1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OR BARBARISM
Fernando Alcoforado *
ABSTRACT
This article aims to demonstrate that sustainable development is a requirement for the
survival of humanity because it faces two major threats. One of them, of an economic
nature, is represented by the general crisis of the world capitalist system that tends to
drive the world economy into depression. Another threat, environmental, is represented
by the depletion of natural resources of the planet, the uncontrolled growth of cities and
the catastrophic global climate change. The environmental responsibility of
governments, businesses and individuals is crucial for sustainable development is
imposed globally, as well as the performance of sustainable leadership The
environmental responsibility of governments, businesses and individuals is crucial for
sustainable development to exist globally, as well as the performance of sustainable
leadership to avoid barbarism that would result in the maintenance of the current
economic model.
Keywords: Sustainable development. Threats to the survival of humanity. The threat of
global economic crisis. The threat of depletion of natural resources. The threat of
uncontrolled growth of cities. The threat of global climate change. The environmental
responsibility of governments, companies and individuals. Sustainable leadership.
1. Introduction
Sustainable development is a requirement for the survival of humanity because the era,
in which we live, mankind is facing two major threats. One of them, of an economic
nature, is represented by the general crisis of the world capitalist system that tends to
drive the world economy to depression with the failure of governments, business
bankruptcies, mass unemployment and even the outbreak of civil wars and new world
conflagration as has occurred in the twentieth century with the 1st and 2nd World War.
Another threat, environmental, is represented by the depletion of natural resources of
the planet, the uncontrolled growth of cities and the catastrophic global climate change
that tends to produce a serious impact on economic activities and increased social
problems of mankind.
To avoid the catastrophic future that portends for humanity resulting from economic
and environmental threats, it is essential to have the commitment of governments, the
public and private productive sector and individuals with sustainable development
model. This means that environmental responsibility must be assumed by governments,
businesses and individuals. To succeed, sustainable development requires the existence
of sustainable leadership who must act at the level of governments, business and civil
society, in the sense that economic progress and social carried out without
compromising the environment.
2. The threat of global economic crisis
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2. Eric Hobsbawm says that again, we face a fundamental crisis of capitalism as occurred
in 1873 and 1929. Most economists believed that the free market would have a
maximum economic growth, but also would provide a maximum welfare for the whole
population and that always rationally solve the problems it creates. It seems
unbelievable today, but the fact is that most economists believed about that over 30
years (HOBSBAWM, Eric. En la tercera crisis. Interview Eric J. Hobsbawm. Magazine
"El Viejo Topo" available on the website <www.elviejotopo . to>, 2009).
With the outbreak of the crisis in 2008, the governments of capitalist countries had to
intervene as the 1930s of the twentieth century, which at the time did not have
immediate success, but do not know how to save the system of generalized economic
debacle is ongoing. According to Hobsbawm, to be a shift towards a new global
economy will take a long time. Macabre, in the 1930s of the twentieth century, there
was already a program for the solution of the crisis: the preparation of war. The global
economic crisis that was installed in 1929 only ended with the outbreak of World War
2. Today, humanity will have to face a new world conflagration to save the world
capitalist system? This conflagration could begin in the Middle East with the military
intervention of the Western powers in Iran or Syria?
Nouriel Roubini says that global growth is at risk after 2013. A "perfect storm" of
budget woes in the U.S., economic slowdown in China, European debt restructuring and
stagnation in Japan may combine to affect the global economy in 2013. As for China,
Roubini believes that the country could face a economic "hard landing" in two years
because the Chinese investment now represents nearly 50 percent of gross domestic
product and sixty years of data show that overinvestment panoramas have always led
the “landings” sudden the economy, as happened in the former Soviet Union in the
1960s and 1970s and in East Asia in the 1990s [BLOG PEDLOWSKI. Mundo poderá
viver em 2013 “tempestade global” pior que 2008 (World could live in 2013 "global
storm" worse than 2008, says Roubini). Posted on the website <http :/ /
pedlowski.blogspot.com.br/2012/07/nouriel-roubini-o-unico-que-previu.html>].
