The reference to "sustainable development" is now essential in discussions addressing both the environment and development. The most well-known definition of "sustainable development" is found in the Brundtland Report (CMED, 1987: 47): "Sustainable development is striving to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of future generations." Alongside this "methodological" definition, there is a definition in terms of object, articulated along the three dimensions of social, economic, and environmental aspects. While the first definition is capable of encompassing any reflection on intergenerational issues solely from an environmental perspective, the second one useful clarifies the multidimensionality of the concept of sustainable development. This issue should prompt analyses and discussions regarding the very nature of economic development, as well as the conditions that govern its preservation over time. The concept of sustainable development, to avoid remaining an empty slogan, requires that the inevitable tensions between the three dimensions of the economic, environmental, and social aspects be recognized and taken into account.
- TeachPlus: Hamza BENNACEUR