Module 1:

Introduction to Sustainable
Sustainable Development
Development Phùng Thanh Bình ([email protected])

Sustainable development is a concept that aims to meet the

needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It
involves balancing environmental, social, and economic
priorities to create a more equitable and resilient world.
Lecture Objectives

Define and List Interpret and Distinguish Illustrate

• Define concepts of sustainable • Interpret the roles and • Illustrate (un)sustainable
development and sustainability responsibilities of different development problems around
• List milestones of sustainable stakeholders and interest the world and Vietnam.
development groups in addressing the SDGs Remember
• Summarize international • Distinguish SDGs, ESG, CSR,
• SDGs
framework and principles of circular economy, blue economy,
green growth, inclusive growth, • SDGs' Targets
sustainable development and
SDGs sustainable growth. • SDGs' Indicators
Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Development
"Sustainability" defined as:

• "the quality of being able to continue over a

period of time" - Cambridge Dictionary

• "the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or

level" - Oxford Dictionary

• "the quality of not being harmful to the

environment or depleting natural resources, and
thereby supporting long-term ecological
balance" - Dictionary.com
 Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development captures the integration of economic opportunity,
ecological sustainability, and social inclusion.

The Brundtland Report defines

sustainable development as:

"Sustainable development is
development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs." Sustainability and Circular Economy (Coursera)

This definition implies two key concepts:

• "Needs" refers to meeting the essential needs of the world's poor
• There are environmental limits to meeting our needs
Sustainability and Sustainable Development
 Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Three Pillars of Sustainability
Components of Sustainability
Sustainability and sustainable
development consist of three pillars: the
environment, the economy, and equity.

Balanced Approach
The argument is that sustainability can only be
achieved when all three pillars are balanced
and rejects the notion that achievement in one
pillar can be accomplished by sacrificing either
of the other two.

Benton-Short (2023, 4) Any thing else?

 Sustainability and Sustainable Development
To achieve the economic, social and environmental goals of sustainable development,
the fourth goal must also be achieved: Good governance.
The government must perform many core functions to help society prosper. These functions include:

• The provision of social services such as health care and education

• The provision of infrastructure such as roads, ports and electricity
• The protection of individuals from crime and violence
• The promotion of basic science and new technologies
• The implementation of regulations to protect the environment

Therefore, sustainable development envisions the four basic goals of a good society:
• Economic prosperity
• Social integration and cohesion
• Sustainable environment
• Good governance by major social actors, including governments and businesses
 Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Sustainable?
If "sustainability" is maintaining the current
level over time ...

... why would we want to maintain where

we are today?

Challenging the Concept

This slide raises an important question about the
conventional understanding of sustainability. It prompts
us to critically examine whether our current state is truly
Sustainability and Circular Economy (Coursera)
worth sustaining, or if we should aim for improvement
rather than mere maintenance.
 Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Sustainability and Circular Economy (Coursera) Sustainable Balance

... and then make that environmental,
Sustainable? social and economic balance
Environmental Regeneration sustainable.
A better approach is to allow our environment to
regenerate on its own, or to restore it to a level
where we can all thrive …
• Examples of regenerative models?
 Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Environmental Stewardship Environmental Justice Addressing Inequalities

Sustainability is about actively Ensuring all communities have Environmental inequalities go
working to protect and fair and equitable access to beyond just the presence of
restore our natural environmental benefits and a polluting facilities, but also the
environments, going beyond healthy living environment. lack of access to green spaces
just minimizing impact. and other environmental
amenities.
How about Climate
Justice? Other justices?
 Environmental Justice

Fair Distribution of Unfair Burden of Lack of Access to

Environmental Goods Environmental Bads Environmental Amenities
Environmental "goods" like parks Environmental "bads" like Inequalities also arise from the
and greenspaces should be polluting industries and waste absence or inaccessibility of
accessible to all communities, sites are often concentrated in environmental resources and
not just the affluent. marginalized communities, benefits.
creating inequalities.
 From MDGs to SDGs

2000-2015

Contributions?

Why did we
change from
MDGs to SDGs?
Critiques of MDGs

Lack of Ambition
Not being ambitious enough to be effective levers for progress;
being too simple and focusing on poverty.

Analytical Gaps
Lacking solid analytical reasons to choose these particular
objectives and leave others out.

Implementation Issues
Being 'goals without means'; being generated in a non-
transparent way; not aligning with human rights.
 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDGs Overview Interconnected Goals Global Collaboration

The image showcases the 17 The 17 SDGs are designed to be Achieving the SDGs requires
Sustainable Development Goals interconnected, addressing various collaboration on a global scale.
(SDGs) adopted by the United aspects of sustainable development Governments, businesses, civil
Nations. These goals represent a including poverty, inequality, climate society, and individuals all have
comprehensive framework for change, environmental degradation, a role to play in implementing
addressing global challenges and peace, and justice. Each goal is crucial these goals and creating
promoting sustainable development for creating a more sustainable and positive change in their
worldwide (2015-2030). equitable world. communities and beyond.
 SDGs Classification

Rob & Eveline (2022, p.71)

Rob & Eveline (2022, p.71)

Wedding Cake Model 5Ps Principles

 Critiques of SDGs

Compromise and Lack of Coherence

Politicization They lack coherence by being too
The goals and targets were the vague and too numerous. This
result of compromise (or critique points out that the SDGs
politicized). This suggests that the may be difficult to implement
SDGs may not fully address all effectively due to their broad
critical issues due to political scope and large number of goals.
negotiations and trade-offs.