The current crisis is worse than that of 1929-1933, because it is absolutely global. The
international financial system no longer works. One indisputable fact is that the
Washington Consensus is dead and depression that will last for many years. There is no
going back to the absolute market that ruled the last 40 years, since the 1970s, according
to Hobsbawm. The global crisis that began in 2008 is, to a market economy, which was
equivalent to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Moreover, this depression can lead,
according to Hobsbawm, a new world system. We have to redesign everything toward
the future.
The world economy goes to depression swiftly because the United States, European
Union and China have nowadays economic performance that calls into question the
global economic recovery. Besides the deep crisis affecting the European Union, the
United States did not show signs of recovery with high unemployment that is occurring
there and China shows signs of slowdown. Hangs in the air a syndrome economic
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3. disintegration. This is the current unbearable debt of sovereign states in Europe and the
United States. The Brazil that was immune to the effects of the global crisis of 2008
shows at present signs of economic deterioration characterized by low GDP growth and
the return of inflation, which could mean the existence of a process of economic
stagnation with inflation (stagflation).
Figure 1 below shows that the global economy is in decline in GDP from 1980 to 2010,
despite the growth recorded from 1995 to 2000. With the exception of China, the GDP
of other countries have economic stagnation or decline.
Figure 1 - Evolution of world GDP
Source: IMF
3. The threat of depletion of the planet's natural resources
One indisputable fact is that humanity now consumes more natural resources than the
planet can replenish. The current rate of consumption is a threat to the future prosperity
of humankind. In the last 45 years, the demand for earth's natural resources has doubled,
due to rising living standards in rich and emerging countries and increasing world
population. Today humanity uses 50% of the planet's fresh water. In 40 years will use
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4. 80%. The geographical distribution of freshwater is uneven. Currently 1/3 of the world
population lives in regions where water is scarce. The use of water unfit for
consumption is responsible for 60% of patients on the planet. Half the world's rivers are
contaminated by sewage, pesticides and industrial waste [VEJA.COM. Cai do Céu, mas
pode faltar (Dropped from Heaven, but may be lacking). Available on website
<http://veja.abril.com.br/300108/p_086.shtml>].
Only 12% of Earth's land is arable. Over the past 30 years has doubled the total
cultivable land affected by severe droughts due to global warming. In China every two
years an area equivalent to the state of Sergipe in Brazil turns into desert. Of the 200
fish species with greater commercial interest, 120 are exploited beyond sustainable
level. At this rate, the amount of available fish has declined by over 90% by 2050. It is
estimated that 40% of the area of the oceans is severely degraded by human activities.
Over the past 50 years the number of dead zones has grown 10 times [ABREU LIMA,
Roberta and VIEIRA, Vanessa. O WWF alerta para o esgotamento dos recursos
naturais (WWF warns of depletion of natural resources). Available on website
<http://arquivoetc.blogspot.com.br/2008 / 11/o-wwf-alerta-para-o-esgotamento-
dos.html>].
Since 1961, the amount of greenhouse gases discharged into the atmosphere by man
grew 10 times. This discharge accelerates global warming causing droughts, floods,
extinction of species and the possibility of rising sea levels of up to 7 meters if occur the
melting of the poles, Greenland and the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Alps and
the Andes which result the disappearance of many islands and coastal cities. The
reduction since 1970 of specimens is 33% terrestrial, marine specimens corresponding
to 14%, and specimens of freshwater is 35%. The world population is growing about 80
million per year compounding the demand for water and its services [WWF BRAZIL.
Planeta Vivo 2008 (Living Planet 2008). Available on the website
<http://assets.wwf.org.br/downloads/sumario_imprensa_relatorio_planeta_vivo_2008_2
8_10_08.pdf>].
