About this Book

We begin with an understanding of the background of the concept of sustainability and how it applies to the business world. In 1987, the Brundtland Commission put forth a "global agenda for change" with the purpose of "furthering the common understanding and common spirit of responsibility so clearly needed in a divided world."Brundtland (1987). The report outlined the following description of 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. It contains within it two key concepts: the concept of "needs," in particular, the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; andthe idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.Thus the goals of economic and social development must be defined in terms of sustainability in all countries-developed or developing, market-oriented or centrally planned. Interpretations will vary, but they must share certain general features and must flow from a consensus on the basic concept of sustainable development and on a broad strategic framework for achieving it.