ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an historical overview of sustainable development. It demonstrates how and why sustainable development has become such an important issue on the world agenda. The term sustainable development was first used in 1987 in what is now known as the Brundtland Report. The World Conservation Strategy was released by The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It entitles 'Towards Sustainable Development' identified the main agents of habitat destruction as poverty, population pressure, social inequity and the terms of trade. It was widely recognised that progress towards sustainable development had been much slower than required and the agreements made at this world summit were just the start of making significant changes. The First Global Sustainability Index was launched, tracking leading corporate sustainable development practices world wide. Global consumption of mineral, wood, plastics and other materials increased by 240 per cent between 1960 and 1995.
