Need for sustainable development in Pakistan

Centuries of coexistence of humans with nature has determined strong co-relation, especially for achieving growth

Centuries of coexistence of humans with nature has determined their strong co-relation, especially for achieving growth. However, this interdependency is overlooked by the general perception of development centred on Western ideologies or economic growth, leading to unsustainable growth and practices. This is diversely affecting the quality of life in developing countries, thus increasing the vulnerability of humans and ecosystems.

Degraded resources, in particular, threaten the social and economic resilience of local communities and fear acceleration of the downward spiral of poverty by reducing income and livelihoods. Deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, water shortage, degraded water quality, poaching, and domestic and industrial pollution curtail the socio-economic fabric of life. With a growing pressure on the natural environment, livelihood patterns and social fabric, it is increasingly being recognised that sustainable development ultimately depends on the health of ecosystems.

Efforts are being made, particularly by civil society, towards making the environment a national priority. As the transformation process will be gradual, there is still a long way to go; because forests are still being lost, democracy is fragile and poverty is still widespread. Nevertheless, environment should be a central issue in the political agenda.

Agenda 21 of the Earth Summit Rio Declaration states that, “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development; they are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”. The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 built on this aspiration and expressed the commitment of world leaders to, “build a humane, equitable and caring global society cognisant of the need for human dignity for all’. Such an approach of focusing on intrinsic values and attitudinal change has been observed to result in sustainable growth in society.

Sustainable development encompasses three intertwined dimensions — ecology, economy and society. Thus, to achieve a better standard of life, all of the three elements of sustainable development need to be improved together. Hence, the environmental movement has evolved from conservation to sustainable development, to include socio-economic and political perspectives. It is acclaimed globally that participatory approach works best for the sustainable development agenda; therefore it needs to be adopted in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2014.