Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting
human development goals while simultaneously sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the
economy and
society depend. The desired result is a state of
society where living conditions and resources are used to continue to meet
human needs without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural system.
Sustainable development can be defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainability goals address the global challenges, including
poverty, inequality,
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environmental degradation,
peace, and
justice. As the concept of
sustainable development developed, it has shifted its focus more towards economic development, social development, and
environmental protection for future generations. The concept of
sustainable development has been and still is, subject to criticism, including the question of what is to be sustained in
sustainable development. It has been argued that there is no such thing as
sustainable use of a non-renewable resource since any positive rate of exploitation will eventually lead to the exhaustion of earth's finite stock.