SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE WAY AHEAD

Positioned at the midpoint between the Brundtland Report and the first wave of national action plans, this article sets out a practical agenda for sustainable development in low-income, climate-vulnerable economies. It argues that sustainability succeeds when ministries translate lofty principles into budget lines, procurement standards and incentive-compatible regulations. The discussion connects energy pricing, urban transport policy, agricultural extension and coastal management to measurable indicators of welfare and resilience. It stresses that poverty reduction is inseparable from environmental stewardship: degraded soils, unsafe water and uncontrolled urban sprawl impose hidden taxes on the poor. The paper also examines institutional prerequisites—credible data, independent auditing, and citizen feedback—without which environmental impact assessments become box-ticking rituals. Finally, it outlines financing options that crowd in private investment while guarding against green-washing, including blended finance, performance-based grants and maintenance-first infrastructure strategies.

The body opens with an evidence-based critique of common pitfalls: fragmented plans, underfunded regulators and short political horizons. Section One proposes a sequencing framework that begins with fiscal signals—removing perverse subsidies, adopting cost-reflective tariffs with lifeline protection, and earmarking part of savings for adaptation. Section Two details sector playbooks: in energy, invest in efficiency and distributed renewables; in transport, prioritize bus rapid transit, walkability and logistics hubs; in agriculture, promote soil health, drought-tolerant varieties and water-saving irrigation; along coasts, combine mangrove restoration with risk-rated zoning and resilient ports. Section Three addresses governance: open environmental data, grievance redress for affected communities, and procurement that rewards lifecycle performance rather than lowest upfront cost. Section Four covers finance and accountability—using green bonds only where revenue models are credible, pairing concessional funds with clear maintenance obligations, and auditing carbon and resilience outcomes. The conclusion presents a dashboard of indicators—air quality, loss and damage avoided, asset uptime, and inclusive jobs—to anchor public debate and keep sustainability on course beyond electoral cycles.