach, also called Triple Bottom Line approach, towards them.
Through consistent growth and social inclusion initiatives, India has been able
to reduce poverty, improve education levels, aggressively expand basic
infrastructure capacities, conserve our rich biodiversity and build partnerships
for sustainable development. Poverty – monetary and multidimensional, has fallen
to some extent in recent years. Health insurance coverage programmes covering
over 500 million people have been successfully rolled out. Over 100 million
household toilets have been built since October 2014. All our villages and over
99 per cent of our households are electrified. Our forest cover, between
assessments in 2017 and 2019, has increased. India’s technical assistance
programmes reach 160 countries across the world. We have jumped 79 places in
the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking of countries in the past five
years, moving from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019. Jointly with France, India has
facilitated the formation of the International Solar Alliance, bringing together
countries that are well-positioned to invest aggressively in solar energy. These
are just a few examples of the progress made (NITI Aayog, 2021). This Unit
discussed the major approaches to sustainable development in detail.

3.9 GLOSSARY
BATNEEC: This means Best Available Techniques not Entailing Excessive
Costs.Commonly referred to BEST Available Technology, it was introduced in
1984. It means meeting the output standards for a particular process such as
pollution abatement. The technique is used in formulation of environmental
policies.

Bio-geophysics: It is a sub-discipline of geophysics concerned with how plants,

microbial activity and other organisms alter geological materials and affect
geophysical signatures.
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Community Capacity Building or CCB Approach: The CCB approach Approaches to Sustainable
Development
proposes skill-development and increase in knowledge base in the populations
living below the poverty line. They need to be enabled with skill and knowledge
to become gainfully involved in a community so that they can contribute to the
society.

Eco-efficiency: The eco-efficiency strategy aims at reducing the non-renewable

resources, waste, etc., thereby resulting in an increase in the service intensity of
goods and services.

Holistic Approach: The earth life-support system comprises of land, climate

and water in which the human habitat is a part of the whole.

Responsible Entrepreneurship: According to the UN, companies can manage

their operations so that economic growth and competitiveness can be strengthened,
while keeping focus on environmental protection and social responsibility.

3.10 REFERENCES
Craig, P.P. & Glasser, H. (1994), Assigning Economic Value to Natural Resources.
The Academies Press, USA.

European Commission. (1999). Sustainable Industrial Development. Retrieved

from https://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/action-programme/pdf/
sec991729_en.pdf.

Future Earth. (n.d.). A Systems Approach: Imperative to Achieve the Sustainable

Development Goals. Retrieved from https://futureearth.org/wp-content/uploads/
2019/06/SDG-systems_issue-brief.pdf

Hopwood, B., Mellor, M. O’Brien, G. (2005). Sustainable Development: Mapping

Different Approaches. Sustainable Development.13(1), 38-52.

Montaldo, C.R.B. (2013). Sustainable Development Approaches for Rural

Development and Poverty Alleviation & Community Capacity Building for Rural
Development and Poverty Alleviation. Retrieved fromhttps://
sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/
877LR%20Sustainable%20Development%20v2.pdf

NITI Aayog. (2020). Decade of Action Taking SDGs from Global to Local.
Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/
26279VNR_2020_India_Report.pdf

ShyamRoy, M. (2017). Green Accounting for Sustainable Development: Case

Study of Industry Sector in West Bengal.The Journal of Industrial Statistics. 6
(1), 57-71.

Stafford-Smith, M. et al. (2017). Integration: The Key to Implementing the

Sustainable Development Goals.Sustainability Science. 12, 911-919.

UN. (2015). Report of the Capacity Building Workshop and Expert Group Meeting
on Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Planning and
Implementation. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/
documents/8506IASD%20Workshop%20Report%2020150703.pdf
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Concept of Sustainable UN. (2015). Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development
Development. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/publications/transforming-our-
world-2030-agenda-sustainable-development-17981
United Nations Development Programme. (2001). Human Development Report
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Sector Approaches.Routledge Publishers, USA.

