Sustainable development aims to meet human needs while sustaining natural systems. It requires consideration of the interconnected relationships between economy, society, and environment. Sustainability indicators measure progress on issues like quality of life, literacy, health, and standard of living. Achieving sustainability requires strategies like improving resource efficiency, reducing pollution in industrial processes, and adopting environmental management systems. Barriers include focusing solely on economic growth without regard for environmental and social impacts.

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Unit 6
Sustainable Development: Definition - elements of sustainable developments - Indicators
of sustainable development - Sustainability Strategies- Barriers to Sustainability –
Industrialization and sustainable development – Cleaner production in achieving
sustainability
Introduction
Sustainable development is the organizing principle for meeting human development goals
while at the same time sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural
resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depends. The
desirable end result is a state of society where living conditions and resource use continue to
meet human needs without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural systems.
There may be as many definitions of sustainability and sustainable development as there are
groups trying to define it. All the definitions have to do with:
 Living within the limits
 Understanding the interconnections among economy, society, and environment
 Equitable distribution of resources and opportunities
Definition
Sustainability is related to the quality of life in a community -- whether the economic, social
and environmental systems that make up the community are providing a healthy, productive,
meaningful life for all community residents, present and future.
“Sustainability is about making responsible decisions that will reduce your business
negative impact on the environment”. It is not simply about reducing the amount of waste
you produce or using less energy, but is concerned with developing processes that will lead to
businesses becoming completely sustainable in the future.
Models of Sustainable development: (Elements of Sustainable
Development)
Moving towards sustainable development presents tremendous challenges. Human has all the
tools necessary for achieving it. However we tend to forget that in order to survive, we need
to adapt to nature and not vice-versa.
We need to develop the ability to make a choice which respects the relationship between the
three “Es” – Economy, Ecology and Equality. If all the three “E‟s” are incorporated in the
national goals of countries then it would be possible to develop a sustainable society.
Models help us understanding the concepts of Sustainability better. Achieving SD thus,
requires more effective, open, and productive association among the people themselves.
Models help us gather, share, and analyse information; they help coordinating work; and
educate and train professionals, policymakers, and the public in general.

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The following are some of the constructive models for understanding SD.
Three Element Basic Model
This is one of the most well-known models created using the three dimensions -Economy,
Environment and Society.
The diagram shows three interlocking circles with the triangle of environmental
(conservation), economic (growth), and social (equity) dimensions.
Sustainable Development is modelled on these three elements. This model is called „three
elements‟ or „three circles model‟. It is based considering the society, but does not explicitly
take into account „human quality of life‟.
The Egg of Sustainability
The „Egg of Sustainability‟ model was designed in 1994 by the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature, IUCN
It illustrates the relationship between people and ecosystem as one circle inside another, like
the yolk of an egg. This implies that people are within the ecosystem, and that ultimately one
is entirely dependent upon the other. Just as an egg is good only if both the white and yolk are
good, so a society is well and sustainable only if both, people and the eco-system, are well.
Social and economical development can only take place if the environment offers the
necessary resources: raw materials, space for new production sites and jobs, constitutional
qualities (recreation, health etc.). Ecosystem is therefore to be regarded as a super
coordinated system to the other dimensions of the triangle or prism models: social,
economical, and institutional.
Thus according to this model:
Sustainable development = human well being + ecosystem well being

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Prism of Sustainability
This model was developed by the German Wuppertal Institute and defines SD with the help
of four components - economy, environment, society and institution.
In this model the inter-linkages such as care, access, democracy and eco-efficiency need to be
looked at closely as they show the relation between the dimensions which could translate and
influence policy. In each dimension of the prism, there are imperatives (as norms for action).
Indicators are used to measure how far one has actually come in comparison to the overall
vision of SD.
This is described in the following diagram.
The Amoeba Model
The Amoeba Approach is a model used to visually assess a system‟s condition relative to an
optimal condition. The model is circular with the various indicators positioned around the
outside.
Lines radiate from the centre to the indicators, on a continuum from unsustainable (in the
centre) to sustainable (the outside of the circle). A circle would indicate the optimum
conditions.
Indicators of sustainable development

