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Introduction

The interconnected nature and continuous growth of developed and developing economies put a stress on the environment that threatens our ecosystem. The stress placed on our environment comes from, among other things, our consumption and waste of natural and unnatural resources. Over time, recognizing the strain on our ecosystem resulted in the creation of sustainable development as a concept. The focus of this research is on the history of sustainable development and how it applies to Belarus.

The concept of sustainable development came about during the time Belarus established its independence. Under the leadership of Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus has built a sustainable development model unique to its authoritarian regime and landlocked country. Understanding the history of sustainable development and the creation of sustainable development goals through the United Nations will provide the necessary context for us to explain how Belarus has built and implemented its model of sustainable development.

The History of Sustainable Development

Different points regarding sustainable development were first discussed during the 18th and 19th centuries economic theorists like Adam Smith and later Karl Marx. Sustainable development initially focused on clean air, water, and renewable resources. In 1980, the term sustainable development was used in the field of forestry.[footnoteRef:1] Sustainable development in the field of forestry discouraged the harvesting of connected forests at a rate that prevented the renewal of those forests. Concerns were raised in the 1970s with the recognition that human consumption put pressure on the environment. At this time, thought was being given to the limited natural resources and the need future generations would have for it. Specific concerns include global climate change, natural catastrophes, and hunger and poverty. [1: Tomislav Klarin, "The Concept of Sustainable Development: From Its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business 21, no. 1 (2018): 70, doi:10.2478/zireb-2018-0005.]

A group of economists, scientists, and humanists from developed countries met in Rome in 1968 to discuss current problems and future challenges facing humans.[footnoteRef:2] The group published two important documents that appealed to the world for a change of behaviors towards the planet. The Roman club was one group that made large contributions to the creation of sustainable development as a concept. The United Nations is credited with the largest contribution to the concept of sustainable development. The goals of the United Nations include “maintaining peace and security in the world, promoting sustainable development, protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms, promoting the international law, suppressing the poverty and promoting the mutual tolerance and cooperation.”[footnoteRef:3] The United Nations brought major countries together with a common purpose that included sustainable development as part of its defined goal. [2: Tomislav Klarin, "The Concept of Sustainable Development: From Its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business 21, no. 1 (2018): 71, doi:10.2478/zireb-2018-0005.] [3: Tomislav Klarin, "The Concept of Sustainable Development: From Its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business 21, no. 1 (2018): 71, doi:10.2478/zireb-2018-0005.]

In 1983 the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was established to develop a global change program.[footnoteRef:4] In 1987 Sustainable Development, the Brundtland Report was published and, the concept of sustainable development was more clearly defined. The report analyzed the conditions of the world looking at socio-economic development and order, environmental degradation, population growth, poverty, politics, and wars. The report defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.”[footnoteRef:5] The concepts that came from the Brundtland Report addressed the balance between human needs and environmental pressures. The report is foundational to the modern concept of sustainable development. [4: Tomislav Klarin, "The Concept of Sustainable Development: From Its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business 21, no. 1 (2018): 74, doi:10.2478/zireb-2018-0005.] [5: A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I) REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT." United Nations. Accessed December 05, 2018. http://www.un.org/documents/ga/conf151/aconf15126-1annex1.htm.]

Leading up to the Earth Summit in 1992 where 178 countries would attend to define a global framework for solving environmental issues, several documents were adopted. Two documents that were adopted help us understand the framework used to create sustainable development goals, The Rio Declaration and Agenda 21. “The Rio Declaration contains 27 principles of sustainable development on the rights and responsibilities of the United Nations.”[footnoteRef:6] The first principle puts humans at the center of concerns for sustainable development. The Rio Declaration also discusses states sovereign right to develop and utilize their resources but should preserve the environment. The declaration discusses global cooperation and consideration of the environment. [6: Tomislav Klarin, "The Concept of Sustainable Development: From Its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business 21, no. 1 (2018): 75, doi:10.2478/zireb-2018-0005.]

Agenda 21 is a non-binding global program with objectives of sustainable development and action plans and resources for their implementation. Agenda 21 is broken up into four parts: Social and Economic Dimensions, Conservation and Management of Resources for Development, Strengthening the Role of Major Groups, and Means of Implementation. Each section discusses topics like addressing poverty, helping developing countries, protecting our environment.[footnoteRef:7] The Rio Declaration defines the principles for sustainable development in the eyes of the United Nation and Agenda 21 describes the goals and implementation of those goals. [7: "A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I) REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT," United Nations, accessed December 05, 2018, http://www.un.org/documents/ga/conf151/aconf15126-1annex1.htm]