UN report on water usage confirms that without measures against waste and for
sustainable consumption, access to drinking water and sanitation will be further reduced
(SOS RIVERS OF BRAZIL. Bilhões sofrerão com falta de água e saneamento, diz
relatório da ONU (Billions will suffer from lack of water and sanitation, says UN
report). Available on website <http://sosriosdobrasil.blogspot.com.br/2009/03/bilhoes-
sofrerao-com-falta-de-agua-e.html>]. The UN report estimates that 5 billion people will
suffer from a lack of basic sanitation in 2030. In the world there is 1.197 billion people
without access to safe water and 2.742 billion without sanitation (data from Human
Development Report 2004) and, in Brazil, there are over 45 million people without
access to safe drinking water and more than 90 million without access to sewage (IBGE
data in 2004). According to the UN, 41% of the current surface of the planet is formed
by dry areas, such as the Brazilian semiarid region, and 2 billion people live in these
areas. All these people, in dry or wet areas, have no access to drinking water
4

5. [TAGUCHI, Clarissa. Ver para crer: uma guerra pela água pode estar prestes a ser
travada (Seeing is believing: a water war may be about to be waged). Available on
website <http://panoramaecologia.blogspot.com .br/2006/03/ver-para-crer-uma-guerra-
pela-gua-pode.html>].
Water is becoming a source of wars due to international competition for water
resources. Many countries build large dams diverting water from natural drainage
systems of rivers to the detriment of others. The main water conflicts in the world today
involve Israel, Jordan and Palestine by the Jordan, Turkey and Syria by the Euphrates
River, China and India by the Brahmaputra River, Botswana, Namibia and Angola by
the Okavango River, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan and Egypt by Rio Bangladesh and India
Nile and the Ganges River. In the Americas, the conflict between the United States and
Mexico for Colorado River water has intensified in recent years [SHIVA, Vandana. As
guerras pelos recursos naturais (Wars for natural resources). Available on website
<http://www.tierramerica.net/portugues/2006/ 0617/pgrandesplumas.shtml>].
If the peripheral capitalist countries copy the patterns of the developed capitalist
countries, the amount of fossil fuels consumed today would increase 10 times and
mineral resources, 200 times [WWF BRAZIL. O que é desenvolvimento sustentável?
(What is sustainable development?). Available on website <http:// .wwf.org.br /
natureza_brasileira / questoes_ambientais / desenvolvimento_sustentavel />]. As for
mineral resources, iron, aluminum and titanium are possibly abundant in Earth's crust
whose reserves can be considered unlimited. However, other non-renewable mineral
formed by geological processes over millions of years show that reserves are reduced
continuously being as scarce and valuable as fossil fuels (MEADOWS, Donella et alli.
Beyond the limits. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 1992 ).
For two centuries the extraction of mineral resources became more intense, removing
increasing amounts of nature. The concern is that most of these resources are not
renewable, or not replenished by nature. If the pace of extraction continues as is,
mankind will certainly see some minerals become extinct. Based on existing reserves
today, certain mineral resources already have a possible date for run out, among them
we can mention gold, tin and nickel. Gold reserves must be ended by the year 2020. The
tin should be exhausted by the year 2020. The expected date for the end of the nickel
reserves on the planet is around 2050. Many scientists say that oil will run out around
2070 [BRASIL ESCOLA. O esgotamento de alguns minérios (Depletion of some ores).
Available on website <http://www.brasilescola.com/geografia/o-esgotamento-alguns-
minerios.htm>].
Competition for resources like oil is currently the largest potential source of global
conflicts. The growth in demand for oil will outstrip supply in 2020 or 2025 overall,
noting that the world is experiencing "the twilight of oil" that is, a time of transition
between abundance and scarcity. The dispute over the oil that remains will lead to a
permanent state of war, characterized by the presence of great powers in their regions.
In the past, large companies in the industry discovered more oil per year than they were
5

6. able to extract, which is no longer true today. There is currently more oil extraction than
capacity to replenish with new discoveries [BRAFMAN, Luciana. Disputa por petróleo
leva a estado de guerra permanente (Struggle for oil leads to a state of permanent war).
Available at web site <http://www1.folha.uol.com.br / fsp/brasil/fc1710200520.htm>].
It seems that the wars of the twenty-first century will be the fulcrum as the battle for
natural resources that tend not to meet human needs. Our development model is
reaching its limits. With the lack of natural resources necessary for their survival and
the absence of a world government that is capable of mediating conflicts, humanity
tends to a regression to barbarism and cruel behavior. To avoid this catastrophic
scenario, it is necessary that all the governments of all countries of the world seek to
conclude a global social contract that enables the sustainable economic and social
development and rational use of nature's resources for the benefit of all mankind.
