Sustainable Development and Climate Change

The concept of sustainable development can be best interpreted as an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social, and economic limitations we face as a society. Most of the present development activities are being conceived and implemented without fully considering the wider or future impacts. A manifestation of such kind of development approach is quite evident in the form of large-scale financial crises caused by irresponsible banking, changes in the global climate resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe its consequences are likely to become, which is why we need to take action now. This chapter explores sustainable development and climate change.