THE 15 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The principles of environmental sustainability seek to generate a development that is favorable for the human being through a harmonious relationship with nature.

The preservation of the environment has become crucial for the correct development of the human being today. Man is in the search for his activities to become sustainable in the future and can continue to be carried out in harmony with environmental preservation.

Historically, the arrival of industrialization brought with it the invention of processes that would facilitate work and the production of all kinds of goods for the benefit of human society.

At that time there was no full awareness of the preservation, sustainability and consequences that human activities would have on the environment. Starting in the 20th century, modern society began to look for alternatives in favor of sustainability and preservation; however, it has been a slow process.

Certain processes have already been put aside and others have found new ways to be carried out. There is still a long way to go that can ensure that most human activities can be carried out without leaving a large footprint on the environment.

In the 21st century, civil society has focused on putting much more pressure on this issue, to the point that international organizations have made public manifestos and proposals that advocate for sustainability and environmental preservation.

The 15 principles of environmental sustainability

The principles most widely spread today about environmental sustainability have been those proposed and approved in the Declaration on Environment and Development, made in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Principle No. 1

Since human beings are the main concern for sustainable development and the environment, their full “right to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature” must be guaranteed.

Principle No. 2

Respecting the sovereign nature of each State, they have the right to manage and take advantage of their natural resources as established by their own internal productive and environmental legislation.

They must be held responsible because the activities carried out for the exploitation of these resources do not cause serious damage to the environment or affect territories outside their borders.

Principle No. 3

Development must be monitored and carried out equitably across social and environmental needs, for both present and future generations.

Principle No. 4

The protection of the environment must be considered a priority within any development process, and not be treated indifferently or in isolation.

It is the responsibility of each State to manage its own environmental considerations.

Principle No. 5

The eradication of poverty is considered an essential requirement to guarantee sustainable development.

Carrying out this task is the joint responsibility of both the State and the population. In this way, the gap between living standards is reduced and needs are better responded to.

Principle No. 6

Developing countries and those with greater susceptibilities from the environmental point of view should be considered in a special way when making international decisions based on sustainable development.

However, in any measure taken by consensus, the needs of all countries, regardless of their level of development, must be considered equally.

Principle No. 7

The protection, conservation and restitution of terrestrial ecosystems is the responsibility of all States, developed or not, since it has been their joint action that has degraded the environment over the years.

Although they all have similar responsibilities, they are also considered differentiated according to their internal contexts.

The most developed countries will have the responsibility to continue researching new methods of sustainable development and environmental preservation that can then be applied by developing countries or in conditions very different from others.

Principle No. 8

The States are responsible for reducing or eliminating any form of production and consumption considered unsustainable, in order to guarantee a better quality of life for all people.

Similarly, promoting appropriate demographic policies adds to the sustainable development processes of each sovereign territory.

Principle N ° 9

Each State must strengthen its own internal capacities to guarantee sustainable development, through internal investment in scientific and educational knowledge, as well as the exchange of knowledge and new technologies with other states.

Principle No. 10

Adequate information about environmental preservation and sustainable development should be accessible to all citizens interested in participating and supporting each initiative with their actions, regardless of its level.

Principle 11

The correct conception and application of regulations and legislation on the environment is necessary within the territory of each sovereign State.

Each regulation must be appropriately adapted to the internal conditions and needs of each nation.

Principle No. 12

It is the duty of the States to cooperate in accordance with an international economic system that advocates processes of development and sustainable consumption, in order to more effectively address the problems surrounding environmental degradation.

Ideally, the measures taken by each nation should be based on international consensus.

Principle N ° 13

The State is responsible for the conception of legislation to favor and compensate all those who have been victims of damage due to environmental deterioration or contamination.

They must also cooperate together in order to consolidate international support measures against particular phenomena of pollution or environmental damage that are manifested in different regions.

Principle N ° 14

The States must monitor and cooperate to prevent any activity that damages the environment from moving their operations between sovereign territories, which would double the damage to be caused and make it difficult to take measures to eradicate it.

Principle No. 15

Every State is responsible for the conception of the timely application of preventive and security measures in the face of environmental emergency situations.

Any ignorance about the causes of such a scenario should not be used as an excuse for the postponement or non-application of said preventive measures.

References

1. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. (1992). Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Rio de Janeiro: UN.
2. Foladori, G. (1999). Environmental sustainability and social contradictions. Environment & Society.
3. Leff, E. (1994). Ecology and capital: environmental rationality, participatory democracy and sustainable development. XXI CENTURY.
4. Tearfund. (2009). Principles and definitions on environmental sustainability. Tearfund, 7-19.