4. The threat of uncontrolled growth of cities
Most cities around the world grow disorderly, chaotically. The city became the main
habitat of mankind. For the first time in human history, more than half of the population
is living in cities. This number, 3.3 billion people, should surpass the 5 billion in 2030.
In the early twentieth century the urban population did not exceed 220 million people.
Access to employment, services, public facilities and greater economic and social
welfare is its greatest attraction for all who were attending to the cities. Much of the
global environmental problems originate in the cities which makes hardly can achieve
sustainability at the global level without making them sustainable (BEAUJEU-
GARNIER. J. Geografia Urbana (Urban Geography). Lisboa: Fundação Calouste
Gulbenkian, 1980).
It is in cities that the social, economic and environmental sustainable development
converge more intensely, making it become necessary to be thought out, planned and
managed in accordance with sustainable development model that aims to meet the
current needs of the population Earth without compromising its natural resources,
bequeathing them to future generations. This means that the model of sustainable
development in cities should be adopted aimed at aligning the economic and social
factors with the environment. What makes a sustainable city? Is the right to urban land,
housing, environmental sanitation, the urban infrastructure, transport and public
services, work and leisure, for current and future generations.
Sustainable cities are cities that have a policy of economic and social development
harmonized with the natural and built environment. Sustainable cities have as a
guideline the planning and control of land use in order to prevent degradation of natural
resources. A sustainable city should have clear policies and comprehensive sanitation,
waste collection and treatment, water management, with the collection, treatment, reuse
and economy; transportation systems that favor mass transit quality and safety; actions
that preserve and expand green areas and use of clean and renewable energy, and
finally, public administration transparent and shared with civil society organizations.
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7. In the current era in which the problems of global warming can lead to planetary
catastrophe, every city has to have a plan for adapting to climate change, especially
those subject to extreme events. Coastal cities, for example, must have predictable
planning against rising sea levels, should worry about landslides on slopes, flooding,
etc. resulting from inclement rains. Anyway, should have flexibility and adaptability to
new climatic requirements. It´s necessary to redesign the urban growth of cities in order
to integrate it with the natural environment, recover its beaches and its rivers now quite
committed to the discharge of sewage, so that the city does not receive a hostile
response of the natural environment.
The master plans for urban development of cities should revitalize your old center with
the recovery of the building in a state of ruination and their playgrounds to become
peaceful living spaces and comfortable for its inhabitants, providing all local good
urban infrastructure compatible the needs of its population and promote the formation
and maintenance of self-contained neighborhoods to avoid disorderly urban expansion
of its territory.
The master plans for urban development should give priority to urban development and
intensification within the built environment and the recovery of degraded environments.
Risk areas unduly occupied by low-income populations should be subject to
urbanization projects or, if not possible, to promote the relocation of its inhabitants with
the construction of new housing units. They are all large projects that require substantial
resources generating activities that create jobs, income and well-being for the
population.
The development planning of cities, the spatial distribution of population and economic
activities of the municipality and the territory under its influence should avoid and
correct the distortions of urban growth and its negative effects on the environment. In
every city should be adopted a long-term strategic planning based on sustainable
development.
5. The threat of global climate change
Global climate change will occur as a result of global warming resulting from the
greenhouse effect caused by the retention of heat in the lower atmosphere of the Earth
caused by the concentration of gases of various kinds. The Earth receives radiation
emitted by the sun that is absorbed by the land surface warming. Much of this radiation
is returned to the space and the other part is absorbed by the layer of gas surrounding
atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect. It is due to this natural phenomenon, the
greenhouse effect, that we have an average temperature of the Earth in the range of 15 º
C. Without this phenomenon, the planet's average temperature would be -18 º C
(ALCOFORADO, Fernando. Aquecimento global e catastrophe planetária (Global
warming and planetary catastrophe). Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo: Viena Gráfica e
Editora, 2010).
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8. Greenhouse gases (which prevent dispersal of heat generated by the planet's surface,
after this receiving solar radiation) of higher concentration on Earth are carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH 4), nitrous oxide (N2O), Compounds of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
and water vapor (H2O). Most of them are from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and
derivatives), forests and agriculture. The greenhouse gases absorb some infrared
radiation emitted by the surface of the Earth and in turn radiate the absorbed energy
back to the surface. As a result, the surface of the Earth receives almost twice as much
energy from the atmosphere than it receives from the Sun and the surface is about 30 °
C warmer than it would be without the presence of greenhouse gases.
