雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'sustainable development' has evolved significantly since its popularization in the 1987 Brundtland Report. Initially, it was largely interpreted as a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. However, contemporary scholarship argues that this dualistic framing overlooks the critical role of social equity. Researchers now emphasize that sustainability cannot be achieved without addressing systemic inequalities, such as access to resources and decision-making power. For instance, marginalized communities often bear the brunt of environmental degradation, yet they are frequently excluded from policy discussions. This has led to a paradigm shift towards 'just sustainability', which integrates environmental health, economic viability, and social justice as interdependent pillars. Critics contend, however, that broadening the definition risks diluting its practical applicability, making it harder to measure progress. Nevertheless, most agree that a purely technocratic approach has failed to deliver meaningful change, underscoring the need for more inclusive and adaptive frameworks.