Sustainable Development: The Two Decade Milestone

Abstract

In the 20 years since Our Common Future was published, human population has grown exponentially, greenhouse gas emission has increased, hazardous materials increased, the number of species threatened by extinction has increased, and the amount of people suffering from malnutrition and starvation has increased. Sustainable development is considered development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable use of the planet may still be a feasible goal for now but development, at least as currently practiced, causes too much destruction and simply cannot be sustainable.