To keep climate balance, planet Earth needs to receive the same amount of energy that
sends back into space. If an imbalance occurs for some reason, the globe heats or cools
until the temperature reached again, the exact measure for correct exchange of heat. The
natural climate balance was disrupted by the Industrial Revolution. Since the nineteenth
century, the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air increased by 30%, doubled the
methane and nitrous oxide have risen 15%. Global warming is produced by human
activity (anthropogenic) on the planet and also by natural processes such as
decomposition of organic matter and volcanic eruptions, which produce ten times more
gas than man. For ages, the natural processes alone ensured the maintenance of the
greenhouse effect, without which life would not be possible on Earth. The global
warming gases derived from human activity are produced by fossil fuels used in cars, in
industry and in power plants, the agricultural production and the burning forests.
If nothing is done to reverse global warming, the average temperature of the Earth
should evolve from 15 º C to 19 º C as is indicated in Figure 2 below:
Figure 2 - Average temperature and global projections
Source:. Veja Magazine Online, Aquecimento global.
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9. Taking into account the findings of numerous studies related to global warming, if
nothing is done to reverse current trends, their consequences are as follows:
• 2 to 4.5 ° C is lifting range that must suffer the global average temperature by the end
of this century according to estimates made by the IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change UN.
• The polar ice cap will completely disappear within 100 years. This will cause the end
of ocean currents in the Atlantic Ocean, which will cause the climate becomes colder
generating the great contradiction that warming also cools.
• By 2100, sea levels could rise from 1 to 7 meters if there is the melting of the poles,
the ridges and Greenland.
• 40% of the trees in the Amazon may disappear before the end of the century if
temperatures rise 2-3 degrees.
• Tropical forests will be replaced by savannas in regions where there is a reduction of
groundwater.
• The weather will be colder in the northern hemisphere only. For the rest of the world
average temperature will rise and droughts and rainfall will change across the planet.
• From 9 to 58% of species on land and at sea will be extinct in the coming decades,
according to different assumptions.
• About 20% to 30% of all species face a "high risk of extinction" if average global
temperatures rise another 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius compared to 1990 levels. This
could happen by 2050.
• The greenhouse will help to reduce rainfall in some areas of the planet causing them to
occur at higher temperatures and higher evaporation.
• Rainfall should increase by about 20% in the higher latitudes.
• Several areas of the globe may be flooded because of the overabundance of rainfall,
resulting in extensive flooding.
• 2,000 square kilometers will turn into desert due to lack of rains.
• The river flows may decrease by 50% or more may some of them dry completely.
• Important groundwater could be severely reduced, making the irrigation wells dry.
• Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is making the oceans more acidic. This
weakens corals, sea nurseries, and plankton, the base of the underwater food chain.
• Coral reefs are likely to suffer strong declines.
• Mangroves salty marshland and forests may disappear with increasing sea levels.
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10. • The Arctic due to higher heating, the small island states in the Pacific with the increase
in sea level, the area south of the Sahara in Africa due to drought and densely populated
river deltas in Asia because of flooding, will suffer enough with climate change.
6. The imperative of sustainable development
The two threats, economic and environmental, tend to produce a real crisis of humanity
that makes becomes an imperative the construction around the world of a new society
different from the current that act interdependently with common goals and rational in
every country and on a global scale without which it may be put into question the
survival of humans and life on Earth. With the current model of development will be
inevitable the degradation of the environment of the planet with the depletion of its
natural resources, the uncontrolled growth of cities and the catastrophic global climate
change. To overcome this problem, we have no choice but to adopt a new model that
reconciles the demands of development with the environment.
For all these reasons it becomes imperative to establish a new economic model called
"sustainable development" which is based on forms and processes which, when used,
does not undermine the integrity of the environment on which they depend. The new
company would have to be built to be sustainable economically, socially and
environmentally. The concept of sustainability has become a key element in the global
movement, crucial to find viable solutions to solve major world problems, relying on
the theory that a sustainable society is one that meets the needs of the present generation
without diminishing the possibilities of future generations to meet them.
