On the evolution of the concept of sustainable development

The aim of this article is to show the evolution of the concept of sustainable development from the beginning to its current understanding in ongoing scientific debates.The author focuses on the analysis of the meaning of the title concept in its historic development, putting aside its various practical dimensions.Design/methodology/approach: The article analyzes selected, available literature on the concept of sustainable development.Apart from literature review, the author uses the method of analysis and logical construction.Findings: The concept of sustainable development is a relatively new one.The concept that we are dealing with today has evolved since about the middle of the 20th century.The idea of sustainable development is defined as a multi-and interdisciplinary issue, encompassing the following aspects: environmental, social, and economic.The emergence of the titular concept was preceded by a long process of development of the concepts of progress, environmental ethics and sustainability in both secular and religious traditions.It seems to be the best possible way to organize the modern world, giving a chance for sustainable and equitable development of human society both on a global and local scale. Research limitations/implications:The article refers to a limited number of studies.Sustainable development is a multidimensional issue.This concept is defined in different ways depending on the theoretical adopted perspective.Originality/value: The article refers to selected literature in the field sustainable development.The value of the article is mainly expressed in the approach to the issue of sustainable development in the aspect of the evolution of this concept from its beginning to the present day.