Re-framing sustainable development

Re-framing sustainable development: A critical analysis

This report proposes a new sustainability paradigm in order to avert environmental and subsequent social and economic collapse.

CIWEM considers that the current emphasis on an integrated consideration of environmental, social and economic components of sustainability is undermined by poor decision making, weak governance and institutional frameworks which, ultimately, allow too great an emphasis on economic growth to the detriment of environmental and resource conservation.

The objective of the Rio + 20 Conference held in summer 2012 was to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, but ultimately only provided another example of political failings on an international scale that will further delay the urgent action required.