Driving Forces of Sustainable Development
: How Localised Needs of Future Generations Can Contribute to Global Sustainability
Sujeong Nam
International and European Law
Law and Sustainability
University of Groningen
e-mail: s.nam.1@student.rug.nl
Introduction
Sustainability has been a highly aspired goal since a few decades ago both nationally and internationally. In the course of continuous development, such as rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and population growth, the human race has been confronted with shortage of goods (as a broad economics term that encompasses everything from fossil fuels to clean air). As a result, sustainable life that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (1) has become vital.
Sustainability comes in various forms including economic, social, and environmental sustainability corresponding to each of the three P’s (Profit, People, and Planet) respectively, as arguably introduced by John Elkington in 1994 (2). Problems rising from the three aspects contribute to a nation’s conviction towards sustainable development. Having unique domestic issues and concerns, countries are driven towards sustainable development often by a combination of various factors that may be social, economic, or environmental, headed with one particularly strong driving force. The particularity of national driving forces can also be explained by the fact that sustainable development is fundamentally a matter of national self-interest: following a development path that maximizes national net benefits in the three P’s (3). It is logical that each nation has its own strategy of sustainable development concerning a specific area(s) rather than a universal plan.
In the following paragraphs, case analyses of four countries are dealt with. China, which boasts a remarkable economic growth and significant population, shows the paradox of sustainability that is typical in developing countries. Qatar is a representation of the oil-rich Middle eastern countries that strive for a balance between oil-based and knowledge-based economies for sustainability. Japan, as one of the first countries to enter the ageing-society, aims to provide its citizens a more inclusive community by closing the gap between the younger and older generations. Netherlands has been the leading nation in the field of sustainability and is pioneering sustainable agriculture technology in a response to the continuous growth of its population.
China
The strongest driving force of Chinese effort to sustainable development is the environmental issues in China. With the world-worst air pollution, China’s greatest concern is climate security. Zhong Nanshan, the president of the China Medical Association, said lung cancer rates are two or three times higher in cities than in the countryside, even though smoking rates are the same (4). An Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500, is used as a measure of the safety level of air in a certain location. When AQI is above 180, outdoor activities or high-impact indoor activities are restricted at schools. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 25 days were considered “good” (AQI 0-50) based on data collected for 2,028 days between April 2008 and March 2014. Of the more than 2,000 days surveyed, about 311 days were “very unhealthy” (AQI 201-300) and about 94 days were “hazardous” (AQI 300-) (5).
China officially announced the national target would be to achieve a 45 % reduction of carbon intensity (Carbon emission per unit of GDP) by 2020 against 2005 level. The effect of emission reduction during the 11th 5-Year Plan (2006-2010) period equaled saving 0.75 billion tons of coal and a reduction of 1.5 billion tons (5 % of the whole world total emissions) of carbon dioxide (5). A series of actions and policies from the government and enterprises have revealed considerable contributions made by China in controlling carbon emission and tackling global climate change. It should also be noted that the Chinese emissions reduction target is based on a relative intensity (emission per unit of GDP) target, not an absolute target. With the rapid economic development and growth in China, a relative reduction (ratio-based indicators) may not necessarily mean a net reduction of CO2 emissions.
Being in the phase of rapid economic development with multiple pressures of developing the economy, eliminating poverty and mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gases, China is confronted with many difficulties in its efforts to address climate change. China’s rise to become the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases is closely linked to its economic growth. The dilemma lies where consistent economic growth is necessary to facilitate environmental improvements. As incomes rise, people become more willing to pay for environ- mental improvement. Economic growth also makes people, and countries, better able to pay for environmental protection. It is hard to imagine how higher environmental budgets can be achieved and sustained in the absence of economic growth. While China is capable of carrying out sustainable development plans, international climate cooperation would further generate impetus and technical support to help developing countries to realise low carbon and sustainable development.
Qatar
The main driving force of sustainable development in Qatar is economic concern. Petroleum and natural gas support Qatar's economy and account for more than 70% of total government revenue, more than 60% of gross domestic product, and roughly 85% of export revenue (6). Qatar has the world's third largest proven natural gas reserve and is the second-largest exporter of natural gas. The world oil reserve in 2014 was estimated to be 1,687.9 billion barrels, which is enough oil to last the world 53.3 years at the current production rates (7). Due to the ever-closer depletion of natural resources, Qatar has been actively reforming itself as one of the leading nations in the field of sustainability.
