Sustainable development is development that meets our present needs without compromising the needs of future generations. It represents a multifaceted approach to managing our environmental, economic, and social resources for the long term. In this approach, federal, state, tribal, and local governments work together to achieve environmental protection goals and set standards for cooperation between communities, businesses, and governments. The ultimate aim of this collaborative decision making process is to promote more sensible use of human, natural, and financial resources by creating a widely held ethic of environmental stewardship among individuals, institutions, and corporations.
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