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Sustainable
Development

Explore how societies balance economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection to meet present needs without compromising future generations.

AP Human Geography

What Is Sustainable Development?

The United Nations Brundtland Commission (1987) defined sustainable development as: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Environment Economy Society Sustainable Development Viable Bearable Equitable

Why It Matters in Human Geography

Spatial Patterns
Sustainability challenges vary by region: water scarcity in the Sahel, air pollution in East Asia, deforestation in Amazonia.
Scale of Analysis
Local recycling programs, national emissions targets, and global accords like the Paris Agreement all operate at different geographic scales.
Uneven Development
Core countries consume disproportionate resources while peripheral countries bear greater environmental burdens.

The 17 SDGs: A Global Framework

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 interconnected targets to achieve by 2030. They span poverty, hunger, health, education, climate, and more.

PEOPLE SDGs 1-5: Poverty, Hunger, Health, Education, Gender PROSPERITY SDGs 7-11: Energy, Work, Industry, Inequality, Cities PLANET SDGs 6, 12-15: Water, Climate, Life on Land/Sea PEACE SDG 16: Justice, Institutions PARTNERSHIP SDG 17: Global Cooperation

Development vs. Growth

Economic Growth Sustainable Development
Focus Increasing GDP Improving quality of life
Measurement GDP per capita HDI, GII, SDG indicators
Time Horizon Short-term returns Intergenerational equity
Environment Often externalized Integrated into planning
Distribution May increase inequality Prioritizes equity

Measuring Sustainability

Geographers use multiple indicators to assess whether development is truly sustainable. No single metric captures the full picture:

HDI
Human Development Index: life expectancy, education, and income combined into one score (0 to 1).
Ecological Footprint
Measures land and water area required to sustain a population's consumption and absorb its waste.
GII
Gender Inequality Index: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation disparities.

The Sustainability Spectrum

Unsustainable Transitioning Sustainable Slash-and-burn agriculture Hybrid vehicles Fair trade certification Circular economy
Depletion \( > \) Regeneration
 Resources consumed faster than replaced
Regeneration \( > \) Depletion
 Resources replenished or reused

How to Analyze Sustainability

1
Identify the scale. Is the issue local, national, or global? Sustainability strategies differ by scale.
2
Examine all three pillars. Check economic, social, and environmental impacts: not just one.
3
Consider stakeholders. Who benefits and who bears the costs? Core vs. periphery, rich vs. poor.
4
Evaluate time horizons. Short-term gains may create long-term losses. Think intergenerationally.
5
Connect to indicators. Use HDI, ecological footprint, GII, or SDG metrics to support your argument.

Example: Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba Model City BRT Transit Reduced emissions by 25% per capita Recycling 70% of waste recycled or reused Green Spaces
\(52 \text{ m}^2\) of park
 per resident

Example: The Aral Sea Crisis

1960
\(68,000 \text{ km}^2\)
 2020
\(\sim 7,000 \text{ km}^2\)
 Former shoreline Soviet irrigation diversions Cotton monoculture depleted inflow rivers

Example: Ecotourism in Costa Rica

Costa Rica reversed deforestation by investing in ecotourism and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). Forest cover grew from 21% (1987) to over 52% (2020), while tourism became the nation's top revenue source.

Environmental
Forest recovery, biodiversity protection, carbon sequestration through conservation reserves.
Economic
Tourism revenue exceeds $4 billion annually, creating jobs in rural peripheral areas.
Social
Indigenous communities gain income while maintaining cultural heritage and land rights.

Development Theories and Sustainability

1
Rostow's Modernization Model: Linear stages from traditional to high consumption. Critics say it ignores environmental limits and assumes Western industrialization as the goal.
2
Dependency Theory (Wallerstein): Core nations exploit periphery resources. Sustainability requires breaking exploitative trade structures.
3
Sustainability Model: Development must operate within planetary boundaries. Rejects unlimited growth as a viable strategy for all nations.

Environmental Justice and the Core-Periphery

Core High consumption Exports pollution Periphery Resource extraction Bears env. burden Capital, Tech Raw materials, Labor E-waste, pollution export

Common Mistakes on the AP Exam

✕ Equating GDP with Development
GDP measures economic output, not quality of life, equity, or environmental health. Use HDI, GII, or ecological footprint instead.
✕ Ignoring Scale
Sustainability at the local level (a solar farm) does not automatically translate to sustainability at the national or global level.
✕ Forgetting the Social Pillar
Students often address environment and economy but neglect social equity: gender equality, indigenous rights, access to education.

Summary: Key Concepts at a Glance

Concept Definition Example
Sustainable Development Meeting present needs without compromising the future UN SDGs
Three Pillars Economy, Environment, Society Venn diagram overlap
Ecological Footprint Land/water required for consumption US: 8.1 gha per capita
HDI Health, education, income composite Norway: 0.961
Environmental Justice Equitable distribution of env. costs E-waste exports
Ecotourism Tourism preserving ecosystems Costa Rica

Question 1 of 5

The Brundtland Commission's definition of sustainable development emphasizes which of the following?

Question 2 of 5

Which of the following best illustrates environmental injustice in the context of the core-periphery model?

Question 3 of 5

A country has a high GDP per capita but scores poorly on the Gender Inequality Index (GII). Which conclusion is most supported?

Question 4 of 5

Costa Rica's ecotourism model is considered sustainable because it:

Question 5 of 5

Which development theory is most critical of the idea that all countries can follow the same path to high mass consumption?