Sustainable Development

According to Sd-commission.org.uk (2022), Sustainable development is a concept that appeared for the first time in 1987 with the publication of the Brundtland Report, warning of the negative environmental consequences of economic growth and globalization, which tried to find possible solutions to the problems caused by industrialization and population growth. By this concept it always encourages us to conserve and improve our resources by gradually changing the methods we produce and use technology. (1)

 

According to BYJUS (2022),We can define it as development that serves the requirements of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. The core of this type of development is a stable interaction between human activities and the natural world, which does not lower future generations' chances of enjoying a standard of living at least as fair as ours.

Far too often, development is driven by a single demand without fully addressing the broader or long- term implications. (2)(3)

 

We are already experiencing the consequences of this strategy, from large-scale financial crises produced by irresponsible banking to changes in global climate caused by our reliance on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe the repercussions will be, which is why we must intervene now

 

What is the blueprint for achieving sustainable development?

According to EQS Group (2022), And because it involves three important areas: economic, environmental, and social, sustainable development can be applied to corporate policy in the business world. A corporation must contribute to economic growth, social improvement, and environmental sustainability in order to be considered sustainable. Environmental conservation, economic development, and social sustainability are the three primary components of sustainable development that can be prioritized in order of significance.

 

Environmental Pillar

The environmental pillar refers to environmental laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms. Air and water pollution, solid waste management, ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of natural resources, wildlife, and endangered species are among the topics addressed. It is basically focuses on how an organization performs in terms of the physical environment, including issues such as energy use, pollution, natural resource utilization, conservation record, animal treatment, and so on. Given the extent of the world's problems and the increasing severity of environmental hazards for businesses, the E component of ESG has grown increasingly important.

While the environmental pillar is not a new concept, it is challenging to include and implement in international agendas. To that end, it is critical that the various levels of government (national, regional, municipal, and so on) devote appropriate attention to environmental goals, backed up by genuine policy instruments. (4)

 

Social pillar

According to ResearchGate (2022), Social has fallen behind, owing to the difficulty of defining the pillar and the reporting procedure being a hard task for certain organizations. It is referring to values that promote equality and respect for individual rights.

People are central to business success and the way they are treated by organizations is coming under increasingly heavily scrutiny. One employee, customer or supplier who has been badly treated can create a major backlash against a company that results in a tarnished reputation or serious financial losses. (5)(6)

 

The following are the principles that underlie this pillar:

• Promote solidarity by partnering with local and international organizations and programs, as well as favoring fair trade items that ensure an adequate income for farmers and help to promote sustainable agriculture.

• Contribute to the well-being of stakeholders through fostering social conversation, supporting information exchange and transparency, adjusting working hours to employee profiles, and making premises accessible to persons with limited mobility.

 

Economic pillar

According to Colson, D. and Colson, D. (2022), Economic sustainability is frequently the top priority for every company. The economic pillar covers a wide range of problems, from trade and investment to job creation and private sector development. Economic policymaking considers both local and worldwide trends and assets, and it employs a variety of instruments such as tax policy, public-private partnerships, trade and employment policies, national and international finance, and so on. To maintain its survival, a company must be profitable. However, the economic component forbids profiteering at any cost. Businesses must produce profits while keeping the other two pillars in mind. (7)

“Examples of how we can invest in more sustainable development practices ...”

Solar Energy

According to Energy, S., (2022), From rooftop solar panels to large solar farms with the same generating capacity as a conventional power plant, it is evident that the world is seeing a renewable energy revolution fueled by the sun.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, solar photovoltaics currently saves 220 million to 330 million tons of CO2 every year. With solar currently accounting for less than 2% of the global energy mix, this demonstrates the enormous potential for solar growth in the future. A solar farm can remove 94% of the emissions produced by a coal power plant. It also eliminates toxic pollutants like as sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, which are key contributors to air pollution and cause millions of premature deaths each year. Solar technology is becoming more affordable and is currently comparable with or less expensive than conventional power generation in many places of the world. (8)

 

Sustainable Urban Design

Sustainable urban design is concerned with the planning, construction, and redesign of towns and cities with a focus on sustainability. In the urban setting, redefining the interaction between the environment, economic activities, and social livelihood.

This entails developing the urban layout and infrastructure to reduce negative environmental effects, such as waste, while improving people's quality of life, health, and wellness. Improving the resilience and lifespan of our cities.

