Abstract

This paper critically examines the notion of sustainable development as it attempts to further develop broader understanding on the subject of sustainability. While the definition of “sustainable development” provided by the Brundtland Commission is widely accepted, not only is it self-referencing in its use of the term “development,” but it also fails to reflect the multiple facets and themes embodied by sustainability. This paper, which forms part of a wider study, conducts a critical review of the literature on sustainability as it unpicks key elements of the concept before defining sustainable development in the context of its application and charting the evolution of the field. The research finds that sustainable development is an ongoing discourse between elements of a given system, which seeks to achieve and maintain environmental, social, and economic balance within the said system.