Sustainable development

We chose the problem of the concept of "sustainable development" to be the main topic of this essay.

In this essay, we make our idea in explaining the meaning of the sustainable development and the "essentially contested concept" of sustainable development, the positive as well as negative implication that have efforts towards sustainable development and some examples from our country.

Sustainable development concept

First, through lecture of Klintman, I think that the concept of sustainable development refers to issue of economic development, but also need to achieve economic efficiency and make the social justice and environmental protection. (lecture of Klintman on the subject of Sustainability, Science and Governance).

Besides, based on the Brundtland Commission report on Environment and Development World - WCED (Brundtland Commission today) in 1987, the sustainable development is known as "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development).
 

From the information above, we could see that the concept of sustainable development assessment that in the general development it should be comprehensive development in all fields of economic, social and environmental protection. In my opinion, this has led to the emergence of "essential contestation" in the concept of sustainable development.
 

Essential contestation and the implication to the development
 

We know that the development associated with the dynamics of economic activities. Economic activity is the transformation process to transform input elements into output elements (products and services) to meet the needs of society. Nature was, the economic activities are having an impact on society and the environment. In the process of production, natural materials were used, wastes and emissions are discharged into the environment to more and more products and services are created. As economic activity grows, the impact on the environment is increasing and the trend adversely affecting the environment and human habitat. This leads to the need to balance economic benefits and social benefits (cited from the lecture of Klintman) to resolve the conflict of opposing views in choosing between priorities for economic development or environmental protection in order to ensure the development and limit the adverse impact on the living space of the society as well as the biodiversity and natural resources.
 

Essential contestation in the concept of "Sustainable Development" was demonstrated by the controversy about the need to distribute equitably the benefit of economic activity brings to society to avoid inequality as well as uneven development, something entirely possible adverse impacts on human environment in general. In his lecture, Klintman mentioned the need to improve the living environment of the slums ... or need support for the poor in countries to help them to make a living without based on the direct exploitation and adversely affect natural resources. We know that with the global thinking and the concept of sustainable development then it became the responsibility of all countries in the world.
 

The positive implication of the introduction of the concept of sustainable development can easily see now, that if implemented sustainable development, the benefits are maximized, the standard of living is improved and natural resources is guaranteed (This can be clearly seen in the developed countries which went through periods industrialization). However, in other respect I think the concept of sustainable development can also give negative effects. It is for developing countries, resistance from the need to protect national resources could make priority objectives for economic growth is limited, in the context of scientific and technical of these countries can not keep up with other countries went ahead to be able to rationally exploit these resources and efficiency, and the pressure of growth demand pushing.
 

The bauxite mining project in Vietnam in recently
 

This is an example shows that Vietnam has experienced a debated issue in achieving the objectives of economic growth or a choice of sustainable development objectives. With the role of operating the economy, the Government of Vietnam has planned to deploy a number of bauxite extraction plant in Tay Nguyen (Highlands), with initial target is to export the raw material bauxite, create jobs, transfer regional economic structure, attracting the participation of other industries…
 

However, after the government announced the project, there was a debate broke out with the fear from the environmental protection. Groups who disagree with the plan of the bauxite mining project in the Highlands recommended that there will remain potentially hazardous for the environment. Besides, these projects are expected to influence countries in the exploitation and export abroad too many raw materials, while not implemented new technology in mining.
 

The debate continued until the disaster of bauxite has occurred in Hungary . It makes the debate on bauxite took place more harsher and  Vietnam government seems to be more cautious with this bauxite project..
 

Conclusions
 

Always have a debate in the concept of sustainable development in which we need to consider the need to select the priority factors, to ensure maximization of benefits as a whole. 

We recognize that to achieve sustainable development, the role of science and technology is very important. We know that the development needs resources, but resources are always limited. In this context, the development of science and technology will solve the problems. In fact that the development of science and technology always play an important role to the  evolution of human society. 

Vietnam is a developing country, aims to pursue sustainable development. Although there are advantages in natural resources such as forests, water resources, minerals (coal, oil ..), Vietnam should have a policy for sustainable development through the rational and saving use of existing resources, and better handling of issues of environmental protection, improving the quality of social life. To do this, besides the economic development policies accordingly, Vietnam should have the develop policies on science and technology in order to early make the successful of the industrialization process, become a country with developing economies, based on advances in science and technology while ensuring effective implementation of the environmental protection and social security.

Truong Chi