Dictionary

sustainable development en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Development which seeks to produce sustainable economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same by not exceeding the regenerative capacity of nature.
   • sustainable development goals
   • Africa’s growing demand for wood products presents an opportunity to build a resilient bioeconomy that creates jobs, strengthens local industries and reduces pressure on natural forests. Wood remains one of Africa’s most vital natural resources, supporting livelihoods, economic development and industrial growth across the continent. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, more than 600 million Africans depend on forests and trees for their livelihoods, relying on wood value chains for employment, energy, construction materials and income generation. The sector supports industries such as furniture manufacturing, paper production, packaging, electricity transmission, housing and construction. In rural Africa, wood and tree-based systems also provide fuel and income, forming a cornerstone of household survival. As population growth and urbanization accelerate, demand for wood products is rising sharply, creating both opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. Harnessing this potential could position the wood sector as a driver of economic transformation and green growth. At the centre of this opportunity is the idea of a resilient wood-based bioeconomy, an approach that sustainably uses renewable biological resources like wood and forest products to produce materials, energy and services while safeguarding ecosystem health. 2026 June 12, Jane Mutune, Peter Minang, “Building a resilient wood-based bioeconomy in Africa”, in Forest News, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:

Forms

Translations (38)

ga forbairt inbhuanaithe (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ms pembangunan mampan (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ca desenvolupament sostenible (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · cs udržitelný rozvoj (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · it sviluppo sostenibile (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · el βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · az davamlı inkişaf (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · gl desenvolvemento sustentábel (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · lv ilgtspējīga attīstība (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · pl zrównoważony rozwój (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ro dezvoltare durabilă (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ga forbairt inmharthana (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · es desarrollo sostenible (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ka მდგრადი განვითარება (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · de nachhaltige Entwicklung (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · uk ста́лий ро́звиток (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · id pembangunan berkelanjutan (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · cmn 永續發展 /永续发展 (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · fr développement durable (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · cmn 可持續發展 /可持续发展 (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ro dezvoltare sustenabilă (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · sh održivi razvoj (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · is sjálfbær þróun (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · lt darnusis vystymasis (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ltg tvereiguo raisteiba (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · hu fenntartható fejlődés (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ja 持続可能な開発 (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · pt desenvolvimento sustentável (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · et jätkusuutlik areng (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · nl duurzame ontwikkeling (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · cs trvale udržitelný rozvoj (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · mk одржлив развој (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · th การพัฒนาอย่างยั้งยืน (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · sh одрживи развој (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ru усто́йчивое разви́тие (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · ar تَنْمِيَة مُسْتَدَامَة (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · sv hållbar utveckling (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity) · fi kestävä kehitys (development seeking to economic growth while ensuring future generations' ability to do the same, by not exceeding natural regenerative capacity)