Is Sustainable Development Compatible With Human Welfare, Essay Example

Sustainable development affects human living standards positively as well as negatively depending on ones thinking. In this essay I am responding to the Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues, 14th edition. Boston) (2010) question “is sustainable development compatible with human welfare?” by critically analyzing the debate. First I begin by summarizing an argument for the sustainable development compatibility with human welfare, and then I review the “con” argument, and finally finish with my own thoughts on the topic of discussion.

Jeremy Rifkin, the president of the foundation on economic trends (2005), presents an argument that supports sustainable development as being compatible to human welfare. He argues that the Europeans are proud of themselves because of the quality of live they are leading, more so, their relentless emphasis on sustainable development guarantees them the same quality of life even in the future. He believes that sustainable development enables humans to meet their present needs without compromising the ability of the future generations meeting the same needs.

On the other hand, Ronald bailey (2002)an environmental journalist states that sustainable development negatively impacts human welfare in that, it results in economic stagnation threatening both the environment and the poor in the world. According to Ronald, sustainable development is not compatible with human welfare since present needs may differ greatly with the future needs due to increase in population, economic needs in addition to the increased technology and improved standards of living. More so, he argues that sustainable development, greatly conflicts with business and industrial activities, private property rights, and human freedoms such as having many children, accumulating wealth and using the environment as one wish.

From my point of view Jeremy Rifkin perspective is right where as Ronald baileys is flawed. Sustainable development as per its definition is meeting the present needs while not compromising the ability of the future generations meeting the same needs. Sustainability is a global agenda as recorded by the Brundtland report led by the UN conference on environment and development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Sustainability indeed will bring equitable economic development hence compatible with human welfare. Sustainability actually means having a balanced use of the environmental resources. For instance, cutting forests not faster than they can grow, stressing the use of renewable energy sources that exploiting non-renewable energy sources, implementing proper farming techniques so as not to deplete soil fertility, using ground water equitably. Additionally, under sustainability economists puts emphasis on the cost of the environment, capital, labor, raw materials and energy costs. Since sustainable development considers all the above claims, it is compatible with human welfare presently and in the future.

Bailey’s argument is flawed in that poverty can be eradicated, environment can be preserved, economic growth can be limited, wealth can be obtained, human freedoms can be enjoyed and environmental protection can prevail with sustainable development. Even though professor Jacqueline R. Kasun (1999) supports Baileys argument that, sustainable development will require humans to sacrifice their freedom, dignity, and material welfare on the road to tyranny, Lester brown (2007) counters her claim by suggesting that governments are wasting up to $700 billion a year to subside environmentally destructive activities like automobile driving. Thus one way of eradicating subsides is moving forward with sustainable development which guarantees continuity of life even into the future.

Cited works

Jeremy Rifkin, “The European Dream: Building Sustainable Development in Globally Connected World,” E Magazine (march/April 2005).

Jacqueline R. Kasun, Doomsday Every Day: Sustainable Economics, sustainable Tyranny,” The Independent Review, (1999).

Lester R. Brown, “Picking up the Tabs,” USA Today Magazine (May, 2007).

Ronald bailey, “Wilting Greens,” Reason (December 2002).