This book provides a concise and interdisciplinary introduction to sustainable development, examining its historical evolution, legal foundations, and contemporary governance challenges. It traces the emergence of sustainability from early ecological warnings to its institutionalization through international frameworks, demonstrating how sustainable development has become a central organizing principle of global policy.
Organized around seven thematic chapters, the book covers the conceptual and legal foundations of sustainability, its core governance principles, socio-technical transition pathways, property and commons theory, global sustainability finance, and the implications of digitalization and artificial intelligence for development. Each chapter integrates legal analysis, governance theory, and, in some cases, real-world case studies to show how sustainability principles move from rhetoric to enforceable norms. Key features include accessible chapter abstracts, a comprehensive list of abbreviations, and a structured list of figures supporting visual learning. The book approaches sustainable development not as a technical toolkit but as a political and institutional challenge requiring systemic reform.
The volume is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students in environmental studies, law, governance, economics, and public policy, as well as researchers, practitioners, and policymakers engaged with sustainability transitions, international environmental law, and development governance.