Much of the concern, if not alarm, on the worsening state of the global environment has been expressed almost in a unified voice by world leaders during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. Brunei Darussalam was also there to signify its unity with the world in addressing these critical and urgent issues. Brunei Darussalam has been giving its modest share of commitment and action to protect the environment. By keeping most of its land under permanent forest cover, it is showing to the world a concrete action in helping address such critical environmental issues. There is a significant difference between growth and development.
Growth involves quantitative, whereas development is qualitative change.
Every country wants both in order to prosper. Until recently, economic well being has been the conventional standard of the quality of life of the people. This is obviously postulated on the simplistic thesis that economic success means peoples' happiness, which of course, is non sequitur . Development should be approached with due consideration of the other three factors. In the case of Brunei Darussalam, population is not a significant factor.