Sustainable development and its effects on world and national politics (comparative analysis between four different contexts)

The concept of sustainable development since first introduced in the Brundtland Report in 1987 has changed the world view about economic growth. It established a new meaning of growth that maintains also social and environmental sustainability. This paper will show how the concept has been crystallized and how through the years the world's way of thinking has been shaping and adapting this new concept. Sustainable development has become the most commonly used concept, there is almost an agreement throughout the world about issues concerning climate change, biodiversity and natural resources preservations. Sustainable development has become an anchor in national politics. Countries like Egypt, Bolivia, Sri Lanka and Norway have introduced policies that are in line with sustainability. However the degree of influence, the understanding of the concept and the policies nevertheless differ from state to state.