Sustainable Development

Related Content
Useful Links
Sustainable development is about striking the right balance between economic development, social
equity and environmental protection. For the road transport industry, meeting this objective translates
into the challenge of satisfying market demands at the lowest economic, social and environmental cost
possible.
Since the 1st Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro in 1992 where
182 countries adopted Agenda
21, the most often quoted
definition of sustainable
development is a development
that meets the needs of the
present without compromising
the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.

Subsequently, it has been

recognised that in economics as
in ecology, the rules of
interdependence apply and that
isolated actions are impossible.
A policy which is not carefully
thought through will have
various perverse or even adverse
effects, not only on the economy
but equally for the environment.

Pursuant to the adoption of Agenda 21, the road transport industry proactively committed to drive
towards achieving sustainable development by developing and unanimously adopting the IRU Charter
for Sustainable Development at the IRU World Congress in Budapest in 1996. Striving for sustainable
development has become a constitutional obligation for the road transport industry, as per Article 2 of
the IRUs Constitution.
For the road transport industry, achieving sustainable development translates into the challenge of
satisfying market demands at the lowest economic, social and environmental cost possible, notably by
achieving better and cleaner rather than more road transport, in developing and industrialised countries
alike.
The IRU was admitted to the UNs Global Compact, the worlds largest corporate responsibility
initiative with over 8000 business and non-business participants in 135 countries, based on the fact that
the IRUs priorities and related activities notably trade and road transport facilitation as well as
sustainable development are fully in line with the Global Compacts Ten Principles as regards
human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption measures.
Over the last 20 years, the road transport industry has invested massively in the latest technologies and
training. In this regard, as well as establishing the IRU Academy for professional training, the IRU has
developed the 3 i Strategy, based on Innovation, Incentives and Infrastructure, as the most cost-
effective way to achieve sustainable development.

The 3 i Strategy

In line with its statutory commitment to drive towards achieving sustainable

development, the IRU has developed the 3 "i" Strategy, based on Innovation, Incentives and
Infrastructure, as the most cost-effective way to achieve sustainable development.
The IRU, its national Member Associations and their members - the road transport operators - are open
to action alliances with all competent public and private partners. The IRU's 3 "i" approach has been
endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

to develop ever more effective "at-source" technical measures and operating

practices to reduce environmental impact.
to encourage faster introduction by transport operators of best available technology
and practices
without free-flowing traffic, the above measures are useless. Adequate investment
in new infrastructure to remove bottlenecks and missing links, plus fullest use of
existing infrastructure are essential.

Attheendofthislesson,Ifigureoutwhysustainableisoneofabigissuesformyproposed
developmentbecauseitfulfilthepresentneeds,whichmeansutilizetheresourcestoproduce
maximumoutputwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds.
Sustainablecansavetheenvironmentinlongtermoftime.
Economic
The people in the western world are heavy consumers. In fact, we consume far more than our fair
share. Meanwhile, the people in developing countries are exploding in population and some are
aspiring to have high-consumption lifestyles too. We need a sustainable economic model that ensures
fair distribution and efficient allocation of our resources. This pillar ensures that our economic growth
maintains a healthy balance with our ecosystem.

Environmental
We take our natural resources for granted and sometimes we forget that those resources are not
unlimited. More importantly, our planet must be protected from corporate exploitation and neglect. This
pillar supports initiatives like: renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel consumption and emissions,
sustainable agriculture and fishing, organic farming, tree planting and reducing deforestation, recycling,
and better waste management.

Social
yadaDROP is a global citizen and you are too. As a global citizen, we must never turn a blind eye to
social disruptions that threaten the well-being of people and our environment. We have an ethical
responsibility to do something about human inequality, social injustice, and poverty. This pillar
supports initiatives like peace, social justice, reducing poverty, and other grassroots movements that
promote social equity.
Sustainability and sustainable development -
What is sustainability and what is sustainable
development?
The definition of sustainability is not nearly as simple as it might seem, likewise with the definition of
sustainable development. This is best illustrated by the fact that there are over 200 different definitions
to what is sustainable development.

However, the most common definition was defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, who
documented the sustainable development definition as:

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

This implies that we need to look after our planet, our resources and our people to ensure that we can
live in a sustainable manner and that we can hand down our planet to our children and our
grandchildren to live in true sustainability.

What is sustainability? The three pillars of sustainability

But what is sustainability? The definition of sustainability may be taken further and it is widely
accepted that to achieve sustainability we must balance economic, environmental and social factors in
equal harmony. This may be illustrated with a sustainability Venn diagram, as shown below:

Sustainability Venn Diagram

So to achieve true sustainability we need to balance economic, social and environmental sustainability
factors in equal harmony. These may be defined as:
Environmental Sustainability: Environmental sustainability means that we are living within
the means of our natural resources. To live in true environmental sustainability we need to
ensure that we are consuming our natural resources, such as materials, energy fuels, land,
water...etc, at a sustainable rate. Some resources are more abundant than others and therefore we
need to consider material scarcity, the damage to environment from extraction of these materials
and if the resource can be kept within Circular Economy principles. Environmental
sustainability should not be confused with full sustainability, which also need to balance
economic and social factors.
Economic Sustainability: Economic sustainability requires that a business or country uses its
resources efficiently and responsibly so that it can operate in a sustainable manner to
consistently produce an operational profit. Without an operational profit a business cannot
sustain it's activities. Without acting responsibly and using its resources efficiently a company
will not be able to sustain it's activities in the long term.
Social Sustainability: Social sustainability is the ability of society, or any social system, to
 persistently achieve a good social well being. Achieving social sustainability ensures that the
social well being of a country, an organisation, or a community can be maintained in the long
term.
Taking these three pillars of sustainability further if we only achieve two out of three pillars then we
end up with:
Social + Economic Sustainability = Equitable
Social + Environmental Sustainability = Bearable
Economic + Environmental Sustainability = Viable

Only through balancing economic + social + environmental can we achieve true sustainability.

Sustainability versus sustainable development

So what is the difference between sustainability and sustainable development?

On the surface there is little difference but a good way of distinguishing between the two is with the
quote below:
"Sustainable development is the pathway to sustainability"