So what is actually Sustainable Development?

For a start, I think we need to be clear with the definition of Sustainable Development (SD) in order to get everybody on the same page. And let me be clear to all of you that sustainability is not just about being "green" and taking care of the environment!

Lately, we hear the words like "sustainable / sustainability" in slogans and taglines in Malaysian companies. Click here for example: http://www.simedarby.com/default.aspx

Even Politicians and Celebrities are excited to use the the word "sustainable" at least once or twice in their public speeches. More examples from them in a different posting.

If you ask me, there is no standard definition for SD. To support this, you can wiki here to gain a better appreciation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development

This concept is not new. For example, Red Indians have a saying on SD that goes like this:
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children"

Nonetheless, a universal definition of sustainable development is development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This is the United Nation definition.

In Bahasa Malay translation, I think we are still confused in using the term pembangunan lestari or mampan. Dewan Bahasa officials, please confirm this.

I would simplify SD by using John Elkington explanation on development that strike the triple bottom line sweetspot, i.e. people, planet & profit. It is all about the act of balancing.

The sexiest SD tagline to me would go to one designer watch : "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation."

One would realise that when it comes to SD, the topic is very broad but at the same time very clear in terms of its ultimate direction. Solutions in any development will look into a longer term horizon. Most often than not, development in the past have compromised fundamental aspects which resulted negative impact in the social, economic or environment dimensions.

I have been lectured many times that there is no silver bullet to address SD. What is more important is that with the knowledge we acquire, we are able to ask more intelligent questions and make better decisions based on a holistic view of the problem in question.

I hope I have answered the question raised in this posting.