The concept of sustainable development formed the basis of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The summit marked the first international attempt to draw up action plans and strategies for moving towards a more sustainable pattern of development.

Who started sustainable development?

At the start of the 1970s the term 'sustainable development' was coined, probably by Barbara Ward (Lady Jackson), founder of the International Institute for Environment and Development (see Ward & Dubos 1972).

When did the sustainable development start?

Sustainable development is the idea that human societies must live and meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The “official” definition of sustainable development was developed for the first time in the Brundtland Report in 1987.