UNGS 1201

Sustainable Development: Issues, Principles & Practices

Topic 1:
Introduction to
Sustainable
Development

Prepared and edited by DRIZ

 Learning Outcomes
• What is Systems Thinking?
• What is Sustainable Development?
• Debate about the Development – what need to be developed and
what need to be sustained?
• Finding the balance between economic development, social
sustainability, and environmental conservation
• International Framework of Sustainable Development
• The fundamental principles of Sustainable Development – 5P –
People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership

2
What is Systems
Thinking?
4
 Systems thinking is a new paradigm of analysis that
encourages and enables us to understand complex and
often hidden dynamics throughout our world

5
 Systems Thinking versus Linear Thinking

6
 Another video for you to watch

Increasing number of people want to

help to create new ventures that put
people and planet right alongside profit.
But how?

7
8
 A question on development..

What happened in current

development?

9
10
 How serious is environmental issue in Malaysia?

“Most concerning environmental issues

according to citizens across Malaysia as
of March 2019”
(Survey on 500+ Malaysians aged 16-74)

11
 But there is (always) hope..

12
13
14
What is Sustainable
Development?
 Basic Concept of
Sustainability
Three basic concepts in sustainable measure:
1. Living within certain limits 2. Understanding the
of the Earth’s capacity to interconnections among
maintain life economy, society &
environment
3. Maintaining a fair distribution
of resources and opportunity for
this generation and the next

“Sustainable” means to be able to maintain

Sustainable Development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs“ and advocated integration of environmental
considerations into all aspects of economic and development policy in order to meet this goal.
The Brundtland Report (1987)

16
17
18
Debate about
Development
What need to be developed and what need to be sustained?
 Finding the balance between economic development,
social sustainability, and environmental conservation

20
 Sustainable and Unsustainable Development in Tourism

21
Key Conventions,
Declarations Agreement
and Framework of
Sustainable Development
 What are the international
agencies responsible for
advocating and
implementing sustainable
development?

23
 United Nations and Other International Agencies
● United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ● Green Growth and Sustainable Development (OECD)
● Division for Sustainable Development ● Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
● Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform the leading international body for the assessment of climate change.
portal to the United Nations' Division of Sustainable Development products and services. ● International Labour Organization (ILO)
● Latest Publications [UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform] The ILO creates international labor standards, provides technical cooperation services, and
links to various UN sustainability publications. publishes its own research on social and labor matters in order to promote decent living standards,
● Greening the Blue satisfactory conditions of work and pay, and adequate employment opportunities.
"Greening the Blue is the official United Nations platform for raising awareness about the ● Sustainable Development (ILO)
importance of sustainability within the UN system." ● OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)
● Natural Resources Forum (NRF): a United Nations Sustainable Development journal ● Organization of American States (OAS)
covers research on policy issues related to the UN sustainable development agenda as well as "Ensuring and promoting sustainable development–which entails balancing economic growth,
current issues before of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). social equity and environmental protections–throughout the Western Hemisphere continues to be
one of the chief objectives of the OAS. "
UN Agencies ● Sustainable Development (OAS)
● United Nations Development Programme
● United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UN agency charged with working to eradicate poverty and inequality. Produces and annual Human
the main focus point within the UN for all environmental efforts.
Development Report that benchmarks key development indicators
● United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
● United Nations Development Programme Evaluation Resource Centre
"At the centre of the UN development system, we conduct cutting-edge analysis, agree on global
Search for evaluations of project funded by UNDP
norms and advocate for progress. Our collective solutions advance sustainable development."
● AccessUNDP
● Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development
Collection of historical UNDP project reports
"The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) created the Committee on Food Security and
● United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
Sustainable Development (CFSSD) to serve as a forum for the promotion of cooperation, exchange
an autonomous UN agency engaging in multidisciplinary research on the social dimensions of
of information, and sharing of experiences in the areas of food security, agriculture, environment,
contemporary problems affecting development.
land, climate change, and broader sustainable development issues."
● UN-WIDER
● Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
A Research Institute of the United Nations University it provides original research coordinated by a
information and publications from all departments of the FAO
core group of resident and non-resident researchers
● Sustainability Pathways
● The World Bank
the FAO's sustainability site.
Working for a World Free of Poverty
● UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
● World Bank Projects and Operations
● Science for a Sustainable Future (UNESCO)
Search for reports and evaluations of World Bank funded projects.
● Sustainable Development (World Bank)

24
 What are the national agencies
responsible for advocating and
implementing sustainable
development?

25
 ➢ Governments first actively addressed the issues of global environmental needs
when they gathered in Stockholm in 1972 to take part in the UN conference on
human environment
➢ The focus of the conference was international cooperation regarding the
problems the earth’s environment was facing.

