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Key learning outcomes
To learn about sustainable development concept and UN Sustainable Development Goals
To understand the key components of the sustainability concept
One of the first definitions of sustainability derived from the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969: “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of future generations”.
The modern understanding of sustainable development was then further influenced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED 1987): “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainability emphasizes the interconnection between these pillars and calls for responsible practices that ensure the resilience of natural and human systems for the long term.
In 2015, the UN adopted its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which lists 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compared to earlier definitions, the listed goals not only aim at tackling
climate change and polluting actions but also at bettering the lives of people around the world by improving health and education. Additionally, the goals aim at improving education, stimulating economic growth, and thereby reducing inequality. The broad scope of the 17 SDGs shows the variety and interconnectedness between social, environmental, and economic sustainability. True sustainable development can only be achieved by improving all three pillars of sustainability.
Several SDGs are particularly relevant to hemp production:
● SDG 2: Promote sustainable agriculture.
● SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
● SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
● SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy.
● SDG 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Incorporating hemp into agricultural practices can address these goals by promoting sustainable agriculture, improving water management, ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns, combating climate change, and protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
Left, typical representation of sustainability as three intersecting circles. Right, alternative depictions: literal ‘pillars and a concentric circles approach. Image from Purvis et al., 2019 CC BY-SA 4.0
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