Honorable Delegates of General Assembly,

In this message I did my best to briefly explain the topic of Sustainable development(SD). Please note that Sustainable development is very high discussed topic and you can easily find information concerning the topic. It is important issue that should be considered by every country-member of United Nations. As the delegate from a state please ask questions from yourself about how your country follows this principle. Also, get acquainted with Millennium Development Goals (MDG), because Sustainable development is one of eight focuses of this huge Program. There are multiple reports, articles and treaties regarding both SD and MDG which I tried to attach to the text of this message. Please read carefully this paper in order to understand the topic of our soon meeting better.

Best regards,

Chairperson of General Assembly.

Zarlykhanova Nazerke

Nazerke.Zarlykhanova@kimep.kz

Sustainable development is an organizing principle for human life on a finite planet. It posits a desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource-use meet human needs without undermining the sustainability of natural systems and the environment, so that future generations may also have their needs met.

Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social and economic challenges faced by humanity. As early as the 1970s, 'sustainability' was employed to describe an economy "in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems." Scientists in many fields have highlighted The Limits to Growth, and economists have presented alternatives, for example a 'steady state economy', to address concerns over the impacts of expanding human development on the planet.

The term 'sustainable development' rose to significance after it was used by the Brundtland Commission in its 1987 report Our Common Future. In the report, the commission coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The concept of sustainable development has in the past most often been broken out into three constituent domains: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability. However, many other possible ways to delineate the concept have been suggested. For example, the Circles of Sustainability approach distinguishes the four domains of economic, ecological, political and cultural sustainability. This accords with the United Cities and local governments specifying of culture as the fourth domain of sustainability. Other important sources refer to the fourth domain as 'institutional'  or as 'good governance.' 

The United Nations 2005 World Summit Outcome Document refers to the "interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars" of sustainable development as economic development, social development, and environmental protection. Based on this 'triple bottom line', numerous sustainability standards and certification systems have been established in recent years, in particular in the food industry. Well-known standards include organic, Rainforest Alliance, fair trade, UTZ Certified, Bird Friendly, and The Common Code for the Coffee Community.

A useful articulation of the values and principles of sustainability can be found in the Earth Charter. It offers an integrated vision and definition of strong sustainability. The document, an ethical framework for a sustainable world, was developed over several years after the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and launched officially in 2000. The Charter derives its legitimacy from the participatory process in which it was drafted, which included contributions from hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals, and from its use since 2000 by thousands of organizations and individuals that have been using the Earth Charter as an educational instrument and a policy tool.

Economic Sustainability: Agenda 21 clearly identified information, integration, and participation as key building blocks to help countries achieve development that recognises these interdependent pillars. It emphasises that in sustainable development everyone is a user and provider of information. It stresses the need to change from old sector-centered ways of doing business to new approaches that involve cross-sectoral co-ordination and the integration of environmental and social concerns into all development processes. Furthermore, Agenda 21 emphasises that broad public participation in decision making is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.

According to Hasna Vancock, sustainability is a process which tells of a development of all aspects of human life affecting sustenance. It means resolving the conflict between the various competing goals, and involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity famously known as three dimensions (triple bottom line) with the resultant vector being technology, hence it is a continually evolving process; the 'journey' (the process of achieving sustainability) is of course vitally important, but only as a means of getting to the destination (the desired future state). However, the 'destination' of sustainability is not a fixed place in the normal sense that we understand destination. Instead, it is a set of wishful characteristics of a future system.

Green development is generally differentiated from sustainable development in that Green development prioritizes what its proponents consider to be environmental sustainability over economic and cultural considerations.^{[citation needed]} Proponents of Sustainable Development argue that it provides a context in which to improve overall sustainability where cutting edge Green Development is unattainable. For example, a cutting edge treatment plant with extremely high maintenance costs may not be sustainable in regions of the world with fewer financial resources. An environmentally ideal plant that is shut down due to bankruptcy is obviously less sustainable than one that is maintainable by the community, even if it is somewhat less effective from an environmental standpoint. However, this view depends on whether one determines that it is the development (the plant) which needs to be sustainable, or whether it is the human-nature ecology (the environmental conditions) in which the plant exists which should be sustainable. It follows, then, that an operational but heavily polluting plant may be judged as actually 'less sustainable' than having no plant at all.