International vs. Local Priorities

Their targets were a result of international negotiation, not reflect local or
national sustainable development priorities and problems. This highlights a
potential disconnect between global objectives and specific regional needs.
From Old to New Paradigm

Which
society we
are now
living?

Do you
like such a
society?
What is the Balanced Society?
 Societal Triangulation Model

Give examples of
S goods or services
that should be
provided by these
stakeholders?

How about you - an

UEHer?
Societal Triangulation Model
S
Societal Triangulation Model

Rob (2018, p.54)

Societal Triangulation Model

Rob (2018, p.57)

Societal Triangulation Model
 Societal Triangulation Model

• SDGs are "wicked problems".

They often relate to Spaces 3 & 4.

• No stakeholder can solve 17

SDGs only!

• We need to do together.

• Give an example at your

campus that needs
collaboration?

Rob (2018, p.63)

Wicked problems: Rob (2018, 36), Rob & Eveline (2022, 158; 181-188)! Week 5 | video 1 | Wicked problems
 Societal Triangulation Model

Solve negative
externalities
States
Collective action (S) Generate positive
externalities
Generate positive 2S
externalities
Generate positive
Solve negative 3SM 3S 3SC externalities
externalities
4SMC 4SCM Solve negative
externalities
4MSC 4CSM
3MS 4 3CS
Example 4CMS Example
3MS: Generate 3M 3C
4MCS 4CSM: Collective
positive 2M action; civil society
2C
externality; Market 3MC 3CM Civil Society is primary, state is
market is primary, (M) secondary, market
state is secondary. (C)
is tertiary.

PnPP
 Societal Triangulation Model
SDGs Classification

Rob & Eveline (2022, p.610)

Do you agree with this classification? Why?

 SDGs vs ESG

Sustainable Development Environmental, Social, and SDGs vs ESG

Goals (SDGs) Governance (ESG)
While the SDGs and ESG frameworks
The SDGs are a collection of 17 ESG refers to the three central share some common goals, they have
interlinked global goals factors in measuring the distinct focuses and applications.
designed to be a "blueprint to sustainability and societal impact Understanding the relationship
achieve a better and more of an investment in a company between them is crucial for
sustainable future for all." or business. sustainable development.
 SDGs vs ESG
Scope and Origin Focus Areas
SDGs are a UN global framework, while SDGs address broad economic, social,
ESG criteria evaluate corporate and environmental challenges globally,
sustainability and ethics for investors. while ESG focuses on evaluating
corporate behavior.

Implementation Measurement
SDGs guide national policies, while ESG is SDGs use 169 targets and 231 indicators,
applied at the corporate level for while ESG uses various company
investors. reporting standards.
Audience
SDGs are for a wide range of stakeholders, while ESG is primarily for investors, companies,
and financial institutions.
WHAT ELSE?
 CSR vs ESG
Focus and Scope Integration into Business Strategy
• ESG: Focuses on specific factors related to • ESG: Integrated into the core business strategy and
environmental impact, social responsibility, and operations of a company; long-term value creation and
corporate governance. risk management.
• CSR: Encompasses broader corporate initiatives and • CSR: Often considered as an add-on or supplementary
activities that contribute to societal goals, environmental to a company's core business activities.
stewardship, and community welfare.

Stakeholder Engagement Measurement and Reporting

• ESG: Satisfying the interests of shareholders and • ESG: Reporting often follows standardized frameworks
investors who prioritize sustainable and responsible such as those provided by GRI, SASB, or TCFD.
investment practices.
• CSR: Reporting on CSR activities tends to be more
• CSR: Engaging a broader range of stakeholders including qualitative and focuses on demonstrating the impact of
employees, customers, communities, and NGOs. corporate initiatives on communities and the
environment.
Regulatory Requirements
• ESG: Increasingly subject to regulatory requirements and investor expectations for transparency and accountability in ESG
disclosures.

• CSR: Generally guided by voluntary commitments and industry standards rather than mandatory regulatory requirements.
 Green, Inclusive, and Sustainable Growth

Green Growth Inclusive Growth Sustainable Growth

Economic growth that Economic growth that Economic growth that balances
prioritizes environmental ensures fair distribution of economic, environmental, and
sustainability, promoting benefits across all social dimensions to meet
eco-friendly technologies segments of society, present needs without
and practices to reduce reducing inequality and compromising future generations'
environmental impact. promoting social inclusion. ability to meet their own needs.
 Circular economy and business

Circular Economy Circular Business

• Concept: An economic system • Concept: Business practices aligned
aimed at minimizing waste and with the principles of the circular
making the most of resources. economy.

• Key Principles: Designing out waste • Key Practices: Using sustainable

and pollution, keeping products and materials, designing for longevity,
materials in use, and regenerating recycling, refurbishing, and
natural systems. remanufacturing products to extend
their lifecycle and reduce waste.

Coursera: 1) Sustainability and the circular economy; 2) Business models for sustainability.
 Important Sources for Learning
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Important Sources for Learning
Coursera

Driving business towards the Sustainable Development Goals -

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Course Info | Coursera

Sustainability and the Circular Economy - University of Colorado

Boulder, Siemens - Course Info | Coursera

Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business - University of

Colorado Boulder - Course Info | Coursera