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In recent years, farsighted governments and companies are paying much attention to sustainable development for not only protecting natural environments but also advancing business operations and living services in people-centered ecosystems. According to the Brundtland report released by the World Commission on the Environment and Development (WCED, 1987), Sustainable Development (SD) was defined as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This definition, in essence, implies that SD is expected as a sort of supplier to fulfill the needs of sustainability. It also means that the relationship of supply-demand of SD will significantly drive the direction of SD applications.
On demand side of SD, numerous researchers have stressed a common idea that the plan of SD relates to three central objectives on social, economic and environmental dimensions (Cernea, 1993; Khan, 1995; Munasinghe, 1993; Serageldin, 1996; Adams, 2006). In terms of social objective, the issues of increasing social and human capital, alleviating poverty for equity, promoting social education, and improving cultural cohesion are highlighted. As for economic objective, the growth of productive capital, economic development and efficiency are emphasized. Naturally, the feature of environmental objective is to complete ecosystem integrity in conjunction with balancing its capacity and bio-diversity. In reality, lots of national governments and business companies arrange their respected SD portfolios via selecting and combining distinct social, economic, and environmental needs.
On supply side of SD, the SD needs are strategically realized through implemented services or systems. As Serageldin (1996) stated, SD has been a critical principle of performing national initiatives. He also introduced four types of nation-wise capital associated with SD strategy-making and realization, they are (1) Productive capital: It comprises a country's stock of financial resources, plant, equipment, infrastructure and other productive resources; (2) Human capital: It comprises a country's stock of investment in education, health, and nutrition of individuals; (3) Social capital: It comprises a country's stock of social institutions, both formal and informal, that facilitate the functioning of society; and (4) Natural capital: It comprises a country's stock of environmentally provided assets, notably its stock of physical, biophysical and natural reserves. In addition, Munasinghe (1993) recommended that SD implementation plays an important rule of balancing gains or losses in different types of capital mentioned and finally to emphasize for a net overall increase among all considered capital. In brief, the introduced capital could be virtually perceived as natural resources and human-created infrastructure as shown in Figure 1. On the strength of the capital, the governments can accordingly launch public services or systems in terms of healthcare, energy management, and the like to deliver their expected SD achievements for people.
Figure 1. Rapid urbanization worsening global environmental degradation is overwhelming people-centered and natural ecosystems