Social dimension of sustainable development

Sustainable development is a visionary development paradigm that calls for a convergence between the three pillars of economic development, social equity, and environmental protection. But, over the past 20 years it has often been compartmentalized as an environmental issue. Social sustainability has had considerably less attention in public dialogue than economic and environmental sustainability. It was only in late 1990s that social issues were taken into account in mainstream sustainability debates. Looking at sustainable development through a social lens means to develop “people-centric and planet-sensitive” developmental policies, guided by values of equal rights and social justice, enabled by proactive states and well-functioning institutions, and shaped through the participation of empowered populations. It must promise to deliver material well-being, including good health, education, and access to the goods and services necessary for decent living. The paper aims to explore the evolutionary meaning of social sustainability, its dimensions and the means to achieve it.