Sustainable Development and Global Challenges in the 21st Century
1. Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
1.2. Defining Development
For decades, development was equated with economic growth, measured by indicators like GDP, income, and employment. However, this view is now challenged by those who believe development is more closely linked to the well-being of the population. This concept of human development emphasizes fair wealth distribution, meeting basic needs, and eradicating poverty.
1.3. Sustainable Development
The depletion of non-renewable resources and the deterioration of renewable resources are pressing issues. Additionally, the current economic model struggles to eliminate poverty and reduce inequalities. In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainable development as “development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Promoting sustainable development involves improving the quality of life for all, which requires balancing economic growth with societal well-being and environmental protection. To assess the level of sustainable development, it’s crucial to analyze factors such as:
- The state of the economy and employment.
- The living conditions of the population.
- The quality of the environment.
2. A World of Contrasts
2.1. Contrasts in Economic Potential
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is commonly used to measure a country’s wealth. It represents the total value of goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a year. From 1985 to 2015, approximately 15% of the world’s countries controlled around 85% of global GDP, while the remaining 85% of countries held a mere 15% share of generated wealth. In many low-GDP countries, a small minority often controls a significant portion of national wealth, while the majority lives in poverty. According to the United Nations, at the beginning of this century, 2.8 billion people (nearly half the global population) lived on less than $2 per day. Of these, 1.2 billion lived on less than $1 per day, falling below the extreme poverty line.
2.2. Differences in Population Welfare
Poverty is a widespread phenomenon, even in affluent societies. It signifies a lack of resources to meet basic needs like food, healthcare, education, job security, and decent housing. The primary causes of poverty include low productivity in traditional agriculture, unequal land distribution, insufficient job opportunities or low wages, and the inability of many states to provide basic services to their citizens. External debt, which necessitates using a portion of revenue to pay interest on loans, coupled with government corruption, further reduces resources available for infrastructure development (roads, schools, hospitals, etc.) and job creation.
3. Geography of Hunger
3.1. Causes and Effects of Hunger
Hunger’s root cause is not the inability to produce enough food but rather the unequal distribution of available food. This situation is exacerbated by exceptional circumstances like humanitarian disasters. Hunger is often linked to endemic diseases, as malnutrition weakens the body and increases vulnerability to illness. To combat hunger resulting from humanitarian crises, emergency aid is crucial. However, a lasting solution requires fairer trade, income and land distribution, and cooperation to enhance farmers’ food production capacity.
3.2. The Map of World Hunger
The United Nations estimates that 850 million people worldwide suffer from malnutrition or hunger. A significant portion experiences absolute hunger, leading to death if minimum vital requirements are not met. Every day, 30,000 people die from starvation globally, with nearly half being children under five. Of the undernourished, 95% live in developing countries, and over 40% of the African population faces this situation. Women, children, and the elderly constitute over two-thirds of the undernourished, making them particularly vulnerable groups.
4. The Impact of Human Activity on the Environment
4.1. Pressure on Forests and Soil
Rapid population growth, economic expansion, and increased energy consumption have endangered many natural resources. Cultivated land has expanded while forest cover has shrunk. Deforestation reduces humidity and makes soil vulnerable to erosion. In many impoverished regions, intensive agricultural land use shortens fallow periods, leading to soil degradation. Overgrazing has similar causes and effects. Consequently, desertification, a process of erosion and depletion, renders arable land unproductive.
4.2. Pressure on Water and Subsoil
Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater. 70% is frozen, 29% is underground, and rivers and lakes account for the remaining 1%. The sharp rise in water consumption is straining these limited resources. One-fifth of the global population faces severe drinking water shortages. Over two-thirds of the energy used today comes from burning hydrocarbons and coal. In contrast, cleaner, renewable energy sources play a much smaller role.
4.3. Air Pollution and its Effects
A significant consequence of air pollution is climate change, primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption. The ozone layer, which filters ultraviolet radiation, is also being depleted, largely due to human activity. Gases from power plants and certain industries cause acid rain.
4.4. Water and Soil Pollution
Industrial and urban waste, along with chemicals, pollute rivers, lakes, and marine environments. Water pollution is particularly severe in heavily urbanized coastal areas with large ports, industrial zones, and tourist destinations. Hydrocarbon contamination is also a major concern. Soil pollution primarily affects areas near industries like steel and chemical plants. The combined effects of these pollutants threaten biodiversity.
5. Telecommunications and Globalization
5.2. New Forms of Conflict
While conventional wars persist, low-intensity conflicts are becoming more prevalent. These involve armed groups fighting within a country for years without a formal declaration of war. Some of these groups engage in terrorist attacks, creating global uncertainty that also affects developed nations. These new wars severely impact civilians, forcing millions to flee their homes. The number of refugees and displaced persons has reached 21 million in recent years.
5.3. Explanatory Causes of Conflict
Conflicts often stem from internal problems within a territory or external powers’ interests. Wars over control of strategic resources like hydrocarbons, water, diamonds, minerals, or drug cultivation and trafficking are also common. Poverty in rural areas drives migration to urban slums, where high unemployment and social discontent fuel extremism. Some radical nationalist movements resort to violence to demand independence for their people.
6. Policies for Development Cooperation
6.3. NGOs and Development Cooperation
. The insufficient resources that international agencies and governments have been directed at development increasing role to NGOs engaged in development cooperation (NGO). His performance focuses on development projects long term, seeking to improve living conditions of disadvantaged populations in countries pobres.Una second form of action are humanitarian assistance after a disaster. They also participate in advertising to achieve awareness of society and government.