Sustainable urban design is an emerging trend in modern cities, and it comprises the following elements:

• Making plans for green spaces

• Building energy consumption reduction

• Planning urban form and infrastructure to support waste reduction

• Discourage the use of private automobiles and plan for sustainable transportation

• Controlling population density

Sustainable development goals:
1-No Poverty: calls for the abolition of poverty in all its forms by 2030.
2-Zero Hunger: aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in all forms.
3-Good Health and Well-Being: seeks to safeguard everyone's health and well-being at every stage of life.
4-Quality Education: aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote opportunities for lifelong learning for all.
5-Gender Equality: seeks gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
6-Clean Water and Sanitation: strives to ensure the availability and long-term management of water and sanitation for all.
7-Affordable and Clean Energy: aims to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
8-Decent Work and Economic Growth: promotes inclusive, long-term economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
9-Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: aims to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, as well as to foster innovation.
10-Reduced Inequalities: aims to reduce inequality both within and between countries.
11-Sustainable Cities and Communities: centered on cities, which house more than half of the world's population.
12-Responsible Consumption and Production: aims to ensure long-term consumption and production patterns.
13-Climate Action: urges action to combat climate change and its consequences.
14-Life Below Water: aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources for long-term development.
15-Life on Land: intended to safeguard, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat land degradation, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.
16-Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: helps promote peaceful and inclusive societies, ensures equal access to justice, and builds effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels Peace, justice, and effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions are central to long-term development.

17-Partnerships for The Goals: aims to strengthen the colonial system and reinvigorate the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development         (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs n.d.)(9)

 

According to United Nations (2016), defined quality education as ensuring that the individual receives education at a high level, and provides learning opportunities forever. (10) and according to Wings (2022), it is the development of all from different nationalities and conditions in physical, social, emotional, mental, and cognitive terms. (11)

According to Sustainable Development Goals n.d., Education is one of the most important goals as it allows to achieve other sustainable development goals, and this is because with education it is possible to eliminate poverty, increase equality between males and females, increase health care, and also allow people to get good jobs with high salaries. This goal will provide education to many, including remote communities and people with disabilities(11)

 

Education facts:

• the most uneducated children live in Africa, and 85% of  the children living there do not learn.

• The number of young people without literacy or basic skills is 617 million
• People with disabilities in remote communities are 19% less than children without disabilities in terms of reading and education                    

 (Sustainable Development Goals n.d.) (12)

The world progress

According to Sustainable development goals (2022), the world has made progress in ensuring equal quality education for all, and based on the 2021- 2022 progress report, these are some of the progress that has been made:

• The percentage of adolescents completing upper secondary education climbed from 54% in 2015 to 58% in 2020, with completion slowing down in comparison to growth over the previous five years.

• According to data from 73 (mainly low- and middle-income) nations for the years 2013 to 2021, around 7 out of 10 children between the ages of 3 and 4 are developing normally, with no discernible gender differences.

• Around the world, there were around 12 million pre-primary school teachers, 33 million primary school teachers, and 38 million secondary school teachers employed in classrooms in 2020. Of these, 83% had received formal training.

• In the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the participation rate in organized learning one year before the official primary entry age increased steadily, from 69% in 2010 to 75% in 2020, but with significant country-to-country variation (with the rate ranging from a figure as low as 13% to nearly 100%). (13)

 

Examples of local organizations /companies that have worked to achieve the goal of “quality education” :

 

1-Ministry of education

- Riyaadi initiative: According to Ministry of education (2021), The 'Riyaadi' initiative seeks to educate entrepreneurs and invest in public and university education in the context of the Ministry's efforts to improve the educational outputs to keep pace with the Kingdom's ambitious National Vision 2030. The 'Riyaad' initiative is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by achieving inclusive, equitable, quality, and high-quality education for all segments of society to build the human capital needed to achieve sustainable development.

 

- The digital skills development initiative in partnership with the Misk Foundation: The initiative allows participants to obtain a certificate provided by an international company, which are pioneering certificates in this field, enabling teachers and teachers who have obtained them to use technologies in the educational process effectively and distinctively, to develop their abilities in choosing appropriate technologies and digital activities in the classroom from In order to achieve the goals of education, motivate students to interact with the educational environment, and overcome the challenges they may face in the classroom.

