Environment and. development: the difficult choices ahead for achieving sustainable development

Abstract

This paper discusses difficult choices nations will have to undertake (and those already have taken so far) for achieving sustainable development and the reasons and priorities for selection of those. Paper supports to a balanced approach proposed by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to achieve sustainable development through incorporating social, economic and environmental policies into the heart of the development. It discusses four actions out of eight proposed by UNEP to achieve this goal such as the importance of strengthening policy cycle, enhancing technology for the environment, and using trade effectively for sustainable development and making policy instruments. To achieve sustainable development, developing countries need to provide with solutions for both unsolved root causes of underdevelopment in those countries and solutions for emerging environmental issues such as climate change and destruction of ecosystems. For both to be achieved it is vital for the higher level of individual, local, national and international collective efforts.