Deep roots - a conceptual history of 'sustainable development' (Nachhaltigkeit)

Abstract: "In the last two decades, the concept of 'Sustainable Development' has made a steep career as a political and ethical guideline for dealing with the planet's ecological and social crisis. The concept, globally inaugurated in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (socalled Brundtland Commission) is, however, not a brain-child of the modern environmental movement. Its blueprint can be found in the professional terminology of forestry. 'Sustained yield' had been the major doctrine of international forestry for almost two centuries. This formula is a translation of the German term 'nachhaltiger Ertrag'. The roots of this concept can be traced back to the era of early 'European Enlightenment', when German Kameralists, inspired by the English author John Evelyn and the French statesman Jean Baptist Colbert, began to plan their dynasties' woodlands 'nachhaltig' - in order to hand them along undiminished to future generations. The word itself was then coined in 1713 b

Object Details

• Alternative title: Tiefe Wurzeln - eine konzeptionelle Geschichte des Begriffes "Nachhaltigkeit"
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource, 33 S.
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung ; Bd. 2007-002

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Keyword: Nachhaltige Entwicklung ; Dogmengeschichte ; Welt ; Nachhaltigkeit ; Dogma ; :z Geschichte

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2007
• Creator: Grober, Ulrich
• Contributor: Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-110771
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 25.03.2025, 1:47 PM CET