The principles of environmental sustainability they seek to generate a development that is favorable for the human being through a harmonious relationship with nature.
The preservation of the environment has become crucial for the correct development of the human being at present.
The man is looking for his activities to become sustainable in the future and can continue to be carried out in harmony with environmental preservation.
Historically, the arrival of industrialization brought with it the invention of processes that would facilitate the work and production of all kinds of goods for the benefit of human society.
At that time there was no full awareness of the preservation, sustainability and consequences that would have the activities of man in the environment.
From the twentieth century modern society began to look for alternatives in favor of sustainability and preservation; however, it has been a slow process.
Certain processes have been left aside and others have found new ways to carry them out. There is still a long way that can guarantee that most human activities can be carried out without leaving a large footprint in the environment.
In the 21st century, civil society has focused on making much more pressure on this issue, to the point that international organizations have made public manifestos and proposals that advocate for sustainability and environmental preservation.
The 15 principles of environmental sustainability
The principles most widely spread today about the sustainability of the environment have been those proposed and approved in the Declaration on the environment and development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Principle N ° 1
Since human beings are the main concern of sustainable and environmental development, their full"right to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature"must be guaranteed.
Principle No. 2
Respecting the sovereign nature of each State, they have the right to manage and take advantage of their natural resources as established by their own internal productive and environmental legislations.
They must be responsible because the activities carried out for the exploitation of these resources do not generate serious damage to the environment or affect territories outside their borders.
Principle No. 3
Development must be monitored and carried out equitably between social and environmental needs, both for present and future generations.
Principle No. 4
The protection of the environment must be considered a priority within any development process, and not treated in an indifferent or isolated manner.
It is the responsibility of each State to manage its own environmental considerations.
Principle N ° 5
The eradication of poverty is considered an essential requirement to guarantee sustainable development.
Carrying out this task is the joint responsibility of both the State and the population. In this way, the gap between living standards is reduced and the needs are better met.
Principle N ° 6
Developing countries with greater susceptibilities from the environmental point of view should be considered in a special way when making international decisions based on sustainable development.
However, in every measure taken in consensus, the needs of all countries must be considered equally, regardless of their level of development.
Principle N ° 7
The protection, conservation and restitution of terrestrial ecosystems is the responsibility of all States, developed or not, since it has been their joint action that has degraded the environment through the years.
Although all have similar responsibilities, they are also considered differentiated according to their internal contexts.
The more developed countries will have the responsibility to continue investigating new methods of sustainable development and environmental preservation that can then be applied by developing countries or in very different conditions from the others.
Principle No. 8
The States are responsible for reducing or eliminating any form of production and consumption considered unsustainable, in order to guarantee a better quality of life for all people.
Likewise, promoting appropriate demographic policies adds to the sustainable development processes of each sovereign territory.
Principle N ° 9
Each State must strengthen its own internal capacities to guarantee sustainable development, through internal investment in scientific and educational knowledge, as well as the exchange of knowledge and new technologies with other states.
Principle No. 10
Adequate information about environmental preservation and sustainable development should be accessible to all citizens interested in participating and supporting each initiative with their actions, regardless of the level at which they find themselves.
Principle N ° 11
The correct conception and application of regulations and legislations on the environment is necessary within the territory of each sovereign State.
Each regulation must be appropriately adapted to the conditions and internal needs of each nation.
Principle N ° 12
It is the duty of the State to cooperate in function of an international economic system that advocates sustainable development and consumption processes, in order to deal more effectively with the problems surrounding environmental degradation.
Ideally, the measures taken by each nation should be based on international consensus.
Principle No. 13
The State is responsible for the conception of laws to favor and compensate all those who have been victims of damage due to environmental deterioration or contamination.
They must also cooperate together in order to consolidate international support measures against particular phenomena of pollution or environmental damage that manifest themselves in different regions.
Principle No. 14
States must monitor and cooperate to prevent any activity that harms the environment see moves its operations between sovereign territories, which would double the damage to cause and make it difficult to take measures to eradicate it.
Principle N ° 15
Every State is responsible for the conception of timely application of preventive and security measures in the face of environmental emergency situations.
Any ignorance about the causes of such scenario should not be used as an excuse for the postponement or non-application of such preventive measures.
References
- United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. (1992). Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Rio de Janeiro: UN.
- Foladori, G. (1999). Environmental sustainability and social contradictions. Environment & Society .
- Leff, E. (1994). Ecology and capital: environmental rationality, participatory democracy and sustainable development. XXI CENTURY.
- Tearfund (2009). Principles and definitions of environmental sustainability. Tearfund , 7-19.