Sustainability educator Michael Thomas Needham referred to 'Sustainable Development' "as the ability to meet the needs of the present while contributing to the future generations’ needs." There is an additional focus on the present generations' responsibility to improve the future generations' life by restoring the previous ecosystem damage and resisting to contribute to further ecosystem damage.

Environmental sustainability is the process of making sure current processes of interaction with the environment are pursued with the idea of keeping the environment as pristine as naturally possible based on ideal-seeking behavior. Thus, environmental sustainability demands that society designs activities to meet human needs while indefinitely preserving the life support systems of the planet. This, for example, entails using water sustainably, only utilizing renewable energy, and sustainable material supplies (e.g. harvesting wood from forests at a rate that maintains the biomass and biodiversity).

An "unsustainable situation" occurs when natural capital (the sum total of nature's resources) is used up faster than it can be replenished. Sustainability requires that human activity only uses nature's resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally. Inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with the concept of carrying capacity. Theoretically, the long-term result of environmental degradation is the inability to sustain human life. Such degradation on a global scale should imply an increase in human death rate until population falls to what the degraded environment can support. If the degradation continues beyond a certain tipping point or critical threshold it would lead to eventual extinction for humanity.

Consumption of renewable resources	State of environment	Sustainability
More than nature's ability to replenish	Environmental degradation	Not sustainable
Equal to nature's ability to replenish	Environmental equilibrium	Steady state economy
Less than nature's ability to replenish	Environmental renewal	Environmentally sustainable

Economic sustainability

The Venn diagram of sustainable development has many versions, but was first used by economist Edward Barbier (1987). However, Pearce, Barbier and Markandya (1989) criticized the Venn approach due to the intractability of operationalizing separate indices of economic, environmental, and social sustainability and somehow combining them. They also noted that the Venn approach was inconsistent with the Brundtland Commission Report, which emphasized the interlinkages between economic development, environmental degradation, and population pressure instead of three objectives. Economists have since focused on viewing the economy and the environment as a single interlinked system with a unified valuation methodology (Hamilton 1999, Dasgupta 2007). Intergenerational equity can be incorporated into this approach, as has become common in economic valuations of climate change economics (Heal 2009). Ruling out discrimination against future generations and allowing for the possibility of renewable alternatives to petro-chemicals and other non-renewable resources, efficient policies are compatible with increasing human welfare, eventually reaching a golden-rule steady state (Ayong le Kama 2001 and Endress et al. 2005). Thus the three pillars of sustainable development are interlinkages, intergenerational equity, and dynamic efficiency (Stavins et al. 2003).

Arrow et al. (2004) and other economists (e.g. Asheim,1999^[ and Pezzey, 1989 and 1997) have advocated a form of the weak criterion for sustainable development – the requirement than the wealth of a society, including human capital, knowledge capital and natural capital (as well as produced capital) not decline over time. Others, including Barbier 2007, continue to contend that strong sustainability – non-depletion of essential forms of natural capital – may be appropriate.

Economic development has traditionally required a growth in the gross domestic product. This model of unlimited personal and GDP growth may be over. Sustainable development may involve improvements in the quality of life for many but, particularly for the affluent, may necessitate a decrease in resource consumption.

Sustainable Development

Introduction

What is Sustainable Development? The right to development implies the right to improvement and advancement of economic, social, cultural and political conditions. Improvement of global quality of life means the implementation of change that ensures every person a life of dignity; or life in a society that respects and helps realize all human rights. These changes must include the eradication and alleviation of widespread conditions of poverty, unemployment, and inequitable social conditions. Sustainable development ensures the well-being of the human person by integrating social development, economic development, and environmental conservation and protection.

Social development implies that the basic needs of the human being are met through the implementation and realization of human rights. Basic needs include access to education, health services, food, housing, employment, and the fair distribution of income. Social development promotes democracy to bring about the participation of the public in determining policy, as well as creating an environment for accountable governance. Social development works to empower the poor to expand their use of available resources in order meet their own needs, and change their own lives. Special attention is paid to ensure equitable treatment of women, children, people of indigenous cultures, people with disabilities, and all members of populations considered most vulnerable to the conditions of poverty.

