Opportunities and Threats of Sustainable Development Approach

This report evaluates the opportunities and threats presented by the sustainable development approach in Canada. It discusses issues related to urban development, freshwater management, threats/fears, monetary and non-monetary signals, globalization, and opportunities. The report concludes that the benefits of a sustainable development approach outweigh its threats.

Running Head: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 0
Do the opportunities presented
in sustainable development
outweigh the threats?
October 25
2018

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 1
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
MAIN ISSUES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT............................................3
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.........................................................................................................3
FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................4
THREATS/FEARS......................................................................................................................4
MONETARY AND NON-MONETARY SIGNALS..................................................................5
GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT....................................................5
OPPORTUNITIES..........................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2
INTRODUCTION
In today’s competitive business world, the competition between enterprises is fierce, and
they are focused on making the most out of their resources. The resources are limited, and the
corporations have to implement a strategic approach to ensure that are able to meet their needs
while ensuring that the future generation also has enough resources to meet their needs as well.
The ethical implications on corporations have increased to ensure that they did not misuse their
resources. Thus, implementation of a sustainable development approach is ethical to ensure that
resources are consumed in appropriate manner to meet current and future needs. There are many
opportunities presented in favour of sustainable development worldwide including Canada.
Implementation of a sustainable approach is the duty of organizations along with individuals, and
they should take appropriate measures to ensure that they use resources in a sustainable manner
(Armitage, Berkes & Doubleday, 2010). This report will focus on evaluation why opportunities
presented by the sustainable development approach outweigh its threats. Various threats and
opportunities relating to sustainable development will be evaluated in this report to understand
their impact on individuals, organizations, and society.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 3
MAIN ISSUES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
In the year 2002 in September, a convention held in Johannesburg regarding the issues in
sustainable development like- access to clean water, poverty, how other nations are dealing with
all the issues, climate changes, demographic changes and so on, which plays a very crucial role
in people live worldwide (Bass & Dalal-Clayton, 2012). Some points with all the pros and cons
of opportunities presented mentioned below:
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The population in Canada is generally the population, which migrated from rural to urban
areas in search for better facilities, or better job in need of living a good lifestyle which is only is
possible in urban infrastructure where there are many services are available from door to door
(Environment and climate change, 2013). There is a huge increase in number or population
shifting which creates lumps of waste and the unequal distribution of population, which again
leads to an increase in homelessness and slums.
There are some cities, which have faced losses of 5% to 8% in net regional products
(Altieri, 2018). The losses directly or indirectly related to environmental degradation. The
sustainable development in urban areas is facing multi-faced problems- related to electricity
consumption, commute system, property usage, environmental and legal issues. In fact, people
are facing problems related to affordable residence and ageing building/infrastructure that are
acting out poorly in context to environment and energy proficiency. It raises various ethical
issues for organizations and governments to ensure that they implement a sustainable model to
avoid degradation of these resources.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 4
FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT
Canada has nearly about only 10% of the fresh and drinking water in the world, i.e. the
second highest per capita consumption of freshwater (Organization for economic co-operation
and development, 2018). In addition, a number of factors make this issue on water as the most
drastic/serious issue. For example:
1. Pollution is the main reason, which comes out of industries, and the airborne have
impacts on the environment and people.
2. Due to globalization, exports of agricultural products are in high demand hence, high
pressure on freshwater resources.
For every country, its water resources are important. It is one of the most required resources
for decades on which human being survived (Government of Canada, 2017). Implementation of
ethical principles is necessary to ensure that water resources are not scares which could destroy
life on earth.
THREATS/FEARS
Canada is already among the country that has signed the UN treaty/convention on
maintaining ecological balance/ biological diversity. The ecosystem is diverse, earlier there were
many creatures, which came under the category of extinct animals because of the misuse of
resources, by humanity for its very own good (Altieri, 2018). More than 400 species are on the
verge of extinction. Recent public policy schemes related to this has been very fair and also some
more research in future in the following areas can be done:-
1. Valuation of ecosystem-related services in a proper manner.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 5
2. Examples for best eco-region- basis of decision making, new and innovative tools, techniques
for coordinating activities among different government bodies and framing of legal policies.
Sustainability is quite important for any nation when it comes to its resources usage.
Sustainability shall be adopted by every nation but how it has been done is more important.
Ethical manner should be accepted while maintaining sustainability. Resources management
steps described and explained below only in ethical manner it should not have a bad effect or
unethically done. Ethical means last longer and do not harm the basic routine of environment
which regulates the whole ecosystem.
MONETARY AND NON-MONETARY SIGNALS
There are two types of signals which include monetary (market- based non-incentives and
incentives) and non-monetary (like information). In Canada, the use of economy is very limited
on ecological aspects, and it should increase its use, but before increasing, it should have proper
combinations and tools or instruments to make the right use of it (Altieri, 2018). The foremost
challenge of future is to increase the prices reasonably and reduce the expenses related to
externalities in such a way that is socially acceptable. These are some of the few aspects, which
play a very important role in sustainable development. These facts affect the whole economy,
therefore, it is ethical that corporations should property exploit the opportunities to avoid the
scarcity of resources (Bass & Dalal-Clayton, 2012).
GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Likewise, Globalization has the same impact in relation to sustainable development.
Globalization not only contributes to the economy but it is also helpful and important in
maintaining sustainable development. It improves the technology and generates the revenue that