Global conferences provide a platform for the development for the global strategies for
sustainable development
1972 – UN Conference on Human Development, Stockholm – created UNEP
1987 – World Commission on Environment & Development published Brundtland Report,
Our Common Future
1992 – Rio Earth Summit published Agenda 21,
1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) & 1997 Kyoto Protocol
1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
1995 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
2000 – Millennium Development Goals
2002 – Johannesburg Declaration (WSSD)
2016 - SDG

26
 Kyoto Protocol (1997)
➢ After 3 conferences of the parties (COPS) meeting in Berlin and Geneva, eventually
in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 the member countries prepared the Kyoto
Protocol
➢ The Kyoto Protocol decided upon:
○ Emission reduction targets of greenhouse gases for each of the member
countries
○ A greenhouse gas emission trading programme
○ Holding future meetings to set penalties for violations of the established
targets and regulation rules of the Emission-Trading Programme
○ Under the leadership of President Bush, AMerica did not support the protocol
➢ The Kyoto Protocol finally came into effect on February 16, 2005

27
 World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
➢ The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg,
South Africa from August 26 to September, focused on the world’s attention and
direct action on meeting the challenges, including improving people’ sleeves and
conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population. with
ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services
and economic security
➢ The main focus of the conference are
○ Oceans
○ Coasts
○ Islands
➢ One of the main successes was that governments agreed to have the number of
people lacking in clean drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015

28
 Bali United Nations Climate Change Conference
(2007)
➢ The conference brings together representatives of over 180 countries together with
observers from intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and the
media
➢ The aim is to produce ambitious results capable of providing a global response to
the challenges of climate change and in particular,
○ the satisfactory implementation of the Kyoto Protocol for the period
○ the adoption of a “Road Map” leading to a global agreement by 2009 for post
2012
○ the need to perpetuate and develop\ the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms
○ and the formulation of a differentiated contribution from emerging countries
and other developing countries

29
 Role of Developing Countries
➢ Developing countries began to play a crucial role
➢ The importance of their active participation recognised
○ They were financially assisted to participate
➢ They themselves recognised their bargaining power
○ Ambassador Das Gupta of India commented, “For once we have something to
bargain with. Either we address the environment together or go down
together.”
➢ The Immense political pressure being exerted by civil society in developed
countries was not missed by developing countries

30
 Establishment of Common Principles
In the process, certain basic principles were established:
➢ Common but differentiated responsibility for dealing with the
environment
➢ The need to assist developing countries with finances and
technology to address environmental problems
➢ The need to meet environmental and developmental needs
➢ Trade policy measures should not constitute arbitrary or
unjustifiable discrimination

31
 MDGs (2000-2015) versus SDGs (2016-2030)

32
 Transition from MDGs to SDGs

To SDGs (2016-2030)
- 17 Goals, 169 Targets, 304 Indicators

From MDGs (2000-2015)

- 8 Goals, 21 Targets, 60 Indicators

33
 Transitioning from the MDGs to the SDGs

34
 What’s New With the SDGs?

35
The 5Ps: Dimensions
of the SDGs
 5 Dimensions of the SDGs:
The 5Ps: The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance

Dimensions of the SDGs for humanity and the planet:

1. People
We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that
all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.

2. Planet
We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable
consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action
on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.

3. Prosperity
We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and
that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.

4. Peace
We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and
violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without
sustainable development.

5. Partnership
We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global
solidarity, focussed in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the
participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.

37
 The 5Ps: Dimensions of the SDGs

38
39
 SDGs
17 Goals, 169 Targets and 240 Indicators
Social Pillar Economic Pillar Environment Pillar Inclusive
6 goals, 55 targets 5 goals, 4 targets 4 goals, 38 targets Development and
and 88 indicators and 61 indicators and 43 indicators MOI
2 goals, 31 targets
and 48 indicators
Goal 7: Affordable and
Goal 1: No Poverty Clean Energy
Goal 2: Zero Hunger Goal 8: Decent Work and Goal 12: Responsible
Consumption and
Goal 3: Good Health and Economic Growth
Wellbeing Production
Goal 9: Industry, Goal 16: Peace, Justice,
Goal 4: Quality Education innovation and Goal 13: Climate Action Strong Institution
infrastructure Goal 14: Life Below Water Goal 17: Partnerships for
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 10: Reduced Goal 15: LIfe on Land the Goals
Goal 6: Clean Water and
Inequalities
Sanitation
Goal 11: Sustainable
Cities and Communities

40