In the eras of discovery and industrialization, humanity perceived the earth's natural resources as inexhaustible. There would always be new lands to discover, new mines to dig, new wells to drill, new forest to fell, new waters to fish. Whatever waste was produced could be washed away and cleansed by endless rivers and clear skies.
We now know that we are reaching the limits to many of the earth's resources and the environment's capacity to absorb humanity's waste. We now know that it is untenable to continue to consume resources at a rate faster then they can be renewed. Satisfying today's needs must not compromise future generations' survival. Sustainable development means finding methods to achieve a higher quality of life while not destroying humanity's common heritage of land, sea and atmosphere.
The industrialized northern nations must find ways of reducing their impact on the environment while cooperating with the densely populated developing nations of the south. Social development must proceed apace with economic and industrial development for sustainability to be achieved.
The gap between rich and poor grows. Each year, greater absolute numbers of people go hungry, illiterate, and displaced. Poverty alleviation, family planning, health care, access to the essentials of life and freedom from war and oppression for all people are part of achieving the goal of sustainability.
In May of 1994, at the request of the General Assembly, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali of the United Nations published An Agenda For Development that sets forth a blueprint for international cooperation in achieving sustainable goals. It details five dimensions for development: peace, economy, environment, social justice and democracy.
Economic growth is the engine of development. In a global economy, policies must take advantage of the efficiency of markets. Economic growth requires "investment in long term competitiveness" and must promote employment, poverty reduction and improved income distribution.
Peace, justice and democracy are essential for development, the Secretary-General states. Without peace, human energies cannot be productively employed. Without social justice, mounting inequalities will threaten social cohesion, and without the freedom of political participation, development will remain fragile and at risk.
In November 1994, the Secretary-General followed up with a set of recommendations. Development should be recognized as the foremost and most far-reaching task of out time. Development must be seen in its many dimensions, encompassing four broad concepts: peace, the economy, environmental protection, social justice and democracy.
These recommendations have become a foundation for international cooperation for the United Nations family of organizations and their multifaceted programs.
