Sustainability

Sustainable development / SCP

Sustainable development is an overarching objective of the European Union.

The EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) is the top level strategy for the EU to ensure a better quality of life for everyone - now and for generations to come. It promotes a dynamic economy with full employment and a high level of education; health protection; social and territorial cohesion; and environmental protection in a peaceful and secure world, respecting cultural diversity.

The European Commission, on its web-site, says: “Sustainable development will not be brought about by policies only: it must be taken up by society at large as a principle guiding the many choices each citizen makes every day, as well as the big political and economic decisions that have an impact on this. This requires profound changes in thinking, in economic and social structures and in consumption and production patterns.”

These changes can be difficult to make - particularly when faced with more immediate and obvious results from decisions on economic issues. Implementing sustainable development can often mean trade-offs or compromises between economic, social and environmental aspects.

We are very far from achieving sustainable development, with many key social and environmental indicators clearly going in the wrong direction.