Question

Which one of the following reports defined sustainable development as a "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"?

• A. Kyoto Report
• B. Club of Rome Report
• C. Meadows Report
• D. Brundtland Report

Hint:

Brundtland Report (1987) = "Our Common Future" = Definition of Sustainable Development.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: Sustainable development is a core concept in modern geography and environmental science. While the idea existed earlier, its most famous and widely accepted definition came from a specific UN commission report.

Step 1: Identifying the Report.
The report titled "Our Common Future", published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), provided this definition.

Step 2: Origin of the Name.
The commission was chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway. Hence, the document is universally referred to as the Brundtland Report.

Step 3: Core Elements of the Definition.
The definition focuses on two key concepts:
• The concept of 'needs', especially the essential needs of the world's poor.
• The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.