Topic 3:

What is the Brundtland Report? Discuss the influence on Developing Countries.

The IDEA of Brundtland Commission

Formally known as World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) Chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Dec 1983 Heavy deterioration of human environment and natural resources -> Bring together countries to work, cooperate and pursue sustainable development (Awareness) Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) was released on Oct 1987, establishing the Center for OUR COMMON FUTURE in April 1988 Why the 80s? Massive development + industrialization.
Developed countries realized the environmental issues stemming from industrialization and growth. Developing countries need greater support and encouragement, lack of capability in terms of funding, technology and expertise.

OUR COMMON FUTURE

First published by Oxford University Press, 1987 A culmination of a 900 day international-exercise which catalogued, analyzed and synthesized, written submissions and expert testimony from senior government representatives, scientists and experts, research institutes, industrialists, representatives of NGOs, and the general public held at public hearings throughout the world SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of needs -> essential needs of the worlds poor The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environments ability to meet present and future needs

SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
3 MAIN PILLARS
3 ideas that contribute to the overall idea of SUSTAINABILITY Many countries put economic growth on the forefront of sustainable development, leaving the other two pillars suffer. Implementing sustainable development globally (includes concrete actions and programs) is challenging, but Brundtland Commission's efforts, progress has been made. After OCF, Brundtland Commission called for an international meeting in Rio de Janeiro where more concrete initiatives and goals could be mapped out. As the result, Agenda 21 came out of the meeting. It entailed actions to be taken globally, nationally, and locally in order to make life on Earth more sustainable going into the future.

Economic Growth

Environmental Protection

Social Equality

POSITIVE INFLUENCES
1. Alleviation of poverty - Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development Hence sustainable development requires that societies meet human needs both by increasing productive potential and by ensuring equitable opportunities for all Access to energy is improving, and progress has been made on electrification in all developing regions; although rates in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa remain one-half to one-quarter of those in the rest of the world (UN Economic and Social Affairs, 2006) 2. Environmental issues have become a priority - internationally and locally, even in developing countries

 Examples of environmental issues and effects in developing countries:

- China - Productivity losses due to soil erosion, deforestation and land degradation, water shortages, and destruction of wetlands in 1990 of $13.926.6 billion annually or 3.87.3% of GDP; health and productivity losses from pollution in cities in 1990 of $6.39.3 billion or 1.72.5% of GDP - Philippines - Health and productivity losses from air and water pollution in the Manila area of $0.30.4 billion in the early 1990s or 0.81.0% of GDP

3. Technology transfer - Eco-friendly technology from developed countries to developing countries - Problem: Technology transfer mainly handled by private sectors

NEGATIVE INFLUENCE
Development gap between developed countries and developing countries cause developing countries to not able to obtain sustainable development as compared to developed countries Developing countries face social, economic and environmental problems. Social and environmental problems in the developing world are staggering. In countries of Southeast Asia, India, China, Latin America, and Africa, more than 1 billion people are without clean water and more than 2 billion are without sanitation (World Bank, 1997a) Problems are interrelated E.g.: Developing countries need to utilize cheaper methods to increase productivity and economic development, but may degrade the environment Inability to achieve sustainable development on same level as developed countries due to : Lack of proper leadership, lack of sufficient capital + technology

CONCLUSION
The Brundtland Report paved way for an awareness regarding issues which prevents sustainable development. Despite the obvious increase in sustainable development awareness and development in developing countries, the lack of capital and technology in these countries prevent them from achieving success like developed countries in the context of sustainable development.