The Emergence of Sustainable Development
In our efforts to seek sustainable efforts and to foster sustainable practices within and throughout entrepreneurship, we must first define the term. On an unassuming day in November 1998, in Fontainebleau, 25 miles outside Paris, one of the most significant environmental conferences of the 20th century was finding its conclusion. During the conference, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) positioned itself as a visionary by bringing attention to the future under the theme of “Imagine Tomorrow’s World.”
The Brundtland Commission and Formalization
While many assumed the term originated from the Brundtland Commission in the 1980s, an off-hand comment by Henry de Lumley at the National Museum of Natural History suggested the term "développement durable" might date back to the 1920s. Despite the lack of formal proof for that early date, the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, solidified the term into the international lexicon. It defined sustainable development as:
"A process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are made consistent with future as well as present needs."
Philosophical Foundations
- The Ecozoic Era: Coined by Thomas Berry, this term describes a geological era where humans live in a mutually enhancing relationship with Earth.
- Teilhard de Chardin: His work on the noosphere—a global body of human consciousness—serves as a catalyst for understanding the interlinking enhancement of humanity and the natural world.
Humane Entrepreneurship
In the realm of entrepreneurship, we are choosing the path of the human. Humane Entrepreneurship is not just a concept to be discussed but one to be practiced. It ensures that both inputs and outcomes are grounded in sustainable ways, transitioning from company culture to a global force. By focusing on environmental care, food quality, and equitable opportunity, we can nurture a sustainable and more resilient environment for all.