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An indicator helps understand where we are, which way we are going and how far we are
from our goal. It alerts us to a problem before it gets too bad and helps recognize solutions to
fix the problem.
Indicators of SD are different from traditional indicators of economic, social, and
environmental progress. Traditional indicators such as unemployment rate or GDP growth,
stockholder profits, asthma rates, and water quality measure changes in one part of a
community as if they were entirely independent of the other parts. SD indicators on the other
hand, reflect the reality that the three different segments are very tightly interconnected.
Thus, the indicators of SD point to an issue or condition. The following are certain
characteristics that all the SD indicators have in common:
 Alert a problem before it gets too bad
 Helps recognize what needs to be done to fix the problem
 Build clarity and accountability
 Reflect a sense of purpose
 Illustrate relationships
 Show trends
Such multidimensional SD indicators that possess all these characteristics and show the links
among a community‟s economy, environment, and society are described below:
 Gross National Happiness (GNH)
 Human Development Index (HDI)
 Ecological Footprint (EF)
 The Happy Planet Index (HPI)
Gross National Happiness (GNH)
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is an attempt to define quality of life in a more holistic and
psychological terms than Gross National Product.
The term was coined by Bhutan‟s King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972.
It serves as a unifying vision for the Five Year planning process and all the derived planning
documents that guide the economic and development plans of Bhutan.
While conventional development models stress economic growth as the ultimate objective,
GNH is based on the assertion that true development of human society takes place when
material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each
other.
The four pillars of GNH are the promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic
development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural
environment, and establishment of good governance.
Human Development Index (HDI)
The Human Development Index (HDI) is the measure of life expectancy, literacy, education,
and standard of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-
being, especially child welfare. It is used to determine and indicate whether a country is a

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developed, developing, or underdeveloped country and also to measure the impact of
economic policies on quality of life.
The index was developed in 1990 by Indian Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen, Pakistani
economist Mahbub ul Haq, with help from Gustav Ranis of Yale University and Lord
Meghnad Desai of the London School of Economics and has been used since then by the
United Nations Development Programme in its annual Human Development Report.
The HDI measures the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions of human
development:
1. A long and healthy life, as measured by life expectancy at birth.
2. Knowledge, as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weightage) and the
combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrolment ratio (with one-third
weightage).
3. A decent standard of living, as measured by the log of GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in USD.
Ecological Footprint (EF)
Ecological Footprint (EF) compares human consumption of natural resources with Earth‟s
ecological capacity to regenerate them.
The term “ecological footprint” was coined in 1992 by William Rees, a professor at the
University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. The ecological footprint concept and
calculation method was further developed as the PhD dissertation of Mathis Wackernagel
under Prof. Rees at UBC from 1990-1994. In early 1996, Wackernagel and Rees published
Our Ecological
Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth.
EF is an estimate of the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to
regenerate the resources human population consumes and to absorb the corresponding waste,
given prevailing technology and current understanding. Using this assessment, it is possible
to estimate how many planet Earths it would take to support humanity if everybody lived a
given lifestyle.
Per capita EF is a means of comparing consumption and lifestyles, and check this against
nature‟s ability to provide for this consumption.
The Happy Planet Index (HPI)
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is an index of human well-being and environmental impact.
The index challenges other well-established indices such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
and the Human Development Index (HDI).
It was introduced by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), in July 2006.
The HPI is based on the principle that most people want to live long and fulfilling lives, and
the country which is doing the best is the one that allows its citizens to do so, whilst avoiding
infringing on the opportunity of future people and people in other countries to do the same.

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The Happy Planet Index is an innovative measure that shows the ecological efficiency with
which human well-being is delivered. It is the first ever index to combine environmental
impact with human well-being. Each country‟s HPI value is a function of its average life
satisfaction, life expectancy at birth, and ecological footprint per capita. Analysing its results
could help us to move towards a world where we can all live good lives without costing the
earth.
The Index doesn‟t reveal the „happiest‟ country in the world. It shows the relative efficiency
with which nations convert the planet‟s natural resources into long and happy lives for their
citizens. The nations that score well show that achieving, long, happy lives without over-
utilising the resources is possible.
Sustainability Strategies
The strategic aims and objectives for sustainability are
1. Student experience
To enhance the student experience by providing a physical environment that fosters informal
learning for sustainability (supporting sustainable lifestyles and offering sustainability related
volunteering and study opportunities), taking advantage of our ecologically rich and
aesthetically beautiful physical environment.
2.Employability and Graduate
To enhance graduate employability in relation to the skills that businesses, organisations and
individuals need in order to respond to the global sustainability challenges, and to take
advantage of the emerging international green economy.
3. Development
To provide all students, to access to education for sustainability.
4. Research
To raise awareness and communicate research which is related to environmental
sustainability and to ensure that our operations are informed by this research where possible.
5. Partnership and engagement
We shall create opportunities where students, staff and alumni can develop and share their
knowledge, skills and experience to engage with and contribute effectively to tackling global
challenges.
6. Estate management

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To reduce the environmental impact, of our operational activities and make a positive
contribution to the local environment, through the management of our estate.
7. Quality assurance
To ensure that the aims, objectives and targets contained within this strategy are delivered to
the highest standards and in a transparent and verifiable manner.
Industrialization and Sustainable Development
Sustainable industrialisation is a long-term process of transformation towards a desired vision
of an industrialised economy.
It contributes to wealth creation, social development and environmental sustainability.
Necessity of Industrialization
1. Applying technological progress
2. Driving and diffusing innovation
3. Developing new skills and attitudes
4. Stimulating modern services
5. Internationalizing economies
Classification of Industries
Resource-based industries ( processed food, wood, leather, refined petroleum & rubber
products);
1. Low technology industries (textiles, garments, footwear, furniture, glassware, toys);
2. Medium technology industries (automotive industry, chemicals, machinery)
3. High technology industries (electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, precision
instruments, aerospace).

