Sustainable development in different countries
Argentina
In Buenos Aires, the Responsible Consumption Fair is held every Sunday, organized by the city government. It is a space in which different sustainable entrepreneurs meet with the same objective or purpose, which is to promote responsible consumption and raise awareness of environmental issues through social awareness.
At the same time, visitors to the Fair have the possibility of taking various free courses and workshops, and enjoying good music during the day.
On the other hand, the City of Buenos Aires is committed to:
Thanks to this last of its projects, Buenos Aires obtained worldwide recognition that was granted by the International Transportation Research Board in Washington D.C. This allowed the city to be placed on the list of winners along with New York and San Francisco "San Francisco (California)") (United States), Ahmedabad (India), Guangzhou (China), Medellín (Colombia) and Mexico City.
In 2014, architect Michael Reynolds and 50 volunteers built the first self-sustainable house made from garbage in Ushuaia.[65] A few months later, the first sustainable sentry box, made with recycled materials, was built in the same city.[66].
Chili
Today in Chile, sustainable management is beginning to be a strategic issue, no longer as a specific area or policy, but as part of the being and doing of the business. Social movements, environmental, political, trust and legitimacy crises, digital empowerment, among other factors, contribute to generating a change in business ethics, where values such as transparency are no longer differentiating attributes, but rather demands thanks to the advancement of a new business culture in pursuit of sustainability.[67].
The very concept of sustainable development is contained in Law 19,300, called the Law on General Bases of the Environment. Namely, article No. 2, literal g), provides:
"*Sustainable Development: the process of sustained and equitable improvement in the quality of life of people, based on appropriate measures of conservation and protection of the environment, so as not to compromise the expectations of future generations."[68].
What is relevant about the concept, in addition to encompassing the economic, social and environmental elements of the definition, is the incorporation of the so-called "Intergenerational Solidarity". As academic Jorge Bermúdez has pointed out, the component of intergenerational solidarity is related to:
"Present economic growth and development should not mean that the expectations of survival and development of future generations are compromised".[69].
Colombia
In Colombia, environmental regulations have had significant development in the last three decades, especially since the Stockholm Convention of 1972, whose principles were included in the Code of Renewable Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Decree Law 2811 of 1974). This was one of the first efforts in Latin America to issue comprehensive regulations on the environment.
In 2014, Colombia was the second country in Latin America with the most online volunteers after Brazil.[70] Donating their time and skills, online volunteers have participated in tasks to finance sustainable development attentive to gender differences through agroforestry and ecotourism.[71].
Cuba
In 2006, the WWF, in a report released in the Chinese capital, Beijing, noted that Cuba was the only country in the world with sustainable development, to date.[72].
Ecuador
In Ecuador, the Constitution of the Republic (Art. 3) establishes Sustainable Development as one of the "primary duties of the State." According to the Ministry of the Environment, Ecuador was recognized as a model of sustainable development to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, within the framework of the XI Annual Meeting of the United Nations, Social Organizations and Civil Society.[73].
Mexico
Mexico has demonstrated a significant commitment to sustainable development, actively participating in the definition and implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The country has led initiatives to incorporate principles of equality, social and economic inclusion, and has promoted a multidimensional approach to poverty that considers not only income, but also access to basic rights such as food, education and health.[74].
In terms of institutional advances, Mexico has presented voluntary reports on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. In addition, the Specialized Technical Committee on Sustainable Development has been established, with the participation of various agencies of the Federal Public Administration. The Senate of the Republic has also installed a working group dedicated to the 2030 Agenda, strengthening legislative support for compliance with the SDGs.
At the sector level, programs have been implemented such as the National Agreement for the Human Right to Water and Sustainability, which seeks to guarantee universal access to drinking water for all Mexicans starting in 2025. This plan includes significant investments in the modernization of irrigation and collaboration with private sectors to improve efficiency in water use.[75].
However, Mexico faces challenges in the transition to clean and sustainable energy. The National Strategy for the Hydrocarbons and Natural Gas Sector 2024-2030 prioritizes oil and gas production, which has generated criticism for the lack of focus on the energy transition and environmental sustainability.[76].
Peru
It is, along with Costa Rica, the only countries in Latin America to fully comply with the Paris agreement on greenhouse gas reduction,[77] having adjusted its legal framework to this agreement, sacrificing investment opportunities, mainly in the mining and metallurgical sector. Likewise, on April 29, 2019, the Vision of Peru for 2050 was approved, which proposes five axes that summarize the vision that we want to achieve with respect to Peruvian society. Two of the five proposed axes are directly linked to the Sustainable Development goals:
Spain
It has a Spanish Strategy for Sustainable Development[78] and Law 45/2007, of December 13, on Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment").[79].
The future Sustainable Economy Law is a legislative initiative approved in the Council of Ministers held on November 27, 2009 and aimed at placing the Spanish economy on the foundations of knowledge and innovation, with environmentally friendly tools and in an environment that favors quality employment, equal opportunities and social cohesion.[80].
The production and management of waste from all types of works is regulated: building, urbanization, demolition, renovation, etc.
Its objective is to promote, in this order, their prevention, reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery, ensuring that those destined for disposal operations receive adequate treatment, and contribute to the sustainable development of this activity. For these purposes, the drafting of a Construction-Demolition Waste Management Plan (RCD) "Construction-Demolition Waste Management Plan (RCD)" is mandatory.[81].