ABSTRACT It was not until 19921, that the concept of sustainable development was recognised as one of the most

urgent subjects of international policy, comprising three major goals economic development, social development and environmental protection. However, many opponents of sustainable development lament that, with regard to environmental protection, the concept is a useless instrument. The issue being the practical implementation of the concept is very difficult on account of its vague and imprecise definition and of the lack of procedural guidance. However, how legitimate would a universally applicable regime of sustainable development be and, again, who would have authority to make those rules? Would an all time stagnant/fixed definition be most appropriate or is a more equitable approach required? While discussing different opinions on sustainable development throughout the essay, a set of opposing paradigms will become apparent At the outset, the author would describe the nature of sustainable development as a concept and try to illustrate the root of its definitional predicament. The author would consecutively aim to show that it is difficult to accommodate both environmental protection and economic development with an equal and balanced strength under the umbrella of sustainable development, however, the author most humbly and respectfully submits, that regarding the two as entirely independent from each other would create an artificial and untenable view of the worlds status quo. Following this, the author will examine some theoretical approaches to sustainable development. Subsequently, will discuss the impact sustainable development has on the divide between the global North and South, and again, question whether a more stringent and uniform application of the concept would be beneficial for environmental protection and in how far the application of such a concept would be justifiable. The author would conclude the paper with the argument that, although the concept of sustainable development has many flaws and uncertainties in its nature, it is not completely useless for the pursuit of environmental protection. Sustainable development has not merely succeeded in reemphasising the importance of environmental protection as a normative value, but it has also begun a serious practical move from ideal to reality. Finally, the author submits that the implementation of the concept mainly stem from procedural and planning failures, rather than from the nature of the concepts definition.

United Nations Earth Summit in Rio De Janerio