Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ploring the concept of sustainable development and discussing its significance for
Ukraine. Section 13.2 describes how instruments of sustainable development were
formed and analyses the main factors for realisation of the new development
model in Ukraine. Section 13.3 highlights that the Ukrainian system of environ-
mental assessment inherited from the Soviet Union differs significantly from the
'western-type' assessment system in both framework and procedure. It is illus-
trated that the development and implementation of SEA procedure is a necessary
step towards realisation of sustainability principles in Ukraine. The primary pur-
pose of SEA is to provide adequate consideration of environmental concerns in all
elements of socio-economic system. On this line, Section 13.4 discusses the sys-
tem of criteria or indicators that display the reaction of the socio-economic struc-
ture to the administrative influences, as well as changes in its sustainability.
The chapter ends with conclusions and recommendations in Section 13.5 high-
lighting which reforms could contribute to implementation of SEA as a sustain-
able development instrument in Ukraine.
13.2 Concept of Sustainable Development in Ukraine
Transition to sustainable development is a long-term process that involves binding
efforts, collective commitments and responsibility for guaranteeing a high quality
of life on a global scale. At the same time, the selection of the methodology for
sustainable development has to reflect the specific conditions and priorities on a
country level, to be voluntary and to conform to the immediate needs of a country.
The following sections consider the basic principles of sustainable development
and the peculiarities of a national approach towards their realisation in Ukraine.
13.2.1 Principles of Sustainable Development and Aiding Instruments
The idea of sustainable development and the principles surrounding its realisation
have been evolving in both scientific communities and numerous international fo-
rums over the course of many decades. The Stockholm Declaration of the United
Nations Conference on the Human Environment (1972) agreed that there is an ur-
gent need to take measures against environmental degradation (UN 1973); a report
for the Club of Rome (1972) focused attention on the 'limits to growth' and neces-
sity that civilisation switches to the balanced economy model, working on the
principles of the global dynamic equilibrium (Meadows et al. 1972).
According to the definition provided by the World Commission on Environ-
ment and Development, also known as the Brundtland Commission, sustainable
development is “development that meets the needs of the present without com-
promising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED
1987, p. 43). This definition refers to development without exceeding the limits of
environmental capacity, and which does not have an irreversible impact on the en-
vironment nor does it jeopardize the future of humanity.
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