 

- support scientific research and development in universities: This initiative contributes to advancing research and development in Saudi universities and creating a new dynamic in supporting research and its products, which contribute to raising the domestic product and the national economy so that its outputs are one of the main pillars of scientific and economic development, and the initiative comes within the framework of the leadership’s interest in the system of science, education and scientific research. And support scientific and research competencies at the level of the Kingdom, and is consistent with the efforts made by various institutions in supporting scientific research in Saudi universities. (14)

 

2:Education development holding company: According to Education tatweer holding company n.d.  The Education Development Holding Company plays the role of a link between the Ministry of Education and the private sector to support the participation of the private sector in investment, and has made advanced efforts to study and implement investment and development opportunities in the education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the Education Development Holding Company has the capabilities and competencies to implement projects and initiatives.

 

Some of the initiatives taken by the company:

 

-Support for special education: an integrated Center in which educational and rehabilitation disciplines meet in a coherent system. The center provides individual treatment plans and provides the appropriate service for the child according to his needs with the aim of returning the child to his natural environment at school or home as an interactive and independent individual while providing him with appropriate support in the new environments, which are suitable for his abilities. and less .restrictive

 

-Educational Investment Services Centre: The Centre seeks to provide distinguished services to investors, to enhance their participation in the development and improvement of the field of education, and to have a high impact on investor services to raise the contribution of the private sector in the field of education. Through a unified electronic portal in cooperation with Meraas, in order to develop and facilitate services, and to link investors with the relevant government agencies

 

- Riyaadi initiative: In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the “Riyaadi” initiative was launched as one of the initiatives of the National Transformation Program 2020 implemented in the Ministry of Education, and it aims to provide students with labor market skills, consolidate a culture of entrepreneurship, and stimulate self-employment and investment among students of the public, university and technical

education. (15)

 

 

 

 

References:

1- Sd-commission.org.uk. 2022. What is sustainable development · Sustainable Development Commission?  Available at:  https://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/what-is-sustainable-development.html  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

2- BYJUS. 2022. Sustainable Development- meaning, definition, goals, features, example. Available at:  https://byjus.com/commerce/meaning-and-features-of-sustainable-development/  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

3- EQS Group. 2022. Understanding ESG’s Environmental Pillar. Available at: https://www.eqs.com/compliance-blog/understanding-esg-environmental-pillar/  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

4- EQS Group. 2022. Exploring the Social Pillar of ESG. Available at:  https://www.eqs.com/compliance-blog/social-pillar-of-esg/  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

5- ResearchGate2022. Sustainable urban design with an approach in sustainable urban development. [online] Available at:  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322617880_Sustainable_urban_design_with_an_approach_in_sustainable_urban_development  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

6- Taylor and Francis Online homepage, 2017. The social pillar of sustainable development: a literature review and framework for policy analysis. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15487733.2012.11908081  [Accessed 17 October 2022].

7- Colson, D. and Colson, D., 2022. The Three Pillars of Sustainability: Economic, Social, And Environment Transformation Holdings. Available at:   https://www.transformationholdings.com/corporate%20sustainability/3-pillars-sustainability/ [Accessed 17 October 2022].

8- Energy, S., 2022. Solar Energy - Journal - Elsevier. [online] Journals.elsevier.com. Available at: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/solar-energy  [Accessed 17 October 2022]

9-United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Space4SDGs: How space can be used in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Available at:  https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/space4sdgs/index.html [Accessed 21 October 2022]

10-United Nations. (2016) Quality Education. Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4  [Accessed 15 October 2022].

11-Wings. (2022) What is Quality Education?. Available at: https://leverageedu.com/blog/quality-education/ [Accessed 24 October 2022]  

12-Sustainable Development Goals n.d. Quality Education. Available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/  [Accessed 15 October 2022]

13-Sustainable development goals. (2022) Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Available at: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2022/secretary-general-sdg-report-2022-- EN.pdf  [Accessed 9 October 2022]

14- Ministry of education. (2021) Initiative and projects. Available at: https://moe.gov.sa/ar/knowledgecenter/projectsinitiatives/Pages/Initiatives.aspx  [Accessed 20 October 2022]

15- Education tatweer holding company n.d. Initiatives and projects. Available at: https://www.tatweer.sa/ [Accessed 20 October 2022]