Sustainable Development

What is sustainable development? Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is from Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report:

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Sustainability is the foundation for today’s leading global framework for international cooperation—the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In June 2022, environmental leaders from around the world met to take stock of where we’ve been and where we are heading, with the goal of galvanizing momentum for the UN Decade of Action for achieving the SDGs.

These conferences are major milestones in sustainable development governance. But their real test comes from the work that happens every day, from individuals and local communities to international organizations and beyond.

At IISD, we are honoured to be part of the community working towards a world where people and the planet thrive.