Explain the evolution of the concept of development from ‘economic growth to sustainable development’.
Answers
The world can be characterized as both developed and developing countries.
Regardless of which end of the spectrum a nation stands, both extremes have caused environmental stress in the world.
Therefore, it is important to understand the differences, and issues between the developed and developing nations, to effectively understand the dynamics.
Environmental constraints in Developing countries are characterised by pressures from Population Growth, Inefficient Technology, Weak Governance, Poor Health Sector, Low per capita Income, and Poverty (Popp 2010). Therefore, the emphasis for developing countries is on the need for progress, a desire to have social and economic growth. Hence, growth would take precedence to the environment.
In terms of the perspective from the developed countries, economic growth results in increasing wealth, income, standard of living, and improved health care facilities. This state of affluence on the other hand came at a price of environmental degradation, which commenced from the dawn of the industrial revolution in the 18th Century. The drive to industrial development was based on the increasing use of fossil fuels, raw materials, synthetics and chemicals (such as pesticides, DDT etc.) to name a few (WCED, 1987, p.28).
This rapid consumption and production drive placed great pressures on the environment through overexploitation and depletion of resources, accumulation of CO2 and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, pollution, and destruction of eco-systems. Therefore, one can infer that issues arising in the environment are as a result of both the lack of development and the consequences of economic growth in the countries of the world (WCED, 1987, p. 29).