Sustainable Development Quotes

“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.”
― Albert A. Bartlett

“It is not reasonable that art should win the place of honor over our great and powerful mother Nature. We have so overloaded the beauty and richness of her works by our inventions that we have quite smothered her.”
― Michel de Montaigne, Des Cannibales

“Sometimes it is in the long-run interest of the business sector to restrict the freedom of individual firms so that they do not destroy the common pool of resources that all of them need, such as natural resources or the labour force.”
― Ha-Joon Chang, 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism

“In the Permaculture Economics model, businesses enhance ecosystems, rather than degrading them.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Too much consumption is not the problem. Actually it's the opposite. The problem is that we don't consume enough. The problem is waste - which only exists when something is produced but not consumed. So what we need is a system whereby everything produced is consumed. That system is Permaculture Economics.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“If the Sun is the source of flow in the economy of nature, what is the “Sun” of a human gift economy, the source that consonantly replenishes the flow of gifts? Maybe it is love.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World

“I want to give credit to Bill Mollison and David Holmgren for creating the 12 Permaculture Design Principles, and to Adam Smith for being the father of Capitalism. The foundations they laid has benefitted billions of people across generations.

Respectfully, I have gone beyond the work of these men – far beyond. And I have done that by standing on their shoulders, so to speak. What I have done that’s new and novel is pair permaculture design principles with capitalism as opposed to viewing the two as mutually exclusive. I have also infused my own observations and insights about natural phenomena into the Permaculture Economics framework. Furthermore, I’ve created a definite framework – a set of well thought out principles for policymakers, based on all of this. What I have created is not simply the economics of permaculture, or economics viewed through a permaculture lens, or permaculture plus capitalism. No, I have created an entirely new principles-based system that was inspired by but not exclusively dependent on Permaculture and Capitalism. It is new and novel, and it has a life of its own, and it will one day be the standard of a one global society. Permaculture Economics is unique- greater than the sum of its parts. The implementation of this system, globally, is essential to bringing about a new order of the world.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
― Brundtland Commission

“Declutter Sonnet

Declutter is the sensible way forward,
So I moved from Windows to Chrome OS.
Less cluttered in mind and machine,
More you shall find the peaceful pace.

Note that I didn't make a mention of iOS,
even though it bears an element of declutter.
Declutter monetized at a ridiculous price tag,
is worse than the most cockeyed clutter.

Declutter and Undisparity, these are
the lifeblood of sustainability.
And there can be no sustainability,
so long as there are vanity and luxury.

Intoxicated by the clutter of luxury,
World chases happiness with no avail.
Health and happiness will come chasing,
Once you learn to live humble and simple.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Insan Himalayanoğlu: It's Time to Defect

“Declutter and Undisparity, these are the lifeblood of sustainability.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Insan Himalayanoğlu: It's Time to Defect

“Neither fossil fuel nor artificial intelligence is the problem - the real danger is greed. Do you think everybody will live happily ever after, once you replace fossil fuel with green energy! No - they won't! Apekind will simply use green energy to power their greed instead of oil and gas. They will use green energy to wage war, they'll use green energy to kill people. US military is already developing a high-endurance unmanned solar powered aircraft, to be used as a communication relay platform and for surveillance. Besides, solar powered reconnaissance drones have already been in military use for some years now, in various parts of the world. Which means, the planet will be safer, but the people will be in just as much muck as they are today.

Apparently, there is a limit to fossil fuel, but there is no limit to human stupidity. Apekind will find one way or another to continue with their "kill or be killed" nonsense, just like any other animal in the wild. And every time government officials will make the same old statement, "it's necessary for national security" - just as power hungry tribal chiefs have been saying since our jungle days, before putting millions upon millions to death!

So, my question is - what good is green energy if it's used for the same inhuman purposes as fossil fuel!

Treat greed first, you fools - treat greed first! Then you won't need to make a ton of empty promises and winded policies for a sustainable future - because where there is no greed, sustainability flows like spring water. Treat greed first, then I shall call you humankind - until then, you are nothing but apekind. Without the green of heart, what green apes, what oil apes - all energy leads to but one color - the color of blood - red! Energy used to sustain the same old paradigm of greed, control and disparity, is anything but clean - no matter what it says on the label.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Bulletproof Backbone: Injustice Not Allowed on My Watch

“Fossil fuel is not the problem, the real danger is greed.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Bulletproof Backbone: Injustice Not Allowed on My Watch

“The Carnivore (Sonnet 1406)

Be a gentle giant like the elephant,
not an opportunistic carnivore like the wolf.
The elephant doesn't harm anyone
to prove its greatness, while the wolf
doesn't think twice to devour another wolf.

Greatness unfolds through gentleness,
Illumination unfolds through expansion.
Coldness is the mark of cowardly animal,
Cruelty is cover for beastly degeneration.

Worst of all carnivores are the humans,
There is no end to their appetite.
Animals no longer partake once they are full,
While human greed knows no sane height.

More clothes, more cars, more cash,
Just how much will you consider enough!
Till you put a cork on cocky abundance,
Not felicity but disparity wreaks havoc.

