Abstract
The disturbances of the climate, the destruction of the ecosystem, the rarefaction of the water resources are threatening the continuation of life on earth. In the meantime, our societies wonder about an economic dynamic that leads to exclusion and inequalities no one seems to be in a position to control. How can we confront this set of problems that are obviously inextricably linked? As the world is witnessing a major ecological disaster, the international stage is envisaging all the solutions that could put an end to the problem. By looking into the environmental case and its stakes, we can realize how inextricable the situation seems to be. Yet, sustainable development, which pretends to reconcile the economic well-being, the social justice and the preservation of the biosphere, seems to be the magical solution that could resolve all of our anxieties. Hasn't it been conceived precisely for that goal? Sustainable development is in the heart of political, economic and social stakes which I chose to study in my paper. If this notion is very much in fashion, it is also a theme that is controversial that is often brought into question. Can we imagine a new dynamic, some new solutions that could re-examine sustainable development from every angle? Is sustainable development the only response to the environmental issues? Nowadays, we can find infinity of elaborated theories about what is happening in the world and what humanity should do to fight this scourge. I did my best not to get lost in scientific details and to focus on the political analysis of the environmental problem, not forgetting the social and economic aspects. I tried to elaborate my thought around the idea that sustainable development is above all a theory with its weaknesses and strengths.
