IUCN

Governments, businesses and organizations around the world have placed sustainable development at the heart of their work, to make sure that the needs of today's society are met without compromising the well-being of future generations.

But 30 years ago, the concept was only just emerging. The fifth of March 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of IUCN coining the term "sustainable development", first used in the 1980 World Conservation Strategy.

This was a groundbreaking document considered to be the most ambitious of its time in international conservation, influencing not just conservationists but also governments and industry. The strategy set out an agreement on what should be done to ensure the proper management and optimal use of the world's living resources, not only for ourselves but for future generations.

The 30th anniversary of "sustainable development" comes during the International Year of Biodiversity, an opportunity to find real solutions to safeguard and better manage the environment on which mankind depends.

Key Issues:

• "Today, more than ever, the world recognizes that a healthy environment is critical to achieving long-lasting prosperity and safeguarding the lives of all people. We still have a long way to go to achieving this goal," says Sue Mainka, IUCN's Head of Science and Learning.
• "Reversing the effects of climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation of our natural resources and pollution will underpin continued availability of the goods and services the environment provides. Biodiversity conservation should be an essential part of every country's insurance policy for the future."
• "Thirty years after the World Conservation Strategy brought us the term sustainable development, natural resources are still being seriously depleted, with dramatic and often irreversible effects on economies, the environment and societies around the world," says IUCN's Head of Ecosystem Management Programme, Neville Ash. "Both public and private sectors must renew and act on commitments to sustainable development if we are to ensure the planet continues to provide benefits essential to all people today and in future generations."