This review considers the contribution of human geography in exposing the inherently political and conflictual endeavor that is sustainable development, in particular through the work within political ecology.Sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V.Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity lossThe lack of progress in turning Agenda 21 into actions for sustainable development leads to the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on sustainable development.
This set of 100 indicators structured along the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda is intended to measure progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Sound indicators can make the SDGs and their targets an instrument that helps countries highlight their strengths and weaknesses and monitor their progress after implementation of policies.
Yet, in the long term, responsible use of natural resources now will help ensure that there are resources available for sustained industrial growth far into the future.Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovationDiscussions of the idea and practices of sustainable development are centrally concerned with the future of the Earth and its inhabitants’ relationships, and policy challenges that are the long-standing traditional concerns of geographers. Environmental protection is the third pillar and, to many, the primary concern of the future of humanity.The Earth Summit unanimously adopted the Agenda 21, a comprehensive blue print of actions toward sustainable development, including detailed work plans, goals, responsibilities, and also estimates for funding. In the process of development, we should fully consider the scarcity and nonrenewability of resources; ensure rational development, utilization, and conservation of resources; improve the cleaner production and environmental self-protection capacities; and improve the utilization rate of environmental resources, to establish a stable ecosystem and realize the development goals.Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patternsThe SDGs replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which expired in 2015 and were implemented over 15 years. The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, starting in 2005, lays the foundation to reform and mobilize education at all levels, from schools to universities, in support of sustainable development.Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywherebetter standards of education and healthcare, particularly as it pertains to water quality and better sanitationGoal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girlsGoal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agricultureGoal 17: Strengthen means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable developmentTwo particular literatures, those of environmentalism and of development, are considered to be particularly important in understanding the origins of sustainable development. However, the 1980s are also understood to have been an era of ‘impasse’ within both the theory and practice of development.