Question

The concept of sustainable development is subject to criticism. Why?

a) It is a utopian idea not possible in practice

b) Any positive rate of exploitation of non-renewable resources will necessarily lead to exhaustion of resources.

c) Sustainable development is impossible to achieve

d) All of these​

Answer 1

The concept of sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission, has been subjected to critical scrutiny by many scholars. The criticisms not only point out the logical contradictions and semantic ambivalence in the term, but also centre on its vagueness/ambiguity of the terms/phrases included in the definition, point towards difficulties at the operational level and attempt to uncover implicit assumptions and political motives. Scholars like Ramesh Deewan, take an extreme stand and express the view that the concept of sustainable development represents contradiction in the term itself.