Sustainable Development - Essay Example

Sustainable Development Sustainable development is an issue that the world economy assesses through the elements of;economic growth, environmental development and human development. Through sustainable development, current developmental needs are realized without limiting the future generation’s ability to meet their own developmental needs. Development practice (as opposed to development theory) has tended to place environmental concerns under the term ‘sustainable development’ without clear linkages to priorities of poverty reduction and growth. It important to focus on climate change since its impacts highly affects development and sustainability. This paper seeks to discuss how the potential impacts of climate change affect approaches to development and sustainability. Climate change and sustainable development relate in that; climate change is a natural science, driven process while sustainable development is a social and political science, driven process. The impacts of climate change have interfered with the approach towards sustainable development; this is because the discussions on the global context features issues of adaptation concerns while the impacts of climate change take place at the local level. Communities from different geographical areas, which experience drastic effects of climate change, should participate in the implementation process of international policy that is directed towards development and sustainability. Understandably, enough the impact of climate change, which essentially brings about social inequalities, can only be addressed if equity and justice are observed when implementing remedial measures. An immediate mobilization of political and financial wills, to address climate change is not possible since the impacts of climate change are not readily felt or experienced. Development practice has been drastically marked with issues of conflicting agenda that have hindered the structuring of a proper, sustainable architecture and adaptation of climate change risk. This is because “the impacts of climate change are uncertain and likely to be long-term whereas development scenarios are shorter-term” (Osbahr 7). Sustainable development entails addressing issues involving “gender equality, unfair trade, human rights, globalization, democracy, social justice movements and the environment” (Harcourt 1). The above issues are problems in developing countries because of their “climate sensitive economies and concentrations of urban poor” (Osbahr 3). The impact of climate change affects the natural resources, which developing countries rely on for survival, and thus hinders the approaches geared towards development and sustainability. The impact of climate change has made livelihoods come up with multiple ways that would aid in bringing about sustainable development. A further analysis reveals that the autonomous adaptation designed to instigate sustainable development is inhibited with issues of “poverty, poor infrastructure and market opportunities”, these are impacts of climate change. It is important for national government eyeing to implement adaptive strategies that will enhance sustainable development to learn from local experiences. Additionally, impacts in climate change call for studies to be conducted with the objective of establishing how best adaptive strategies would work. The study is conducted by asking the question “is it possible to characterize successful adaptation actions that reduce livelihood and community vulnerability to climate-related disaster and climate change and variability?” (Osbahr 8). The extent to which a livelihood will cope and adapt depends on the vulnerability of the livelihood to the climate change. Furthermore, the results realized from the adaptive projects should reduce the impact on climate change, not reduce the chances of sustainable development. For instance, “success should reduce risks, not reduce future options, and build livelihood resilience” (Osbahr 8). Sustainable development through adaptive project is further limited by “economic socio-political environment, for example, poor access to markets, finance or information” (Osbahr 9). The approaches to development and sustainability have been redesigned to include government intervention, which seeks to strengthen the strategies of adaptive livelihood. Adaptive livelihood should not be a reinvented strategy since “climate change is relatively new”. The impact of climate change has gone to the extent of forcing “institution of the state and civil society constrain and facilitate adaptation”. Through the above, it becomes important to ensure that adaptation measures, which entail the new approach to sustainable development, should have the characteristics of suitable legal, policy and institutional frameworks. The new strategy of adaptation measures should also integrate evolutionary change and learning (Osbahr 14). The new approach towards development and sustainability, which counters the impacts of climate change, is developed through institutional theory. Development and sustainability is achieved by focusing on governance, as the theory suggests. The good governance through institutional theory, results in crucial matters in the form of “…participation to build trust; deliberation to share understanding of the need to mobiles and self-organization… accountable authorities…..and involuntary risks” (Osbahr 15). In essence, adaptation as a new strategy, in the approach towards development and sustainability calls for; firstly, developing new climate tools that are advanced enough and capable of availing credible data. The data realized should be interpreted in written reports. The reports will be effective if used to make decisions that will help the livelihood incorporate the multi-disciplinary frameworks. Secondly, the reinforcing local support networks in the livelihood stability through informal institutions. Thirdly, bring aboard multi-level institutional involvement in adaptation projects. Fourthly, establish forums and channels of communication, acknowledge stakeholders and lastly, develop innovative approaches to financing adaptation and building opportunities for resilient decision-making process (Osbahr 21). To affirm that the new adaptive measures meet their objectives of sustainable development, “National and international responses need to deal with ‘the local’ in governance approaches” (Osbahr 21). The relation between the international and local bodies ensures that definitive practices are generated that maintain the focus of attaining their collaborative objective. All in all the national bodies have the objective of supporting the various plans that have been put across by the local bodies. Governments ensure sustainable development through developing relevant governance that is flexible, resilient to the livelihood and is capable of coping with climate variability. The impact of climate change has resulted in “the development community considering for many years how to address poverty and enable the poor copes with livelihood disturbance and different risks” (Osbahr 23). Works Cited Harcourt W. Editorial Sustainable Development: Who cares? London: Sage Publications, 2002. Print. Osbahr H. "Building resilience: Adaptation mechanisms and mainstreaming for the poor." UNDP:Human Development Report 2007/2008 (2007): 1-38. Print. Read More