How to build a sustainable society? This is a task that concerns governments,
entrepreneurs and individuals from all countries. Governments compete to adopt
development policies that reconcile the economic, social and environmental concerns in
national territory and seek to conclude a global social contract focused on sustainable
development on a global scale. Entrepreneurs compete to adopt corporate policy of
environmental responsibility in productive activities. Individuals compete consciously
act in defense of the environment by requiring governments and companies
implementing sustainable development policies and collaborate with employers in
workplaces in implementing policies of corporate social and environmental
responsibility.
Governments, businesses and individuals must work towards achieving the goals of
sustainable development described below:
i. Reducing global carbon emissions by promoting changes in the current world
energy matrix based mainly on fossil fuels (coal and oil), on the other structured
around renewable energy resources (hydropower, biomass and sources of solar
and wind) for preventing or minimizing the global warming, and therefore the
occurrence of catastrophic changes in the Earth's climate.
ii. Improve energy efficiency by developing interventions to achieve energy
savings in the city and in the countryside, in buildings, in agriculture, in industry
10

11. and in transportation in general and thereby contributes to the reduction of
global carbon emissions, and hence the greenhouse effect.
iii. Getting the vehicles and equipment of domestic, agricultural and industrial
yields have increased, the buildings are designed aiming at the maximum
savings for lighting, heating and refrigeration, agriculture and industry are
modeled in the sense of requiring the least energy resources and raw materials,
including for self-generation using waste from their production processes based
on reverse logistics and the use of new transportation alternatives from the bike
to those based on high capacity railways, among other initiatives.
iv. Combat pollution of land, air and water, reducing waste from recycled materials
currently used and discarded. From this perspective, the essential materials
should only be used in production processes and in other applications only in the
latter case. When used in many applications, must firstly be reused numerous
times, secondly, must be recycled to form a new product, thirdly, must be burned
in order to extract all energy containing and only in ultimately, should be
removed to a landfill.
v. Adjusting the growth of population to available resources on the planet, reducing
their birth rates, particularly in countries and regions with high rates of
population growth.
vi. Reducing social inequalities, contemplating the adoption of measures to help
meet the basic needs of the world population, such as food, clothing, housing,
health services, employment and a better quality of life. In order to have
sustainable development, it is therefore necessary that all human beings have
their basic needs met and they are given opportunities to realize their aspirations
for a better life.
vii. Making economic growth and wealth resulting from it are shared by all,
education services enable extend skill levels to work and culture of the
population, health services are effective in combating infant mortality and
contribute to increased life expectancy of the population, all men and women
have decent housing and that there is public and private investments at the level
necessary to contribute to the reduction of mass unemployment due to the
general crisis of the world capitalist system that registers nowadays and that
tends to worsen in the future.
7. The environmental responsibility of governments, companies and individuals
To avoid the catastrophic future that portends for humanity resulting from the global
economic crisis that points to depression, exhaustion of the planet's natural resources,
the sprawl of cities and catastrophic climate change, it is essential to have the
commitment of governments, the public and private productive sector and individuals
with sustainable development model. This means that environmental responsibility must
be assumed by governments, businesses and individuals. The Social Responsibility to
be assumed by governments and companies should be adopted in order to combine
social inclusion and environmental conservation. The Social Responsibility represents a
11

12. commitment by governments and companies meet society demands. Regarding the need
to adopt, respectively, public and corporate policies that contribute to review the modes
of production and consumption patterns existing in such a way that the economic and
social development is not achieved at any price, but weighing up the social and the
consequent environmental performance of governments and businesses.
The Social Responsibility of governments commitment to match society demands
combining social inclusion and environmental conservation. The Social Responsibility
of governments should be reflected in the adoption of public policies that contribute to
reconcile the modes of production and consumption patterns with the existing
environment. Among the main actions of governments can be cited recycling projects
by adopting reverse logistics, sanitation (including sewage treatment), reforestation,
environmental education, collection, treatment and disposal of garbage and
infrastructure general economic and social. Produce and distribute their products
without generating damage and risks to the environment and its market strategy is one
of the missions of the Social Responsibility of companies, which raises awareness of
everyone involved in organizations and their responsibility to society in common usage
environment. Among the main actions of the companies can be cited recycling projects,
sanitation (including treatment of industrial wastewater), reforestation, environmental
education and garbage collection.
