For development to be sustainable, it must satisfy five criteria. By keeping an eye out for the long-term, sustainable development ensures that options for future generations are maintained if not improved. Sustainable development recognizes the interdependence of economic, environmental, and social well-being. It promotes actions that expand economic opportunity, improve environmental quality, and increase social well-being at the same time, never sacrificing one for another. Participation and transparency.
Sustainable development depends on decisionmaking that is inclusive, participatory, and transparent.
It recognizes the importance of processs and decisionmaking that includes the input of the stakeholders who will be affected by decisions. Sustainable development promotes equity between generations and among different groups in society. It recognizes the necessity of equality and fairness, and it reduces disparities in risks and access to benefits. Sustainable development is anticipatory. It promotes efforts to prevent problems as the first course of action.