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The Sustainable Industrialization Triangle
Design R‟s
Principles
1. Systemic Nature: Systems are interrelated and interconnected, therefore human
activities inevitably impact other systems in unexpected ways.
2. Equity and social justice: Access to the elements required for survival on this planet
is an innate human right. All humans, including those generations to come, are
entitled to clean air, water, land, housing, food, and health services.

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3. Pollution and Toxics: Pollution and the production of toxics degrades human and
environmental health, therefore the production of waste, pollution, and toxics should
be eliminated or controlled.
4. Precautionary Principle: Technological innovations creates threats and risks to human
health and the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some
cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. The proponent
of a technological innovation should bear the “burden of proof“ for
presenting evidence of harmlessness. If this is not forthcoming, then a "no
action policy” should be adopted.
5. Stewardship: All businesses, industries, governments, NGO & individuals have
important responsibilities for the integrity of life-supporting systems.
 Maintain the integrity of systems
 Consume and use responsibly
 Protect and restore ecosystems
 Protect human health, vulnerable populations, and communities
6. Energy Efficiency
Energy Intensity is the amount of energy consumed per unit of service or activity. Embodied
energy may be reduced by designing durable, adaptable products and buildings which are
made from local, renewable materials.
Embodied Energy: “Embodied energy is the total primary energy consumed during the life
time of a product, ideally the boundaries would be set from the extraction of raw materials
(inc fuels) to the end of the products lifetime (including energy from; manufacturing,
transport, energy to manufacture capital equipment, heating & lighting of factory...etc), this
boundary condition is known as Cradle to Grave” (Jones, 2007).
Environmental Burden:
Renewability: Production activities should minimize the use of materials which do not
regenerate at the same rate at which they are consumed, including from fossil fuels, minerals,
long-lived plants, and declining populations of animals.
Conclusion
Industrialization without sustainability has been known to cost the society in increasing
inequality, poor living conditions for the poor, supposed scarcity of resources, etc..
In the future, mankind will look to achieve sustainability in all aspects of life, not so much
because we will want to, but because we will need to.

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Cleaner production in achieving sustainability
1. Environment Management Systems (EMS) and standards
To encourage industry and government and other organisations to examine and monitor their
environmental performance and set targets for improvement, through the broad adoption and
implementation of EMS.
The benefits of an EMS which are similar to those of cleaner production are:
 Minimising environmental risk liabilities;
 Maximising the efficient use of resources;
 Reducing waste;
 Demonstrating a good corporate image;
 Building awareness of environmental concern among employees;
 Gaining a better understanding of the environmental impacts of business activities; and
 Increasing profit, while improving environmental performance, through more efficient
operations.
2. Environmental Accounting
To develop effective management accounting systems which incorporate environmental costs
into traditional business financial calculations.
3. Environmental Labelling
To assist consumers, both organisations and individuals, to make environmentally responsible
product choices, by informing them of the environmental impacts of products and providing a
standardised means of comparing products.

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4. Life Cycle Assessment
To identify and minimise all the environmental impacts associated with a product, production
process or service throughout its lifecycle.
Benefits:
 Improve its understanding of products and processes
 Establish a comprehensive baseline of data on a system‟s performance
 Compare environmental impacts and economic costs of alternative products,
technologies or practices; reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
 Identify points within a system‟s life cycle where the greatest reduction in resource
requirements and emissions can be achieved
5. Cleaner Production Training
To ensure cleaner production training is available, relevant and consistent across all sectors
and levels of industry, for all levels of staff.
Training providers work with industry and professional associations to incorporate cleaner
production training into academic, professional and vocational courses.
6. Design For the Environment

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To encourage product manufacturers to redesign products to reduce their environmental
impact. Known as „design for the environment‟ (DFE), or „ecodesign‟ this approach
examines a product‟s entire lifecycle and proposes changes to how the product is designed to
minimize its environmental impact during its lifetime.
These impacts are reduced by adopting the following strategies:
•Raw materials
- Design for resource conservation
•Manufacturing
- Design for cleaner production
•Use
- Design for energy efficiency
- Design for water conservation
- Design for minimal consumption
- Design for low-impact use
- Design for service and repair
•End of life
- Design for re-use
- Design for re-manufacture
- Design for disassembly
- Design for recycling
- Design for safe disposal
• Distribution
- Design for efficient distribution
Cleaner Production is a preventive, company- specific environmental protection initiative,
intended to minimize waste and emissions and maximize product output and sustainability.
 Cleaner Production provides a practical way of moving towards sustainable
development.
 Cleaner Production allows the producers of goods and the providers of services to
produce more with less-less raw material, less energy, less waste, and thus, less
environmental impact and greater sustainability.
 Cleaner Production is the step beyond waste management – it deals with the source of
the problem, rather than the symptoms.
 “Cleaner Production primarily supports the long term objective of Sustainable
Development”

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