What does sustainable development mean?

Question

Options

• ATo create a balance between the demand for timber and the maintenance of the health and
• BTo make use of renewable energy in order to reduce greenhouse gas effects
• CTo meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet

• A
  3% (1)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  95% (35)

Explanation

Option C is correct because "sustainable development" is defined by the landmark 1987 Brundtland Report as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" - this is the universally accepted definition used across economics, environmental science, and policy.

Option A is a distractor because it describes sustainable forestry or timber management specifically - a narrow application, not the broader definition of sustainable development itself.

Option B is a distractor because using renewable energy is one strategy that can support sustainable development, but it describes a single method rather than the overarching concept.

Memory tip: Think of the word "sustain" - to keep something going indefinitely. Sustainable development is about keeping human progress going without robbing the future. The phrase "future generations" is the giveaway in option C and should be your anchor word in any exam question about this topic.

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