The Environmental Responsibility and / or corporate social sustainability is the
voluntary commitment of public and private organizations of production with the
development of society and the preservation of the environment, knowing that it will
contribute to building a more just society. This is not welfare, philanthropy or
compliance with pre-established rules, but a model of business management where its
performance is related to social, economic and environmental.
So we start from the premise that organizations generate revenue and develop, but also
contribute to that society develops aware that all natural resources are finite and must be
used responsibly. This mission requires that corporations must manage their results,
focusing on economic data, social and environmental commitment to put sustainability
practices and social and environmental responsibility in their daily activities.
The Social Responsibility of individuals materializes in practice with their effective
participation in civil society organizations to establish requirements for governments at
all levels and public and private companies have sustainable development goals and
monitor compliance. Furthermore, should engage in their homes, in their
neighborhoods, in their cities and their country towards sustainable development is put
into practice.
To succeed, sustainable development requires the existence of sustainable leadership
that is a kind of leadership to be employed in the management of different organizations
as a school, a business, a city or even a country. It is based on measures to establish the
use of environmental resources to satisfy the needs of the present generation without
compromising the satisfaction of the needs of future generations. In this sense, the
12

13. sustainable leader must act at the level of governments, business and civil society, in the
sense that economic progress and social carried out without compromising the
environment.
In a corporation, the leadership must provide sustainable economic results with a better
use of the resources available to the company generating more profits with less
environmental impact. Already in a country, a sustainable leadership must be able to
adapt the use of natural resources like water, forests and farmland for long-term use. It
should also improve the distribution of income, health and education of the people.
8. Final Message
For these reasons, we are facing a critical moment in Earth's history and humanity, at a
time when it must choose the direction to be given to its future. As the world becomes
increasingly interdependent and fragile, humanity faces, while great peril and great
promise with regard to their future. We must recognize that in the midst of the
magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth
community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable
global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice
and a culture of peace to avoid barbarism that would result in the maintenance of the
current economic model. To reach this purpose, it is imperative that we, the peoples of
Earth, declare our responsibility to each other, with the continuity of life on the planet
and to future generations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABREU LIMA, Roberta e VIEIRA, Vanessa. O WWF alerta para o esgotamento dos
recursos naturais. Disponível no website <http://arquivoetc.blogspot.com.br/2008/11/o-
wwf-alerta-para-o-esgotamento-dos.html>.
ALCOFORADO, Fernando. Aquecimento global e catástrofe planetária. Santa Cruz do
Rio Pardo: Viena Gráfica e Editora, 2010.
BEAUJEU-GARNIER. J. Geografia Urbana. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian,
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* Alcoforado, Fernando, engineer and doctor of Territorial Planning and Regional Development from the
University of Barcelona, a university professor and consultant in strategic planning, business planning,
regional planning and planning of energy systems, is the author of Globalização (Editora Nobel, São
Paulo, 1997), De Collor a FHC- O Brasil e a Nova (Des)ordem Mundial (Editora Nobel, São Paulo,
1998), Um Projeto para o Brasil (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 2000), Os condicionantes do
desenvolvimento do Estado da Bahia (Tese de doutorado. Universidade de Barcelona,
http://www.tesisenred.net/handle/10803/1944, 2003), Globalização e Desenvolvimento (Editora Nobel,
São Paulo, 2006), Bahia- Desenvolvimento do Século XVI ao Século XX e Objetivos Estratégicos na Era
Contemporânea (EGBA, Salvador, 2008), The Necessary Conditions of the Economic and Social
Development-The Case of the State of Bahia (VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG,
Saarbrücken, Germany, 2010), Aquecimento Global e Catástrofe Planetária (P&A Gráfica e Editora,
Salvador, 2010), Amazônia Sustentável- Para o progresso do Brasil e combate ao aquecimento global
(Viena- Editora e Gráfica, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, 2011) and Os Fatores Condicionantes do
Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2012), among others.
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