Sustainable Development
(I) Economic sustainable development
Growth of gross domestic product by limiting resource consumption, improving living standards, and
enhancing human welfare.
The main goal is to achieve economic development by creating environmentally friendly products at an
affordable price for all.
Points to consider for economic sustainability
1. Economic development and stability
2. Efficiency (use of resources)
3. Competition (fairness)
4. Production and consumption
5. Employment
6. International trade
Actions businesses can take to ensure economic sustainability
1. Efficient use of resources. (Departing from usage.)
2. Efficient use of capital.
3. Risk Management.
4. Job creation.
5. Empowerment of talent.
6. Investing in local economic growth.
7. Development of technology.
8. Development of manufacturing processes.
9. Contribution to infrastructure development.
10. Introducing innovations.
(ii) Environmental Sustainable Development
Achieving development by protecting a habitable land and fertile soil so that basic human needs
such as clean air, water, food, housing etc. are fulfilled. This emphasizes that development should
always be achieved by directing human activities without destroying the natural environment.
Basic points that businesses should pay attention to in environmentally sustainable
development
1. Resource consumption.
2. Raw materials and waste management.
3. Risk Management.
4. Preservation of natural cultural heritage.
Examples: Sigiriya, the end of the world
Ways businesses can work towards environmental sustainability
1. Purchasing and producing environmentally friendly materials.
2. Applying the 4R concept to waste management.
3. Conserving resources such as raw materials, energy, and water in the production process.
4. Use of environmentally friendly means of transportation.
5. Providing support to government and non-government institutions for environmental
conservation activities.
6. Safe use of hazardous materials.
7. Widespread use of solar energy sources.
8. Working to preserve biodiversity.
9. Acting in accordance with environmental laws and regulations.
10. Always act in a way that does not pollute water, air, or soil.
Global warming and the Earth Summit
Global warming
The global community has recently focused its attention on the potential climate change and the
economic damage it will cause as global warming increases. The main cause of global warming is the
increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the lower atmosphere.
A thin ring of air surrounding the Earth's surface, made up of various gases. It is about 10 miles thick near
the equator and up to 5 miles thick near the poles. Short-wave radiation from the Sun causes
atmospheric heating. This situation has been exacerbated by various human activities resulting from
industrialization.
Lady Young, the CEO of the United Nations Environment Agency, was the first to express her views that
immediate solutions should be found to this situation, and accordingly, in 1989, an environmental
conference was held in Brussels, Belgium, with the participation of 112 countries, but it ended without
decisions or results.
The "Earth Summit" or "Earth Summit" held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 3 - 14, 1992 with the
participation of 172 countries was one of the most fruitful.
After that, the environmental conference held in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 was a great success and an
agreement called "Kyoto Protocol" was reached. The following basic agreements were signed by the
member countries.
1. Not to engage in any activity related to environmental pollution in a particular area.
Examples:
• Minimizing air pollution from vehicles.
• Using alternative energy sources instead of fuel.
• Finding solutions to water shortages.
2. Adapting to production patterns that do not harm the environment.
3. Not engaging in any activity that defiles the culture of a country.
4. Restricting money-making activities that destroy natural ecological zones.
5. Not signing any treaty that destroys biodiversity.
(iii) Social Sustainable Development
Development is to achieve development in a way that meets the needs of the people equally and fairly.
This is expected to meet the needs of the present generation without violating the needs of future
generations through social cohesion, cultural identity, and the protection of human rights.
Ways businesses can contribute to socially sustainable development
1. Respect and protect cultural diversity.
2. Taking steps to reduce poverty.
3. Non-violation of human rights.
4. Working to ensure social cohesion under one law.
5. Contributing to essential facilities such as education, health, transportation, etc.
6. To take steps to maintain law and order.
7. Provision of subsidies under equal conditions.
8. Acting in a manner that protects the self-respect of the people.
9. Acting with respect for human diversity.
10. Always focus on providing a high standard of living to the people.
(09) 4R concept which is the modern practice of business for sustainable
development
Due to the production activities as well as the consumption patterns of the current world society, a large
amount of waste including garbage in the living environment has become a strong global problem.
As a solution to this problem, there is a tendency to take steps to manage waste using the 4R concept at
the world level. that is,
1. Recycling
Separating waste into raw materials that can be used to produce other goods. This happens in two
ways. that is,
(i) Conversion of low value material into high value material.
Examples: straw – paper
(ii) Conversion of high value material into low value material. Example: Japan crushing old cars to
produce iron.
2. Reuse
Use of reusables in production or consumption.
Example: Use of lunch box instead of lunch sheet
3. Reduce
Reducing the amount of waste released into the environment.
Examples:
(i) Reduction of waste in consumption.
(ii) Use of biodegradable packaging materials
4. Replace
Re-establishing reusable resources from natural resources used for production activities in the
environment.
Examples:
(i) Businessmen who use wood as raw material in the discipline carry out forestry work.
(ii) Launch of fish breeding projects by fish businessmen in Japan.
