A Macat Analysis of the Brundtland Report: Our Common Future
Our Common Future, also known as The Brundtland Report, is a joint work produced in 1987 by a United Nations commission headed by former Norwegian prime minister, Gro Brundtland. Intended to respond to a growing number of environmental concerns faced by the global community, it recognized the need for long-term strategies to manage natural resources. It says we must act collaboratively to protect the environment, while at the same time stimulating economic and social development. These goals are summarized as “sustainable development,” defined in the report as humanity’s ability “to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The report argues that human development and the environment are deeply linked and have to be looked at together. This requires international collaboration and greater awareness among the general public. By 1989, half a million copies had been sold.