Savagest carnivore of all is the human.
Uncorked materialism is new cannibalism.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Dervis Vadisi: 100 Promissory Sonnets

“Creativity and innovation, when focused and commercialized, can significantly advance the progress of sustainable development goals.”
― Kalyan C. Kankanala, FUN IP: Fundementals of Intellectual Property

“The intellectual property system has the potential to foster innovations related to sustainable development, provided that such intellectual property is supported by adequate investment.”
― Kalyan C. Kankanala, Fun IP, Fundamentals of Intellectual Property

“Intellectual property can advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by several steps, but it is not capable of achieving the impossible.”
― Kalyan C. Kankanala, Fun IP, Fundamentals of Intellectual Property

“Ethics and effectiveness are not adversaries but allies. Ethically crafted policies consider long-term societal impacts, fostering sustainable solutions that address core issues. Aligning with Maqasid ensures policies not only achieve their goals but also nurture the common good.”
― Abdellatif Raji, Heaven Is Under the Feet of Governments: Steering Nations With Maqasid

“Socio-economic development begins with creating equal opportunities for all, ensuring no one is left behind."

"Empowering communities through education and economic opportunity is the foundation of sustainable development."

"Sustainable development thrives when we blend tradition with innovation to create inclusive growth."

"True socio-economic progress lies in investing in human capital and nurturing young minds to become future leaders."

"Development is not just about economic growth; it's about building a society where every individual has the chance to thrive."

"For any nation to prosper, we must prioritize policies that address both economic and social inequalities."

"Inclusive development requires collective effort, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment to justice."

"The path to a sustainable future is paved with equitable policies, youth engagement, and sustainable economic practices."

"Economic growth must be people-centered, prioritizing social welfare, environmental sustainability, and community resilience."

"Transforming any socio-economic landscape requires bold leadership, transparent governance, and a vision for inclusive progress.”
― Vorng Panha

“In international affairs, true strength is found in the pursuit of peace, not power."

"Diplomacy is the art of finding common ground in the vast diversity of our global landscape."

"Global progress depends on leaders who see beyond borders and build bridges of understanding."

"The world’s greatest challenges are solved not by isolation, but by the unity of nations working together."

"International affairs demand a balance of vision and pragmatism, of ideals and realities."

"In the global arena, dialogue is the most powerful weapon for resolving conflicts and fostering peace."

"True global leadership embraces the diversity of voices, recognizing that every culture adds value to our shared future."

"The key to a stable world lies in our ability to collaborate across borders and find solutions that benefit all."

"To navigate international affairs is to dance in the delicate balance between national interests and global responsibility."

"Sustainable development is a collective commitment that transcends borders, cultures, and politics.”
― Vorng Panha

“Turning on the Water
Water flows from high mountain sources.
Water runs deep in the Earth.
Miraculously, water comes to us
and sustains all life.
Even if we know the source of our water, we often take its appearance for granted. But water is what makes all life on Earth possible. Our bodies are more than 70 percent water. Our food can be grown and raised because of water. Water is a good friend, a bodhisattva, which nourishes the many thousands of species on Earth. Its benefits are infinite. Reciting this gatha before turning on the faucet or drinking a glass of water enables us to see the stream of fresh water in our own hearts so that we feel completely refreshed. To celebrate the gift of water is to cultivate awareness and help sustain our life and the lives of others.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

“Most expensive clothes I own cost 20 dollars, most expensive devices I own cost 200 dollars. Born to a factory worker, I never knew luxury, then I made me a name, but saw the world's condition, I grew an absolute repulsion to lifestyle luxurious.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Iftar-e Insaniyat: The First Supper

“I'm not a vegetarian, I could eat anything if it's well cooked and tastes good, but preservation of wildlife is nonnegotiable, because it is only by preserving biodiversity, that we ensure a sustainable planet for humanity. It is one thing to consume animals for food, and another to destroy entire ecosystems for profit. There is nothing wrong in development, but development founded on destruction of nature, is the most expensive ticket to human extinction.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Kral Fakir: When Calls The Kainat

“Money is minted in the factory of greed, sustainability grows in the garden of simplicity.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Kral Fakir: When Calls The Kainat

“Innovation is important, but what kind of a moronic species races to put a man on the moon, before it takes its homeless off the streets!”
― Abhijit Naskar, Sonnets From The Mountaintop

“What Kind of Progress is This (Sonnet)

The Earth may be full of skyscrapers,
but the soil is without home -
streets may be full of electric cars,
yet the mind hasn't moved an inch -

the skies may be full of rockets,
but the heart is buried in the jungle -
outer space may be full of telescopes,
yet the eyes are blind with hate.

No nation is holy, till its streets
are built for walking, not to starve on.
No society is advanced, till no one
is marginal, no matter the innovation.

Innovation is important, but what kind of
a moronic species races to put a man on the moon,
before it takes its homeless off the streets!

How come power hungry algorithms get endowed
with trillions of dollars in investment, yet
starving children dream of leftovers as feast!”
― Abhijit Naskar, Sonnets From The Mountaintop

“Earth is home to over 8 million species, and the waste produced by all 8 million go back into the soil nourishing nature instead of doing harm, except for one lifeform - can you guess which one?”
― Abhijit Naskar, Sonnets From The Mountaintop

“Monkeys define civilization by the capacity to kill, humans define civilization by sustainable development.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Sonnets From The Mountaintop

“The world doesn't need another climate summit, the world needs a climate summon.”
― Abhijit Naskar, With Love From A Blue Rock

“The world doesn't need another climate summit, the world needs a climate summon, and not from some fair-weather activist that jumps from one trend to another, like privileged white women hop from pseudoscience to pseudoscience - the world needs a climate summon from the commoners of the world, everyday ordinary people with a mundane job and a mundane life - when these people sense the immediate emergency that the planet faces, then no amount of performative policy will be required anymore, because there is no greater environmental stabilizer than commoners jolted to duty.”
― Abhijit Naskar, With Love From A Blue Rock

“Success becomes sustainable when it stops depending on who does the work and starts depending on how the work is done.”
― Shamail Aijaz, Standard Operating Excellence: The Complete Guide to Building, Implementing, and Mastering SOPs