3. Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
 ‘meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.’ ( Our Common Future, The
Brundtland Commission, formally the World Commission
on Environment and Development (WCED) report, United
Nations. 1987.)
 Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern of
resource use, that aims to meet human needs while
preserving the environment so that these needs can
be met not only in the present, but also for
generations to come (sometimes taught as ELF-
Environment, Local people, Future)

4. Bangladesh: A country ofBangladesh: A country of
Potential and PovertyPotential and Poverty
 Area: 144000 sq km
 Population more than 150 million,
density more than 1300 per sq km.
 One of the most fertile land,
Agriculture is the main livelihood.
 Rich water system and biodiversity:
rivers, canals, ponds and wetlands
 Industrious and creative work force
 Oil gas resources in onshore and
offshore, coal in north of the country.
 But trapped in a cycle of poverty and
vulnerability.

5. How Resources turn into Curse?How Resources turn into Curse?
 The surprisingly negative outcomes in oil- and mineral-dependent
countries are referred to as the “resource curse.” (Covering Oil..)
 Natural resource abundance does therefore hinder economic growth in
countries with grabber friendly institutions, but does not in countries
with producer friendly institutions. (Institutions and the resource curse: Halvor Mehlum,
Karl Moene and Ragnar Torvik, 2nd March 2005)
 Many countries rich in natural resources exploit and squander that
wealth to enrich a minority while corruption and mismanagement
leave the majority impoverished. (COVERING OIL: Edited by Svetlana Tsalik and Anya
Schiffrin, Open Society Institute, 2005
 according to the second Arab Human Development Report, released
by the United Nations in 2003, high dependence on oil in parts of the
Middle East has led to “the over concentration of wealth in a few
hands,” and “faltering economic growth,” and “weakened the demand
for knowledge.”

7. BackgroundBackground
 Sustainable development is thus a constitutional obligation in
Bangladesh.
 “The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the
environment and to preserve and safeguard the natural
resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife for the
present and future citizens.”
[The Article 18 A of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh]
7

8. Background (contd.)Background (contd.)
 Bangladesh started preparing the National Sustainable
Development Strategy (NSDS) in 2009.
 Later, it was decided to revise and update the NSDS in light of
the Six Five Year Plan (SFYP), the Perspective Plan (2010-
2021), and other recently plans, policies and strategies
formulated by the government.
 In pursuant of the outline agreed in the Rio+20 declaration, the
National Sustainable Development Strategy (2010-2021) has
been finalized in 2013.
8

9. Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
Expenditure in BangladeshExpenditure in Bangladesh

10. PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES
Sustainability is often perceived as a governance
issue. The main principles include:

11. Goals & TargetsGoals & Targets
 The agreement of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 (Rio+20), to
develop a set of future international development goals.
 The current development agenda is centred on the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
 The Rio+20 outcome document, “The Future We Want”, also calls
for the goals to be integrated into the UN’s post-2015
Development Agenda

12. Goals & Targets (contd.)Goals & Targets (contd.)

13. 13
NSDS Framework
The basic idea
The green economy is not the end, but is a means of achieving
sustainable development and poverty eradication through integrated
economic, social and environmental development.
Strategic Priority Areas Cross cutting areas
1. Sustained, inclusive and
equitable economic growth
2. Development of priority sectors
(Agriculture and Rural
Development, Industry, Energy,
Human Resource Development
etc. )
3. Urban Environment
4. Social Security and Protection
5. Environment and Natural
Resources Management
1. Good Governance
2. Gender
13

14. ◊ Environment Policy and Implementation Plan (1992)
◊ National Forestry Policy (1994)
◊ National Fish Policy (1998)
◊ National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation
(1998)
◊ National Rural Development Policy (2001)
◊ The National Policy for the Advancement of Women
(1998)
◊ National Water Policy (1999)
◊ National Agricultural Policy (1999)
◊ National Land Use Policy (2001)
◊ Draft Coastal Zone Policy (2004)
NATIONAL POLICIESNATIONAL POLICIES

15. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
Several development objects are
mentioned explicitly or implicitly in various
policy documents and are invariably linked
with the goal of sustainable development:

16. ◊ economic growth
◊ meeting basic needs and creating
livelihood opportunities
◊ reduction of vulnerabilities and
enhancement of coping capacities
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

17. ◊ equitable distribution of resources and
economic benefits
◊ empowerment of communities
◊ women’s development and gender
equity
◊ conservation and enhancement of
ecologically critical areas
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

18. STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

19. • The natural resource base is shrinking fast.
The challenge is to sustain the natural
resource base for the future by reducing
dependency on natural resources.
• The challenge will be to create alternatives,
wise use of resources, restoration and
regeneration of declining resources and to
apply a control mechanism.

20.  Value addition to natural resources will be
emphasized. This will give higher return.
 Continued economic growth is required for
poverty reduction. While utilization of
natural resources will continue, a shift has
to be made to non-farm sectors.
 Economic growth is often in conflict with
sustainable development. The challenge is
to ensure rapid economic growth adhering
to conservation laws and regulations.

21. PUBLIC AWARENESS BYPUBLIC AWARENESS BY
NGOSNGOS
• BRAC, Caritas Bangladesh, Proshika, etc. have
training program for grassroots activists.
• CDP, YPSA, CODEC, CNRS and BCAS run resource
centers and work on sustainable development
issues with focus on ecological management.

22.  Community Development Library (CDL)
runs 27 documentation and resource
centers in the country. It also publishes
books and makes video documentaries
for public awareness.
PUBLIC AWARENESS BYPUBLIC AWARENESS BY
NGOSNGOS

23. CONCLUSION
The Executive Summary at the beginning of this Report provides the highlights of the
successes
achieved since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit as well as the major future directions and
challenges.
Bangladesh has achieved significant progress in respect of all three pillars of sustainable
development, especially the social front. However, with the climate change intensifying
and the
country being at the forefront of climate change impacts, there are formidable challenges to
contend with in future. Bangladesh is fully committed to pursuing sustainable
development,
seeking to establish and maintain economic vibrancy, social equity and inclusiveness,
human
dignity for all, and a healthy environment and a sound natural resource base. However,
given its
resource limitations, the country needs finance and technology transfer as well as capacity
enhancement support, consistent with the properly defined tasks that it will take to move
steadfastly towards the goal of sustainable development.