Qatari policies put a considerable weight on achieving a balance between an oil-based and knowledge-based economy in helping diversify the country’s economy and guaranteeing a stable and sustainable business environment. Qatar National Vision 2030 articulates three interrelated goals for the economy. It looks to sustain a high standard of living, to expand innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities, and to align economic outcomes with economic and financial stability. To embed sustainability in Qatar’s economy, progress is needed in three parallel, mutually reinforcing directions. First, Qatar aims to enlarge the value of the productive base, which is necessary to sustain prosperity in an economy with a growing population and to expand the potential for future generations. Second, the government will strive for economic stability and promote increased efficiency. Third, the government is committed to work in partnership with the private sector to diversify the economy and foster a culture of discovery and innovation.
As seen above, Qatar’s sustainable economic development is not only a solution to its concern restricted to economy, but also to overcome the rapid population growth. This proves once again that the different aspects of sustainability are interrelated; sustainable social development in Qatar aims to maintain the high living standard of Qataris and to be able to provide housing to its rapidly growing population.
Japan
Japan has long entered the ageing society; Its sustainable development focuses on the ‘people’. Across Japan, the population is rapidly aging. The proportion of elderly people (65 years old or older) in Japan was only about 5% between 1920 and 1950. After that, during the high economic growth period (from the 1950s to the 1970s), the population began to age, to the point that seniors accounted for 25% of the total population in 2015. That's one in every four people. This trend is likely to continue in the future, so the elderly in Japan are expected to reach 30% of the population in 2025 and nearly 40% in 2055. On the other hand, the working-age population (15-64 years old) percent of the total is decreasing significantly (8). Japan’s challenge is to provide social inclusion and high-quality life to the elderlies and the rest of the population through sustainable social development along with a steady economic growth, which is necessary to support measures for social development.
Answering the social struggles, Japan announced Comprehensive Strategy in 2015. Following the announcement, Japan is going to promote measures for realizing local communities in which the residents can lead their lives with peace of mind until their last moment. The strategy mentions various measures, such as introducing nursing care equipment with robot technology and other tools for care and prevention, easing the work load of caregivers, and improving of the quality of nursing care. Japan is innovating on how to create new institutions, technologies, and policies for a society with a significant proportion of elderly people, a challenge of course spurred by Japan’s very high longevity. Japan’s breakthroughs in healthcare, support systems, and quality of life for the elderly will have great benefits throughout the world.
Netherlands
Netherland’s population has been on a steady rise. Production and consumption will have to grow fast to meet the needs of the future population. The food and agriculture sector in the Netherlands is facing the threefold PPP challenge: to ensure continued income for the efficient producers; to offer quality products at reasonable prices for the people; to protect the natural capital of the planet. To meet this multiple challenge, a transition towards sustainable agriculture is called for.
The Dutch agri-food complex demonstrates high productivity due to the knowledge-intensive and highly developed technology system. According to the OECD Food and Agricultural Reviews, it accounted for close to 10% of total GDP and employment in 2011. The agri-food complex contributes significantly to the Dutch export revenues. Agri-food trade (food products, beverages and tobacco) also accounts for a significant share of total Dutch trade (13% for exports and 9% for imports in 2013) and makes between a third and half the national trade surplus depending on the year (9). In comparison with other countries, the Netherlands achieves a very high agricultural production value per hectare of cultivated land portraying a promising future of sustainable food production.
In align with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the Netherlands has reformed its traditional supply chains, which comprised of a linear set of relationships, from producers, through sellers and finally to consumers, to the modern concept of net chains, a web or network of relationships centred on consumers, where other stakeholders (including NGOs) are involved explicitly, and information exchange is coordinated by network members. The development of networks is leading decisions about what to produce, where to sell it, and at what price ensuring that both the needs of producers and consumers are satisfied.
The case of Netherlands is not only noteworthy in a sense that it is a successful movement towards sustainability but also that it sets an example to other countries whose populations are at a rise. International cooperation with assistance of Netherlands is valuable for the planet as a whole moreover because population growth is observed on a global scale.
Conclusion
As examined in the case studies above, national self-interest propels national contribution to sustainable development. While the national effort and practice is critical in order to further achieve sustainability, international cooperation led by pioneering nations in the field of sustainable development is vital for spill-over effect across the globe. Solidarity in the endeavor to improve climate pollution as shown in Paris Agreement. Likewise, cooperation is vital in other areas of sustainable development. A platform where support suggested.
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