Comparing versions of sustainability

Mészáros, Sándor – Hajdú, Istvánné

Keywords: sustainability, versions, comparative analysis

While studying different versions of sustainability described in the literature we have noticed the absence or neglect of some factors. Based on these remarks we have drawn some conclusions.
Neither version of sustainability deals in a detailed way with the number of people, that is with the size of the global human population. Considering the logic of the IPAT formula it is clear that the degree of human impact on the earth will depend also on population size. Therefore, treating of population growth can be an omission from earlier papers discussing sustainability problems. Without proper measures it can even be possible that the magnitude of future human impact will be determined mostly by population growth.
Within the Brundtland version of sustainability the thesis of impact on future generations was not fully utilised. Namely, from this thesis a financial index could have been derived for expressing the maximal allowable rate of indebtedness for each country. This index perhaps could have been useful in preventing the present economic crisis and definitely would be beneficial in the future.
Regulation and partial equalisation of social and economic differences are also worth bearing in mind both within countries and in an international perspective. From the six sustainability versions in the paradigm of degrowth was this question treated with an emphasis. It is a timely problem in the European Union as well, because the huge income differences among its member states are not sustainable and may hinder their further integration.
Behind the versions of sustainability we could identify dissimilar interpretation of disciplines or contradictory economic interests and opinions. Therefore it is important to focus on practical activity, and in such a situation it is rational to proceed in smaller steps, appreciating minor results as well.

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