Over four decades ago, a book titled Limits to Growth had jerked politicians, academia, scientists, business leaders and civil societies across the world. Published by an Italian think-tank -The Club of Rome, the book dealt with population growth, use of resources and consumption trends and warned all concerned that if those were not controlled, the earth would strike its limits within a century. The Club was set up by a dozen of business leaders, academics, scientists and environmentalists who discussed and studied various global issues. Upon their request, a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA conducted mathematical simulations of demographic growth, economic activities and consumption trends, among other aspects, in relation to the exploitation of natural resources and environment which was produced in the book Limits to Growth.
In the backdrop of stupendous economic growth in the West in the sixties, the book was heavily criticised worldwide to the extent of even dubbing it as unrealistic and pessimistic. Politicians and economists categorically denounced the contention of the book that the earth was finite and unlimited growth in population, materials and exploitation of resources would bring in a crash.
Though the 'crash' has not happened and the Club of Rome's predictions have been labelled controversial, the tone of warning remains. The record-selling book has been able to prompt our thinking of unsustainability of unlimited economic growth.
The quest for sustainability formally began with the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 propelled by the fact that the rapidity in industrialisation was also harming ecology and concerns were brewing fast about a durable future. The Brundtland Commission set up through a UN mandate in 1984 already did the ground work for defining and improving the co-relations among people, need for development and protection of environment. Their report Our Common Future, for the first time, stressed on sustainable development. Thereafter, several global forums were held seeking to find a formula of equilibrium to keep people happy by ensuring proper use of resources, checking pollution from industrialisation, safeguarding health, increasing opportunities for education and so forth. In the recent decades, attention was focused on climate change and its impact on life. It has been, indeed, a long journey towards sustainability.
While the curtain will soon be raised for the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] eclipsing the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs], there is a simmering hope that serious efforts are being made to put people and their planet on a trajectory of sustainability. However, behind the ray of hope there are thick clouds of fear as well. The seventeen-goal SDGs with 169 targets look too extensive. The MDGs achieved substantial success because those were more specific and related to intensive actions aligned to the strategies and development plans of the countries concerned which were mostly the underdeveloped ones. In that measure, the SDGs, encompassing all countries, look over ambitious. Fulfilment of the goals will also need billions of dollars which cannot be made affordable by several countries.
Nevertheless, it will depend on the holistic and sustainable actions by all countries so that the journey ahead does not get too many hiccups. Otherwise, the Club of Rome and the like would make a choir to sing in happiness!
(The writer is a CSR consultant & broadcaster. mohicsr@gmail.com)
Road to SDGs
Mohiuddin Babar | Published: September 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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