Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts?
- Social justice and empowerment
- Inclusive growth
- Globalization
- Carrying capacity
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- The definition of sustainable development given in the Brundtland Commission report, “Our Common Future,” inherently ties the concept to the idea of carrying capacity. It refers to the maximum population size or level of development that an ecosystem can support indefinitely without degrading itself or the environment’s capacity to meet future needs. The definition emphasises the “limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organisation on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs”. Therefore, achieving sustainable development requires operating within the ecological limits, which is the core principle of carrying capacity.