Economic development expands the availability of work and the ability of individuals to secure an income to support themselves and their families. Economic development includes industry, sustainable agriculture, as well as integration and full participation in the global economy. Social and economic developments reinforce and are dependent on one another for full realization.

It is impossible to separate the well-being of the human person from the well-being of the earth. Therefore truly sustainable development places just as much importance on the protection and of the earth and the earth's resources. International documents that include the environmental aspect of development affirm and reaffirm that "human beings are at the centre of concern for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature…". As the goal of sustainable development is to permanently improve the living conditions of human beings, social and economic developments must be carried out in a way that is environmentally and ecologically sound; ensuring the continual rejuvenation and availability of natural resources for future generations.

Active participation in sustainable development ensures that those who are affected by the changes are the ones determining the changes. The result is the enjoyment and sharing of the benefits and products generated by the change. Participation is not exclusive, ensuring equitable input, self-determination and empowerment of both genders and all races and cultural groups.

Rights at Stake

It is essential, when looking at sustainable development from a rights perspective to first acknowledge that in order for a person or society to continue advancing, the basic needs of every individual must be met. Social conditions such as a lack of education and information, as well as poor health conditions, severely limit a person's ability to work and enjoy personal economic growth and development. Therefore basic rights must be respected and realized so that every person has equal access to resources:

- Every person has the right to an adequate standard of living and the continuous improvement of living conditions. -Every person has the right to the highest level of physical and mental health, and rights to access all resources needed to maintain a high level of health including:

 

 The right to adequate food and nutrition

 The right to clean water

 The right to sanitation

 The right to health care

-Every person has the right to an education directed to the full development of the human personality.

Rights that directly relate to economic growth and development include:

-The right to adequate work and appropriate working environment. Meaning every person has the right to work and receive a fair monetary wage for work.

-The right to work in a safe environment.

-The right to equal pay for equal work with no difference based on sex, or race.

Humans have the right to participate in making decisions regarding their right to development through:

-The right to self-determination. This right includes free political opinion and the ability to choose how each person wishes to pursue his/her own economic, social and cultural development.

-The right to dispose of wealth and resources however they see fit, and no person can be deprived of his/her means of subsistence.

-The right to technical and scientific knowledge especially in regard to improved production, conservation and distribution of food.

-The right to information regarding the most efficient development and use of natural resources.

-The right to enjoy the improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene to maintain health and well-being.

-The right to be an active participant and beneficiary of the right to development.

The right to development strongly recognizes that all people are equal and should be treated equally in their access and enjoyment of resources and means to improve and continue personal development. Documents encompassing development rights mention specific vulnerable groups in order to ensure that the rights relative to development are enjoyed equally by all.

Children have the right to a standard of living that promotes full development of their physical, mental, spiritual and social capacities. Specifically children have the right to have access to nutrition, clothing, housing and an education that provides them with the tools needed to sustain an adequate standard of living. Children have the right to protection from harsh working conditions that interfere with their ability to enjoy any of the aforementioned rights, and therefore limit their development.

Women have the right to work and enjoy equal pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. Women have the right to protection from discrimination in the workplace due to pregnancy. Women have the right to obtain loans, mortgages, and credit that may further their economic development. In rural areas women are assured participation and access to the benefits of rural development through participation in the development planning process; access to education and technical training; the right to organize groups to develop economic opportunity; equal treatment and consideration in land and agrarian reform, and land resettlement.

Indigenous people have the right to define their own priorities regarding development that affects their lives, beliefs, institutions, spiritual well-being and lands. Indigenous people have the right to maintain control over their own social and economic development. Indigenous people have the right to participate and offer input to national and regional development plans that affect them. Indigenous people have the right to continual improvement of living conditions, and continual economic growth. Indigenous people have the right to government study of the impact of development plans on indigenous culture before the implementation of such projects. Indigenous people have the right to protection of their natural environment.