Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

 12.4. 
 Guiding principles of sustainable 
development
In the process of planning, implementing and evaluating the 
sustainability of development, a number of basic principles have 
been worked out. Some of these are socio-ecological principles, 
which clearly outline regularities of development and enable 
precise  identification  of  development  goals.  There  are  different 
transition routes to sustainable development, and mistakes are 
possible; however, having a precisely defined goal is prerequisite. 
The aggregate stocks of 
the Earth’s capital can 
be classified into three 
principal forms:
 
Œ economic (human‑
made) capital, which 
con ventionally 
comprises equipment, 
technology, buildings 
and infrastructure, 
and which is used for 
producing goods and 
providing services;
 
Œ social capital, which 
is related to human 
welfare both socially 
and individually. It 
consists of social norms 
and formal and informal 
structures that ensure 
access to resources, 
helps to solve common 
problems and 
enhances social unity. 
It is based on human 
spiritual and physical 
health, education, 
motivation, talent, skills 
and abilities;
 
Œ natural capital, which 
includes all ecosystems 
and natural resources 
(renewable and non‑
renewable). Besides the 
conventional natural 
resources (timber, 
water, energy, minerals), 
the natural capital 
comprises also such 
values of nature that 
are difficult to express 
in monetary terms – 
biological diversity, 
species and ecosystems 
that ensure ecosystems 
services (for example, 
purification of air and 
water).

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ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
The advantages of socio-ecological principles lie in their assessment 
of sustainable development from a systemic perspective and 
consideration of activities in succession from the very beginning.
Among the basic principles of sustainable development, the most 
important are four ways of sustainability that give answers to the 
question ‘how to act?’ to ensure social development.