Global Health & Human Development – Sustainability (Chapter 9)

The Core Concept of Sustainability

Sustainability is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Whenever the term is used in answers or essays, explicit reference to the future must be made. Phrases such as “can be maintained into the future,” “will allow future generations to access these resources,” or “can therefore promote health outcomes indefinitely” signal an awareness of this inter-generational focus and are rewarded in exams.

Three mutually-reinforcing dimensions – economic, social and environmental – are often called the three pillars of sustainability. All three must be addressed simultaneously; neglecting one will eventually undermine the others and jeopardise both health and human development (HHD).

Economic Dimension of Sustainability

Economic sustainability is concerned with using resources efficiently so that average incomes rise in line with inflation and living costs now and for future generations. Adequate incomes increase government revenue (taxation) and enable individuals and nations to afford the goods, services and infrastructure that underpin HHD.

Key Considerations

  1. Innovation and diversity of industries – Economies reliant on a single sector (e.g., subsistence agriculture) are highly vulnerable to droughts, pests or volatile commodity prices. A wider industrial base, supported by research and development, buffers shocks and maintains employment and income streams into the future.

  2. Job creation – Growing populations require growing labour markets. Meaningful, secure employment enables people to earn wages, avoid poverty, and contribute to economic output, thereby funding health-promoting services.

  3. Economic growth – Consistent growth in \text{GNI per capita} is required to offset inflation. However, growth must not deplete non-renewable resources (e.g., coal) at a rate that robs subsequent generations of economic opportunity.

  4. Trade – Fair access to global markets allows low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to add value to exports instead of exporting cheap raw materials. Fair trade initiatives combat historical under-payment, reduce poverty and foster a more even global distribution of wealth.

Pathways to Health, Health Status & Human Development

• When everybody can earn a decent income, they purchase nutritious food, clean water, shelter and healthcare. Adequate kilojoule intake boosts immune function and reduces infectious disease incidence, which lowers \text{U5MR} and overall mortality.
• Higher tax revenue lets governments build water systems, roads and schools. Clean water cuts water-borne diseases; education enhances literacy and future earnings, both of which raise life expectancy and expand choices (central to the HD definition).
• Children stay in school instead of entering child labour, promoting social interaction (social H&W) and higher health literacy – e.g., understanding HIV prevention – thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.

Social Dimension of Sustainability

Social sustainability aims to create an equitable, inclusive and resilient society where human rights are upheld and people participate in decisions that affect their lives. It emphasises both present and future access to education, healthcare, political empowerment and community connection.

Key Considerations

  1. Elimination of poverty & establishment of social protection systems – Safety nets (e.g., Centrelink in Australia) help those unable to earn an income, preventing descent into extreme poverty and ensuring access to food, housing and healthcare.

  2. Gender equality – Equal opportunities in education, employment and leadership for women and girls reduce violence, expand the skilled workforce, and foster economic growth.

  3. Safe and decent working conditions – Ending forced labour, child labour and exploitative practices allows children to stay in school, reduces exposure to occupational hazards, and boosts emotional wellbeing (pride, satisfaction).

  4. Promotion of political & legal rights – Equitable representation and anti-discrimination laws enable marginalised groups (women, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities) to influence policy, access resources and feel secure.

  5. Peace and security – Absence of conflict frees public funds for health, education and infrastructure, minimises displacement, and removes war-related physical and psychological trauma.

Pathways to Health, Health Status & Human Development

• Eliminating poverty ensures all people access essentials, lowering infectious disease rates and stress, thereby increasing life expectancy and mental wellbeing.
• Gender equality decreases violence-related injury/death (physical H&W) and empowers women to make life choices, boosting spiritual wellbeing and HD.
• Safe work environments reduce exposure to HIV (via reduced prostitution/human trafficking) and to industrial accidents, enhancing health status indicators such as morbidity.
• Peace enables daily routines – working, schooling, socialising – which supports every H&W dimension, from reduced anxiety to strengthened community bonds.

Environmental Dimension of Sustainability

Environmental sustainability requires that natural resources are consumed at a rate that allows regeneration so they remain available for future generations.

Key Considerations

  1. Biodiversity – Rich, balanced ecosystems provide oxygen, water filtration, soil nutrients, crops, fibres, medicines and recreation. Removing a species (e.g., bees) disrupts pollination, could slash food supply by 5\text{–}8\% and heighten malnutrition and mortality.

  2. Use of natural resources
    • Renewable resources (e.g., fish stocks, solar energy) can replenish quickly if managed wisely, supporting continued income and HHD.
    • Non-renewable resources (e.g., coal, oil) cannot be replaced in short timeframes; over-exploitation deprives future generations of electricity, transport and hospital functionality.

  3. Waste removal and pollution control – Clean air, water and soil limit pathogen breeding, reduce respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma) and enable agriculture for food security.

  4. Climate change mitigation – Limiting the global temperature rise (currently \approx 1.1^{\circ}\text{C} above pre-industrial levels) stabilises weather, reduces natural disasters, protects freshwater supplies and prevents vector-borne disease spread.

Pathways to Health, Health Status & Human Development

• Protected water sources curb cholera and diarrhoea, letting children attend school and adults work, which boosts HD.
• Sustainable energy (e.g., Zambia’s renewable mini-grids) supplies reliable electricity for homework, business operations and healthcare equipment, simultaneously advancing social and economic sustainability.
• Reduced fossil-fuel pollution lowers chronic respiratory conditions, improving physical H&W and decreasing morbidity.

Interrelationships between the Three Dimensions

The pillars are inter-dependent:
• Environmental degradation (e.g., depleted oil reserves) shrinks future economic revenues and reduces funds for education, eroding social sustainability.
• Economic growth via fair trade funds social protection and health services, but if growth relies on over-fishing or deforestation, environmental sustainability – and thus long-term economic viability – collapses.
• Social inclusion (e.g., educating girls) enlarges the skilled labour pool, spurring innovation and diversified industries that reduce reliance on environmentally damaging practices.

Failure in any pillar sets off a negative feedback loop; therefore, comprehensive policy must integrate all three.

Examination & Application Tips

  1. Always tie statements to future generations – “can be maintained into the future.”

  2. Explicitly name the pillar (economic, social, environmental) and the specific aspect (e.g., ‘job creation’).

  3. Link pillar → resource/service → H&W dimension or HD component. Example: “Fair trade raises farmers’ incomes → enables purchase of nutritious food → strengthens immune function → improves physical health & wellbeing.”

  4. Use data or examples – quoting the 1.1^{\circ}\text{C} rise, Zambia mini-grids, declining bee populations, etc., demonstrates depth.

Quick Reference – Major Aspects within Each Pillar

Economic: innovation & industry diversity, job creation, economic growth, fair trade.

Social: poverty elimination & social protection, gender equality, decent work, political & legal rights, peace & security.

Environmental: biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources, waste management & pollution control, climate change mitigation.

Together these aspects ensure present wellbeing while safeguarding the choices, opportunities and resources that define health and human development for generations to come.