Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept
Open accessAbstract
This article gives an overview of the origin of the concept of sustainable development by going far back in history to trace its roots. It shows how the idea of sustainability evolved through the centuries as a counter to notions of progress. The historical context in the latter half of the 20th century is outlined, in which a paradigm shift in thinking about development caused sustainable development to occupy the centre stage in development discourses.
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- Authors
- Du Pisani, J. A.
- Venue
- Environmental Sciences
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-06
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 83-96
- ISSN
- 1569-3430 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-4225
- OpenAlex
- W2088433665
- Cited by
- 900
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 93 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 124 · 2021: 102 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 98 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 4.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Environmental Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › American Environmental and Regional History
- Keywords
- sustainable development, history of sustainability, sustainability concepts, idea of progress, paradigm shift, development discourse, 20th century
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