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 6
is required in order to buy expensive tools and machines for continuing sustainability of
resources. It also contributes to lessening poverty and enhancing environmental protection along
with a much better quality of water, ambient air, and other media. Further by removing barriers
in international trade and commerce, through which the latest tools and money generated, can
contribute to sustainable development (Government of Canada, 2017). Many factors are
important for the opportunities to overcome the threats produced, to achieve the higher levels
one has to ignore and overlook the threats and win over it. To achieve these objectives, an ethical
perspective is necessary to be adopted by governments, corporations and individuals.
OPPORTUNITIES
All these factors are important and need maintenance in order to increase the sustainability
for long. These factors presented as opportunities for sustainable development, which have a
negative impact too. The opportunities become a threat only when the scene pretty clearly states
that not every individual can afford all the requirements, which are essential. The government
has to think twice or thrice to invest in any of the programs or conventions, which are necessary
for the nation (Armitage, Berkes & Doubleday, 2010). For example, the people now have
generated various ways in the agricultural field for sustainable development and government too
is working on the amount required to make it happen. The schemes related to providing the
financial help has already started and eventually, this will enhance all the patience and hard work
done from decades.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 7
CONCLUSION
Based on the above observations, it can be concluded that the threat relating to
sustainable development approach is present; however, it is important that organizations take
risks for a better future. Despite its large number of natural resources, Canada faces many
challenges in context to sustainable development. In order to address above mentioned issues,
the country will have to implement a long-term approach. In Canada, economy and
environmental factors are main challenges when it comes to implementing a sustainable
approach, however, there are opportunities available by implementing ethical principles to build
ecological and political space which is able to support and sustain the growth which will enhance
the living standard in Canada. Proper research can answer all the above point in more
explanatory form and which will be an important foundation/basis for sustainable development
policies. Therefore, the benefits of a sustainable development approach overcome its threats
which will result in advancing the entire world.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 8
REFERENCES
Altieri, M. A. (2018). Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture. Boston: CRC Press.
Armitage, D., Berkes, F., & Doubleday, N. (2010). Adaptive co-management: collaboration,
learning, and multi-level governance. Vancouver: UBC Press.
Bass, S., & Dalal-Clayton, B. (2012). Sustainable development strategies: a resource book.
Abingdon: Routledge.
Environment and climate change. (2013). planning for a sustainable future: A federal
sustainable development strategy for Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.ec.gc.ca/dd-
sd/default.asp?lang=En&n=892FBDA6-1
Government of Canada. (2017).Feature article- key issues for sustainable development in
Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.horizons.gc.ca/en/content/feature-article-key-
issues-sustainable-development-canada
Organization for economic co-operation and development. (2018). Sustainable development:
Critical Issues- Free overview of the report. Retrieved from:
http://www.oecd.org/greengrowth/sustainabledevelopmentcriticalissues-
freeoverviewofthereport.htm