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referring to the process of environmental degradation as a result of human production
activities and a significant depletion of natural resources.
This is the effect of the conflict between civilisation progression (growth) and
technological development (development). Nevertheless, this is not a new problem. On
the one hand, we strive for the growth of matter; on the other, we strive for a fuller, larger
state by expanding or taking advantage of certain possibilities. As a result of numerous
discussions and publications addressing these issues, the idea of a further development
of civilisation, defined as “sustainable development” emerged as a compromise. Often,
it is also referred to as “sustained development”, “self-sustaining development” or simply
“eco-development”. It should be noted, however, that these concepts differ in terms of
the scope and subject of the phenomenon described. However, regardless of the term
we will use, the common feature of all concepts is that they all adopt as the main
objective to develop mechanisms and ways of working enabling further civilisation
development while preserving and respecting the laws of nature and socio-economic
aspirations of humanity. The concept of sustainable development is a proposal for
a qualitatively new form for a conscious, responsible individual and social life, on the
basis of mutual development with the social and natural environment, taking into
account ecological constraints and social expectations. In the 1970s, the relationships
between economic development, development of social relations and the environment
and natural resources was recognised and defined. These issues were expressed by the
Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted in
Stockholm on 16th June 1972, which resulted in the work on the definition of the so-
called sustainable development in a political, ecological, economic and social context.
In this report, the concept of “sustainable development” is defined as the right to meet
the developmental aspirations of the present generation without limiting the rights of
future generations to meet their developmental needs. This definition indicates that
the economic and civilisation development of the present generation should not be
at the expense of depleting non-renewable resources and destroying the environment,
for the sake of future generations, who also have the right to their own development.
Officially, the concept of sustainable development was adopted at the second “Earth
Summit” held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. Two basic documents were adopted:
the Rio Declaration, a general philosophy of sustainable development and Agenda 21,
a document describing ways, principles and mechanisms of practical implementation of
the concept of sustainable development. The mechanism of functioning of this global
conception is reduced to three basic objectives:
1. Ecological, to stop environmental degradation and to eliminate its threats.
2. Economic, expressed in satisfying the basic material needs of humanity,
using non-destructive techniques and technologies.
3. Social and humanitarian, which assumes the protection of social minimum
(eradication of hunger, poverty and destitution), health protection, the
development of the human spirit (culture), security and education.
Agenda 21 was signed by 172 states, including Poland. Agenda 21 has been grouped
into four sections. The first one is directed towards social and economic issues, the second
one revolves around conservation and management of resources for development, the