The first internationally commissioned document to declare issues of environmental concern and human development as an ‘interlocking crises’.

Following from the UN Conference on the Human Environment, the report highlighted the need to recognise the interdependence of nations and the need for a multilateral approach in solving global development issues.

The concept of ‘sustainable development’ was defined famously as:

“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; and

• the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”

This definition has been under close scrutiny since the report’s publication, providing the basis for political and environmental discourse to this day.

Entry submitted by Gyto Pugh