Sustainable development has been widely promoted as a holistic concept which aims or targets to integrate social, economic and cultural policies to ensure high-quality growth. However, there are barriers combating the implementation of sustainable development. These barriers are, according to an UK essay and other materials, the following:

•Economic and financial barriers: Economists observed that the dominating development model tends to focus on economic growth as precedence rather than people's rights or welfare, and environmental processes and limits. This requires a shift in the worldview from treating the environment as part of the economy to treating the economy as part of the environment; strategically this means the economy should be adapted to ensure environmental services are maintained.

Innovational Barriers: In the educational sector there is a lack of innovation-oriented research. This means that there has to be a closer connection between research institutes and the economy, which would also overcome problems concerning the knowledge transfer to applications in real life.

•Social barriers: Population growth, paired with unsustainable consumption and production patterns among the wealthy, are the biggest social challenges to achieving sustainable development in the world. Absent of a significant change in human behavior, sustainability will not be potential. There are other social barriers which are: The marginalization of the poor and entrenched inequities Limited awareness about sustainable development. Environmental issues among both politicians and the wider public fragmented civil society. Inadequate interaction between civil society and government. Insufficient incentives to for the private sector to pursue sustainable development.

•Political barriers: Inadequate economic, social and environmental methods for policies, plans and projects are the major barrier combating the implementation of sustainable development.

•Poor monitoring and evaluation systems: A basic problem is lack of specific targets (globally, nationally and at local level), measurement and data to track progress, resulting in a lack of information available to decision-makers. It is suggested for strengthening monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development strategies in order to establish a dynamic improvement process, with an objective of increasing their effectiveness. It is recommended that governments should turn up deeper and assess the socio-economic impacts of developmental projects, rather than the outcome alone.

•Institutional barriers: Institutional barriers as a result of lack of institutional experience to operate all the mechanism of democratic system has been combating and frustrating sustainable development in many developing countries.

•Trade barriers.

The only hurdle to attain Sustainability is ourselves. Human nature is the greatest stumbling block on the path to attaining sustainability goals. Until this is resolved, all other positive developments turn to naught. Until an individual places his THOUGHTS, WORDS & DEEDS in a straight line and Walks the Talk, there will not be any sustainability. If at all there is any semblance, its purely short term. The answer to these problems lie in understanding Consciousness. The Universe is the Lock and the Human being is the Key.

Also please go through the following question on RG: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_Technology_the_answer_to_Human_Sustainability_or_the_Evolution_in_Human_Consciousness_to_higher_states

Hope this helps.

Even with high encouragement and regulations enforced, energy concious community is highly desireable. Sustainablility required a overall participations from policy makers, educationist, developers, researchers, insurers, consultants beside individual knowledge and awareness in implementing the sustainable approaches within their boundry.

Sustainability as a concept is very well understood. But unfortunately it is not a priority for many nations and people other than providing a lip service as Raveendra said. It cannot work in bits and pieces. The people will have to accept wholeheartedly that it is a necessity and they have to make it into their lifestyle. So we have to develop a lifestyle that is less consumption oriented and conservation oriented. For this the education has to go to the grass root level and start with very young and may be from kindergarten.

In general it is difficult to measure sustainable development. There is a set of variable to take to talk about sustainable development. So it's a way of life, adherence to a set of ecological and human rule to preserve life on earth and the lives of future generations

Sustainability is a wide term that incorporate multitude of research aspects. Its aim is to define the viable schemes combining the economic, social, and environmental aspects of human activity. These three areas must therefore be taken into consideration by communities, companies, and individuals. The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to find a coherent and long-lasting balance between these three aspects. But these issues itself have a bunch of parameters (like environment involves biodiversity, Renewable Energy, Ecosystem, Waste Management etc) that are researched and described many times throughout the international domain. Multiple meanings and definitions for sustainability and its underlying issues differ across research groups and decision makers. This results lots of ambiguity in the strategies for sustainable development.

There is a need to change in the structure of strategies for pursuing sustainable development to produce more of what we want (sustainable) and less of that which is undesirable (unsustainable) [As described by Donella Meadows]. We need a global vision for the world’s future. A common frame work to benchmark the sustainability is essentially required. Till the time we have an intuitive vision and a common platform to examine, plan, research and conclude, we can’t achieve the vision of sustainability.

One of the problems as I see it is the gap between rich and poor, including rich nations and poor nations. Many poor nations practice sustainability in farming until rich nations come in and exploit their cheep resourses. eg rice production in china and India, coffee production in the amazon rainforest.

Rich countries/ individuals don't have to deal with the consequences, so assume there is no harm being done. Alot of blame seems to go to producers, but what choice do they have when they are poor and rich consumers are offering them money.

