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The Progressive Degradation Of The Natural Environment Essay

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The progressive degradation of the natural environment that has taken place over the last few decades has led to a reflection on the state of the environment and further directions of development of mankind. The idea of sustainability and sustainable development appeard at the World 's first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. The most widely used definition of sustainable development, after Brundtland Report 1987 state, "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
We can distinguish three pillars of sustainability such as social, environmental and economic sustainability. The three pillars are interdependent, and in the long run none can exist without the others. If any one pillar is weak then the system as a whole is unsustainable.
Social sustainability is the ability of a social system, such as a country, family, or organization, to function at a defined level of social well being and harmony indefinitely.
Environmental sustainability is the ability of the environment to support a defined level of environmental quality and natural resource extraction rates indefinitely.
Economic sustainability is the ability of an economy to support a defined level of economic production indefinitely.
If we want to live on this planet longer than by the time until its natural resources will finish, we need to develop some standards, rules of conduct. According to ‘Caring for the Earth’, a guide to
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