Sustainable development is human development which will allow the coming generations to enjoy the same quality of life that the present generation does. The concept of sustainable development was introduced to ensure that present generation utilised the given natural resources in a way that leaves a legacy of ‘quality of life’ for the next generation similar to the one the current generation inherited. ‘Sustainability’ means striking a balance between economic growth and ecological preservation in a way that the stock of natural resources stays constant or rises over time.

The term ‘sustainable development’ originated in the 1980 World Commission Strategy Report, which was brought out by the International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources. According to IUCNR, sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future generation’s ability to meet their own needs. Under sustainable development, the essential needs of people (food and water, secure employment, housing, and so on), especially the disadvantaged, are met, and the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors keep growing and developing further. At the same time, the use of these resources should be equitable, and human activity should not cause harm to the environment. Sustainable development was adopted to prevent any further damage to the biosphere. It can play a large role in nurturing the  the flora and fauna of the planet, and conserving the limited natural resources so humankind can one day achieve total food safety and security.

Sustainable development depends on how strictly we adhere to the some important rules. In order to be able to achieve sustainable development, the use of non-renewable resources should be restricted and substituted with the use of safer, non-renewable alternatives as far as possible. The use of renewable resources must also be carried out in a way that ensures the rate of extraction does not exceed the rate of regeneration. Further research and development should be done to bring about more input-efficiency, so that fewer inputs can provide the required energy. Any technological undertaking must be done with the purview of limiting the emission of harmful or difficult-to-dispose by-products. Pollution emission should be eliminated, reduced or controlled to ensure they are always less than the absorption capacity of the environment. All these steps, which limit the exploitation of resources, are aimed at making certain the flow of services rendered by the natural environment is maintained uninterrupted over time.