There could be economical, social, or cultural barriers or accepting new issues such as climate change could be a new barrier in implementing sustainability concept at community level. However, awareness (via TV, newspaper, community news), education and capacity building (training, workshops) and engagement of communities in sustainability projects would help. There is a need for support/initiation from all government levels (federal, state and local government) to be successful and overcoming barriers. In addition, we need to demonstrate to communities about the benefits of sustainability; for example, savings of water and electricity will not only help to reduce green-house gas emissions but it will also have less power bills for the communities. Similarly, printing on both sides of paper will save paper usage; on the other hand it will save tress- vital for carbon sinks. In Africa, it has been demonstrated that agroforestry practice (maize with trees Acacia albida or Faidherbia albida) caused significant crop yield, while increasing carbon stocks both above the ground and in the soil. The tree improves soil water retention and nutrient status (Note: Acacia albida or Faidherbia albida is a legume plant which fixes nitrogen). Therefore, demonstrating some good examples of sustainability will help overcoming barriers and achieving sustainability.

I must say that I am not familiar at all with the literature on sustainability, but I am inclined to say intuitively that one of the main barriers to sustainability is our inability to predict the future state of the world. We live in a dynamically complex world, and it is rather tough to be able to predict certain events in the short term, and even more so in the long run..

Dear Mohammed:

There is no use in predicting the future state of the world, its beyond our reach and can swing in multi directions., which cannot be predicted. Taking care of the present results in the future. Today is the result of yesterday's decisions and actions and tomorrow will be the result of today. Taking care of our Thoughts, Words and Deeds in the present(Today, Now) will give us the Future, both Good and Bad, according to our present actions. The anxiety over the future and trying to predict its outcome, known as "existential angst" often overshadows what we need to do 'Now', in the present. We risk ignoring the present in anxiety of the future.

So we should pay attention to the 'Now' which is within our reach, then the future will take care of itself, as its beyond our reach.

Hope this helps.

Dear Raveendra,

Indeed, I agree with you as far as us as individuals are concerned. You are probably coming from a spiritual perspective, somewhat similar to Eckhart Tolle. Unfortunately, sustainability of development -on a large scale- does not lend itself to utopian spiritualist postures. It requires a lot of pragmatism, and indeed overcoming a set of barriers, while making projections.

Dear Mohammed,

All I can say is

"We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make the world."

Everything (including your 'sustainability of development -on a large scale') has its roots in Human Consciousness. Therefore the Human being is the Key. The rest is secondary. Whatever changes you make in the external world become irrelevant, if there is no change in Human Consciousness.

Hope this helps.

Sustainable development has been widely promoted as a holistic concept which aims or targets to integrate social, economic and cultural policies to ensure high-quality growth. However, there are barriers combating the implementation of sustainable development. These barriers are, according to an UK essay and other materials, the following:

•Economic and financial barriers: Economists observed that the dominating development model tends to focus on economic growth as precedence rather than people's rights or welfare, and environmental processes and limits. This requires a shift in the worldview from treating the environment as part of the economy to treating the economy as part of the environment; strategically this means the economy should be adapted to ensure environmental services are maintained.

Innovational Barriers: In the educational sector there is a lack of innovation-oriented research. This means that there has to be a closer connection between research institutes and the economy, which would also overcome problems concerning the knowledge transfer to applications in real life.

•Social barriers: Population growth, paired with unsustainable consumption and production patterns among the wealthy, are the biggest social challenges to achieving sustainable development in the world. Absent of a significant change in human behavior, sustainability will not be potential. There are other social barriers which are: The marginalization of the poor and entrenched inequities Limited awareness about sustainable development. Environmental issues among both politicians and the wider public fragmented civil society. Inadequate interaction between civil society and government. Insufficient incentives to for the private sector to pursue sustainable development.

•Political barriers: Inadequate economic, social and environmental methods for policies, plans and projects are the major barrier combating the implementation of sustainable development.

•Poor monitoring and evaluation systems: A basic problem is lack of specific targets (globally, nationally and at local level), measurement and data to track progress, resulting in a lack of information available to decision-makers. It is suggested for strengthening monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development strategies in order to establish a dynamic improvement process, with an objective of increasing their effectiveness. It is recommended that governments should turn up deeper and assess the socio-economic impacts of developmental projects, rather than the outcome alone.

•Institutional barriers: Institutional barriers as a result of lack of institutional experience to operate all the mechanism of democratic system has been combating and frustrating sustainable development in many developing countries.

•Trade barriers.