3.11 ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK EXERCISES

Check Your Progress 1
1. Your answer should include the following points:
The principles should be universal in character, covering challenges
faced by all countries, rather than just developing nations.
It should express a broadly agreed global strategy for sustainable
development.
It should incorporate a range of key areas that were not fully covered in
the MDGs.
It should be comprehensive, reflecting three dimensions of SD.
It should incorporate near-term benchmarks, while being long-term in
scope, looking ahead to a deadline of perhaps 2030.
It should engage all stakeholders in the implementation and mobilisation
of resources.
It should provide scope for the review of these goals in view of evolving
scientific evidence.
2. Your answer should include the following points:
More growth will lead to SD and support the decision of the governments
to reduce the progressive nature of taxation.
Business is the driver to sustainability.
The best means to achieve SD are increased information; changing
values; new technologies and innovations.
Markets will use sustainable processes to produce goods and services
by employing changes in taxation and subsidies and by being well-
informed.
The reduced role of governments will lead to the emergence of green
capitalists who will indulge in corporate citizenship and ethical business
to achieve SD.
Increase in good governance on the one hand and reduction in corruption
on the other will help in reaching closer to sustainability.
Techniques like EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment); and EMAS
52 (Eco-management and Audit System).
3. Your answer should include the following points: Approaches to Sustainable
Development
ABCD Model in CCB can be applied to:
Resources: The financial holdings; natural resources (forests, wildlife);
and the livestock can provide sustainable livelihoods. They have cultural
and environmental importance in cleansing, recycling and renewing
air and water.
Social Bonds: The social bonds and community relationships encourage
investment of the community in providing support to the poor.
Human Assets: The human assets refers to the skills in the individuals,
which can get them employment and wages in the rural areas.
4. Your answer should include the following points:
The private sector has been highlighted as a partner with the potential
to contribute in multiple ways to development objectives.
Sustainable Industrial Development (SID) means that business and
industry will have to adjust production structures and its product mix.
Ways to achieve SDGs in the Industrial Sector approach are responsible
entrepreneurship and eco-efficiency.
Principles for Environment Management for the Industry:
i) Corporate Priority
ii) Integrated Management
iii) Process of Improvement
iv) Employee Education
v) Prior Assessment
vi) Customer Advice
vii) Facilities and Operations
viii)Precautionary Approach
ix) Research
x) Transfer of Technology
Check Your Progress 2
1. Your answer should include the following points:
The Integrated Systems approach refers to the designing and adopting
of the SD strategies and plans, which integrate environmental, social
and economic dimensions and recognise their linkages.
The UN has given areas for transition.
Issues in transition.
Importance of Integrated Systems approach.
Implementation of Integrated Systems approach.
2. Your answer should include the following points:
Human development refers to the human well-being, which is an integral
goal for any society or a government to achieve.
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Concept of Sustainable The World Happiness Report (WHR) is made by the United Nations
Development
Sustainable Solutions Network. Human development is a process and,
at the same time, a result, focusing on the results of wider possibilities
to choose.
It can be defined in the easiest way as a process of expanding options:
every day, a human being makes a series of economic, social, political
and cultural choices. The ultimate goal of human development is not to
create greater wealth or achieve greater economic growth, but the
expansion of choices for every human being.
Main areas of focus in the WHR.
3. Your answer should include the following points:
All nations are making an effort to build a “Green Economy” which
signifies human well-being and social equity together with reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcity.
The concept of green accounting considers the environmental damage
that is caused by the activities of the humankind but is not included in
the traditional accounting system.
Herman Daly, an economist, gave two principles to guide SD, which
are :
- Harvest rate must be equal to or lower than regenerative rates
(sustained yield).
- The waste emission rates must be equal to or lower than the natural
assimilative capacities of the ecosystems into which they are
emitted.
4. Your answer should include the following points:
India has also aligned itself with the SDGs by following a holistic
approach, that is, the integrated approach, also called Triple Bottom
Line approach, towards them.
Through consistent growth and social inclusion initiatives, India has
been able to reduce poverty, improve education levels, aggressively
expand basic infrastructure capacities, conserve our rich biodiversity
and build partnerships for sustainable development. Poverty – monetary
and multidimensional, has fallen considerably in recent years.
Health insurance coverage programmes covering over 500 million
people have been successfully rolled out.
Over 100 million household toilets have been built since October 2014.
All our villages and over 99 per cent of our households are electrified.
Our forest cover, between assessments in 2017 and 2019, has increased.
India’s technical assistance programmes reach 160 countries across the
world.
We have jumped 79 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business
ranking of countries in the past five years, moving from 142 in 2014 to
63 in 2019. Jointly with France, India has facilitated the formation of
the International Solar Alliance, bringing together countries that are
well-positioned to invest aggressively in solar energy.
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