Interdependence, sustainable development

The relationship between environment and security is indirect and multicasual. Therefore it is difficult to assess the risk to security caused by environmental change. Taking into consideration the principle of sustainable development where the environmental, economic and social issues are interdependent and cannot be pursued separately, the integrated risk assessment is particularly useful. 

Sustainable development is a fuzzy concept. As a concept, however, it meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations (Morse, 1998). From a business perspective, sustainable development is often separated into three interdependent areas economic, environmental, and social. 

Sustainable development requires us to acknowledge the interdependent relations between people and the natural environment. This interdependence means that no single social, economic, political or environmental objective be pursued to the detriment of others. The environment cannot be protected in a way that leaves half of humanity in poverty. Likewise, there can be no long-term development on this depleted planet. ... 

An initial common reference point presented to this diverse group was the widely cited definition of sustainability developed by the Brundtland Commission—formally known as the World Commission on Environment and Development— which was convened in 1983 by the United Nations General Assembly to examine the interdependence of all sectors of society in achieving sustainable development ... 

Haimes YY, Horowitz BM, Lambert JH, Santos JR, Lian C, Crowther KG (2005) Inoperability input-output model for interdependent infrastructure sectors. I theory and methodology. J Infrastmct Syst 11 67-79 Hallegatte S (2008) An adaptive regional input-output model and its application to the assessment of economic cost of Katrina. Risk Anal 28 779-799 Hallegatte S, Przyluski V (2010) The economics of natural disasters concepts and methods. Policy research working paper 5507. The World Bank, Sustainable Development Network, Office of the Chief Economics, Washington, DC... 

In addition, the authors suggest that all such systems must have a semi-permeable active boundary (membrane), an energy transduction apparatus and (at least) two types of functionally interdependent macromolecular components (catalysts and records). Thus, the phenomenon of life requires not only individual self-replication and self-sustaining systems, but it also requires of such individual systems the ability to develop a characteristic, evolutionary dynamic and a historical collectivist organisation. 

As individual brands these fundamental issues may seem insurmountable however, in spite of the highly competitive nature of the retail apparel market, a growing group of responsible retailers are tackling these issues together. These retailers have recognized the interdependencies of their businesses within the supply chain and how the development of a more sustainable model is beneficial to individual organizations as well as the industry as a whole. 

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