Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ ( Our Common Future, The Brundtland Commission, formally the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) report, United Nations. 1987.)

Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come (sometimes taught as ELF-Environment, Local people, Future)

Bangladesh: A country of Bangladesh: A country of Potential and Poverty Potential and Poverty

Area: 144000 sq km Population more than 150 million,

density more than 1300 per sq km. One of the most fertile land,

Agriculture is the main livelihood. Rich water system and biodiversity:

rivers, canals, ponds and wetlands Industrious and creative work force Oil gas resources in onshore and

offshore, coal in north of the country. But trapped in a cycle of poverty and

vulnerability.

How Resources turn into Curse?How Resources turn into Curse?

The surprisingly negative outcomes in oil- and mineral-dependent countries are referred to as the “resource curse.” (Covering Oil..)

Natural resource abundance does therefore hinder economic growth in countries with grabber friendly institutions, but does not in countries with producer friendly institutions. (Institutions and the resource curse: Halvor Mehlum, Karl Moene and Ragnar Torvik, 2nd March 2005)

Many countries rich in natural resources exploit and squander that wealth to enrich a minority while corruption and mismanagement leave the majority impoverished. (COVERING OIL: Edited by Svetlana Tsalik and Anya Schiffrin, Open Society Institute, 2005

according to the second Arab Human Development Report, released by the United Nations in 2003, high dependence on oil in parts of the Middle East has led to “the over concentration of wealth in a few hands,” and “faltering economic growth,” and “weakened the demand for knowledge.”

BackgroundBackground Sustainable development is thus a constitutional obligation in

Bangladesh. “The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the

environment and to preserve and safeguard the natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife for the present and future citizens.”

[The Article 18 A of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh]

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Background (contd.)Background (contd.)

Bangladesh started preparing the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) in 2009.

Later, it was decided to revise and update the NSDS in light of the Six Five Year Plan (SFYP), the Perspective Plan (2010-2021), and other recently plans, policies and strategies formulated by the government.

In pursuant of the outline agreed in the Rio+20 declaration, the National Sustainable Development Strategy (2010-2021) has been finalized in 2013.

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Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Expenditure in BangladeshExpenditure in Bangladesh

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

Sustainability is often perceived as a governance issue. The main principles include:

Goals & TargetsGoals & Targets

The agreement of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 (Rio+20), to develop a set of future international development goals.

The current development agenda is centred on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Rio+20 outcome document, “The Future We Want”, also calls for the goals to be integrated into the UN’s post-2015 Development Agenda

Goals & Targets (contd.)Goals & Targets (contd.)

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NSDS FrameworkThe basic idea

The green economy is not the end, but is a means of achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication through integrated economic, social and environmental development.

Strategic Priority Areas Cross cutting areas1. Sustained, inclusive and

equitable economic growth 2. Development of priority sectors

(Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry, Energy, Human Resource Development etc. )

3. Urban Environment 4. Social Security and Protection 5. Environment and Natural

Resources Management

1. Good Governance 2. Gender

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     Environment Policy and Implementation Plan (1992)      National Forestry Policy (1994)      National Fish Policy (1998)    National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation

(1998)      National Rural Development Policy (2001)    The National Policy for the Advancement of Women

(1998)      National Water Policy (1999)      National Agricultural Policy (1999)      National Land Use Policy (2001)      Draft Coastal Zone Policy (2004)

NATIONAL POLICIESNATIONAL POLICIES

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

Several development objects are mentioned explicitly or implicitly in various policy documents and are invariably linked with the goal of sustainable development:

economic growth

meeting basic needs and creating livelihood opportunities

reduction of vulnerabilities and enhancement of coping capacities

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

equitable distribution of resources and economic benefits

empowerment of communities

women’s development and gender equity

conservation and enhancement of ecologically critical areas

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVESDEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

• The natural resource base is shrinking fast. The challenge is to sustain the natural resource base for the future by reducing dependency on natural resources.

• The challenge will be to create alternatives, wise use of resources, restoration and regeneration of declining resources and to apply a control mechanism.

Value addition to natural resources will be emphasized. This will give higher return.

Continued economic growth is required for poverty reduction. While utilization of natural resources will continue, a shift has to be made to non-farm sectors.

Economic growth is often in conflict with sustainable development. The challenge is to ensure rapid economic growth adhering to conservation laws and regulations.

PUBLIC AWARENESS BY PUBLIC AWARENESS BY NGOSNGOS

• BRAC, Caritas Bangladesh, Proshika, etc. have training program for grassroots activists.

• CDP, YPSA, CODEC, CNRS and BCAS run resource centers and work on sustainable development issues with focus on ecological management.

Community Development Library (CDL) runs 27 documentation and resource centers in the country. It also publishes books and makes video documentaries for public awareness.

PUBLIC AWARENESS BY PUBLIC AWARENESS BY NGOSNGOS

CONCLUSION

The Executive Summary at the beginning of this Report provides the highlights of the successesachieved since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit as well as the major future directions and challenges.Bangladesh has achieved significant progress in respect of all three pillars of sustainabledevelopment, especially the social front. However, with the climate change intensifying and thecountry being at the forefront of climate change impacts, there are formidable challenges tocontend with in future. Bangladesh is fully committed to pursuing sustainable development,seeking to establish and maintain economic vibrancy, social equity and inclusiveness, humandignity for all, and a healthy environment and a sound natural resource base. However, given itsresource limitations, the country needs finance and technology transfer as well as capacityenhancement support, consistent with the properly defined tasks that it will take to movesteadfastly towards the goal of sustainable development.