Sustainable development is usually defined as the ability to maintain the economic growth of a given territory in order to conserve natural resources so that they are guaranteed for future generations, that is, it is the perspective of maintaining the sustainability of natural elements so that they are also able to meet the needs of humanity in the future.
The debate on the issue of sustainability around the world is directly linked to the way in which different countries have developed.
There are two main needs to be met: a) <u>to decrease the high level of consumption and exploitation of natural resources by rich countries, which is extremely high;</u> b) <u>ensure that poor countries also modernize, but without reaching the standards of aggression against the natural environment promoted by the main economic powers on the planet.
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Some studies carried out by both scientific institutions and the United Nations reveal that we would need several planets equal to the Earth in terms of natural resources if all countries maintained the same level of consumption in the developed world. Other data indicate that our planet would not be able to withstand an economic level equivalent to four countries like the United States, which are the ones that consume the most and, consequently, pollute and reduce the supply of natural goods the most.
