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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Environmental and sustainability factors

Which of the following is the most widely quoted definition of sustainable development, as set out in the Brundtland Report?

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is the Brundtland definition. It balances current and future needs rather than focusing only on profit or banning all non-renewable resources.

  1. ADevelopment that maximises shareholder returns over the long term
  2. BDevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsCorrect
  3. CDevelopment that eliminates all use of non-renewable resources

Explanation

The Brundtland Report (1987) defined sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. The first option is a purely financial aim, and the third is too extreme, as sustainability does not require ending all non-renewable use.

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