Minding Others
Authors:   , Herdoiza Castro Natalie Sofia 
Published: September 2024

Living on a planet with finite natural resources and a human population that is always increasing, humanity has searched for ways to deal with this mismatch. The most widely accepted solution to this issue, without sacrificing the development and well-being of present and future human populations, is known as sustainable development. In 2015 the United Nations approved a plan of action, intended to lead humanity towards sustainable development. This guide is known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), while the framework that guides nations towards its achievement is outlined in 169 targets contained in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the pursuit of achieving the SDGs, some progress has been made in the areas of economy, social equality, and environmental protection. Yet, the deadline established for the completion of the 2030 Agenda is quickly approaching, while most of the targets in the SDGs are either not showing considerable advancement or are even regressing. This thesis argues that this slow progress is, at least in part, because the sustainable development concept and its application are constructed from a human-focused (anthropocentric) viewpoint. This viewpoint recognizes that achieving sustainable development is crucial for the well-being of current and future human populations, but it ignores both the inherent value of other living entities and their interdependent relationship with human beings.

According to existing knowledge, integrating a moral approach within the sustainable development discourse could serve as a guide for igniting sustainable behaviour and action. Based on this knowledge, the main research question of this thesis is: Can a moral approach foster positive action towards an inclusive version of sustainable development? The prospect of tackling sustainable development from a practical moral perspective —one that goes beyond the prevailing anthropocentric worldview, while embracing a variety of societal viewpoints and academic disciplines— is the inspiration behind this research. Hence, it was set up to explore how specific moral principles might result in pragmatic modifications to the ways that sustainable development frameworks are constructed and applied. The thesis transcends the ongoing theoretical discussion on this matter, by translating previous knowledge into practical conceptual frameworks applied to two case studies: 1.developing more sustainable food systems, 2.including the interests of non-human animals in the UN’s sustainable development agenda.

The main conclusion is that it is not always possible to ensure that a specific, long-lasting sustainable action or behaviour will arise from a process of moral insight. However, this prospect might become even less likely if only a limited range of moral ideals is addressed. Hence, to enhance the probability of creating a more inclusive and integrated understanding of sustainable development, there is an immediate need to address the systemic obstacles that may impede actors from broadening their moral horizons and/or acting in a way that aligns with their moral ideals.