Sustainable Development IGCSE Biology 0610

Sustainable Development: Meeting Needs Without Compromising the Future

Biology editorial review is supported by the named review panel. Reviewer participation may vary by guide. Checked against Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2026–2028); last reviewed August 2026.

Key concept

Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves using resources at a rate that allows them to be replaced naturally.

Sustainable development is increasingly examined as a synoptic topic that draws together ecology, conservation and human activity. Students must define the concept, give specific examples and explain why each example is sustainable.

What sustainable development means

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It requires balancing economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection.

In biological terms, this means using renewable resources at a rate that does not exceed their natural rate of replacement, and minimising pollution and waste to levels the environment can absorb without lasting damage.

Sustainable forestry

In sustainable forestry, trees that are cut down are replaced by planting new ones. Only a proportion of trees are harvested at any one time, allowing the forest to regenerate. Selective logging removes only mature trees rather than clear-cutting entire areas.

This maintains the forest as a habitat for wildlife, continues to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, prevents soil erosion, and provides a continuous supply of timber for future use. Certification schemes (such as FSC) help consumers identify sustainably sourced wood products.

Sustainable fishing

Overfishing has depleted many fish stocks to dangerously low levels. Sustainable fishing practices include: setting catch quotas that limit the amount of fish that can be taken, enforcing minimum net mesh sizes to allow young fish to escape and grow to reproductive age, establishing no-take zones where fishing is banned to allow populations to recover, and monitoring fish populations to adjust quotas.

The goal is to harvest fish at a rate that allows the population to reproduce and maintain its size over time. If more fish are taken than are born, the population will decline and may eventually collapse.

Renewable energy and waste reduction

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal) reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable sources are not depleted by use.

Reducing waste through recycling, composting and reducing consumption helps preserve resources and reduces pollution. Biodegradable materials break down naturally, while non-biodegradable materials (such as plastics) persist in the environment. Designing products for reuse and recycling is part of a sustainable approach.

Try a focused question (3 marks)

Explain what is meant by sustainable development, using fishing as an example.

Show the answer and marking guidance

Sustainable development means meeting current needs without preventing future generations from meeting theirs.
In fishing, this means setting catch quotas so that only enough fish are caught to allow the population to reproduce and maintain its size.
Minimum net mesh sizes allow young fish to escape and grow to breeding age, ensuring future fish stocks.

Original Cambridge-style practice written for this site. It is not an official Cambridge past-paper question.

Common mix-ups to avoid

Check these points against your own answer before moving on.

Defining sustainable development vaguely as "being green" without the generational component.
Giving only one example instead of explaining the general principle.
Forgetting that sustainability requires using resources at a rate that allows replacement.
Not linking specific practices (quotas, replanting) to sustainability.