Critically assess whether ecological modernisation is essential, or Outline

Critically assess whether ecological modernisation is essential, or not, for the achievement of sustainable development - Outline Example much agreement among all stakeholders that this is a necessity that cannot be overlooked.2 The problem however arises when talks of approach to attaining sustainable development is made.3 This is the core problem that the research paper will seek to address, by outlining the place of ecological modernisation as an important modern day approach to achieving sustainable development. Ecological modernisation is selected as the approach to sustainable development due to the clear and distinct differentiation the concept makes between ecology and economy, and how these two cannot be used together if sustainable development can be achieved.4 A. The evolution of sustainable development shall be taken from the perspective of the Brundtland Report, which defines sustainable development as a state of â€Å"Global economic development sufficient to meet current needs while allowing future generations to achieve their needs†.5 B. The need for an evolution on the approach to sustainable development has largely been influenced by rising activities of humans that pose great threat to the sustainability of the environment and for that matter the economy of the future.6 The evolution of sustainable development shall also stress on various global interventions that have been put in place to achieve sustainable development. Examples of such discussions include the Stockholm Declaration Principle 1, Nairobi Declaration (1982), World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg (2002), and Rio +20 (2012). C. From the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, 3 pillars of evolutionary sustainable development are identified, which are economy, environment and social7. All these pillars shall be discussed by the writer in the evolution of sustainable development. B. An underpinning claim and pragmatic approach to ecological modernisation emphasises that economic growth and environmental protection are not compatible and thus the need to use a modernised approach that