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Abstract
This article explores the meaning of sustainable development for the world’s poor in the late 1990s. It critiques conventional definitions dominated by environmental concerns and argues that sustainability must prioritize equity and poverty alleviation. The study reviews the UN’s Brundtland Report, the 1992 Earth Summit, and subsequent development strategies, highlighting the tension between growth and environmental stewardship in developing nations. It concludes that sustainable development must integrate social justice, economic opportunity, and ecological preservation.
Full Text
The body expands the argument across five sections. Section One examines global policy documents such as the Brundtland Report and Agenda 21. Section Two looks at poverty data, highlighting income inequality and lack of access to basic needs. Section Three investigates how environmental sustainability projects often marginalize the poor through displacement and loss of livelihoods. Section Four evaluates community-based approaches in South Asia and Africa that integrate ecological and economic goals. Section Five proposes a framework linking sustainability with human security, education, and gender empowerment. The article concludes that development policy must redefine sustainability to include the poor as central stakeholders rather than passive recipients.