What is sustainable development, explained

"All too often, development is driven by one particular need, without fully considering the wider or future impacts. We are already seeing the damage this kind of approach can cause, from large-scale financial crises caused by irresponsible banking, to changes in global climate resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe its consequences are likely to become, which is why we need to take action now," a report published by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), an independent advisor of the UK Government said.

The United Nations, in order to achieve the same, laid out 17 practical goals or desirable outcomes, such as the UN Sustainable Development goals in 2015, which includes ending poverty and hunger, achieving food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, ensuring education for all, promoting healthy well-being for all, achieving gender equality, ensuring availability of water and suitable management of water and sanitation among others.