雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of sustainable development has evolved significantly since its popularization in the 1987 Brundtland Report. Initially, it focused primarily on balancing economic growth with environmental protection. However, contemporary scholarship emphasizes a more holistic approach, integrating social equity and intergenerational justice. Critics argue that early frameworks were too anthropocentric, prioritizing human needs over ecological integrity. Recent studies advocate for a 'strong sustainability' model, which posits that natural capital and manufactured capital are not interchangeable. This perspective asserts that certain ecosystem services, such as biodiversity and climate regulation, have no technological substitutes and must be preserved independently. Consequently, policy-making has shifted from mere mitigation of environmental damage to proactive restoration and resilience-building. Yet, implementation remains challenging due to conflicting economic interests and varying national priorities, highlighting the need for global governance reforms.