Mostly, sustainability is not in anyone's self interest. Until human values and the concept of prosperity evolve to incorporate quantities such as equity and dignity, little change in consumption is likely to occur.

Dear all can you plz elaborate the difference between sustainability barriers and sustainability challenges??? Because I think there are various social, economical and environmental challenges that can be achieved by certain research outcomes but these specific attempts will never lead us towards sustainability bcz of the barriers like lack of common framework, collaborative efforts, standard strategies and yes up to some state our inability to predict the future effect of today’s plans, activities (simulation models) [As suggested by Mohamed].

In my researches (on SD at universities) I found that first at all is a question of culture. Organization culture that is strictly linked the country culture and social awareness of the own impact on the environment, on the other people and on the organization itself.

An Organizational Culture that is centered on the concept of value of the "Sacred" are much likely to make more progress on SD than on cultures/organizations/governments that treat nature strictly as a consumable.

The main barrier to to achive a sustainable development is the lack of human vision of the future. Political and economic systems are designed to see just what is very close to our eyes. There is no interest, from part of the establishment, in spending energy in thinking about the future of the human being. Economic development is oriented to create more consumers, more debtors more individual pushing the economy to grow. The planetary consequences of an uncontrolled growth stay out of any economic or political analysis. We are walking fast to several planetary crisis without a real perception as it would correspond to an intelligent being.

We might posses all the knowledge and data in the world, but we act according to our own 'isms', economic considerations, fears, prejudices and addictions. We act against the face of all reason sometimes.

"Intelligence never saves you. Even the intelligent man behaves according to his nature and not according to his own knowledge. All the beings tend towards their own natures. Control has no control over nature."-Bhagavad Gita 3.33

Even possessing all knowledge, we act contrarily in private and public arenas.

Therefore the human nature and Consciousness is the foremost barrier and also the key to sustainability. Unless we understand this, all efforts are laid low, existing magnificently on paper and policy, but far removed from reality, because we do not Walk the Talk.

Proof? Look around you. Look into you.

Views invited.

I think many are on board the sustainability vision. The only issue is that there are so many parallel efforts which hardly intersect with one another. As Anuj has pointed out the lack of a standardised framework, tools etc. Even if there is, they tend to be discipline specific. Personally, I think the biggest challenge in trying to achieve sustainability is trying to facilitate the interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary/cross collaboration among different stakeholders.

There are many barriers to sustainability. One of them is the environmental factor, such as climate change and water scarcity which are not being fully integrated into long-term business strategy.

Dear Renard! There are many factors hindering toward sustainable development in a country.Among others, there could be lack of political will, lack of environmental awareness,commitment and knowledge among industrial developers, business sector and general public, low stage of development, lack of innovation particularly on public policy, poverty and climate change, etc.

The main barrier to live in a sustainable world is human arrogance and greed. No need to look for causes in nature, we have to find it in the human mind. As we continue basing human happiness on consumption of natural resources, the inequality, discontent and the permanent state of anxiety that characterizes modern society will continue. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish whether a person is poor because he has nothing or because it has too much.

Agreed Prithvi..its a nice opportunity and thats why we are diverting towards being organic for our agrarian sector. I am impressed with your first name 'prithvi', in India we use to mean it the ' mother earth' .

you may be knowing , organic agriculture and in particular the use of animal and human waste is getting a high pick up in India by recent government and policy planners. Most recently even it is going to a specified establishment of an university..here which is designated as ' university of organic agriculture' probably first in the India.

so your views are of high importance and in fact are the need of hour.

thanks for sharing

Gaur

One significant barrier is "consumption", specifically the market driven consumption. In my opinion it is the barrier which is most difficult to remove because the entire world economy is geared towards increasing consumption..

Sustainability is a holistic and comprehensive concept and consequently, there are so many barriers from all aspects as answerd Jorge Morales Pedraza like, economic and financial, innovational, population growth, unsustainable consumption, poor monitoring and evaluation system, institutional barries as well as lack of environmental consciousness. But, the point is that , our development model is yet saturated with economic growth only. Recently, environment has got its value due to the surge of climate change but not universally, only in some countries and some aspects with infectivelly and slowly. To achieve the sustainability in such type of development(market driven), at first, we have to go through market by giving importance on a maximum level of innovation to use resource efficiently (phantom pile) and produce commodity alternatively and innovation in almost all sectors , that will reduce pressure on environment inspite of increasing consumption. Why we should give priority on innovation and economy within the framework of sustainability at first, because these two factors will give an immediate result. and then, we have to give importance on environmnetal consciousness, life style etc. The later factors are long term in nature. so, these will not give an immediate result. But, without combining these two type of factors, it may not be possible to reach to the target point of sustainable development.

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