The modern paradigm of the concept of sustainable development

The article is dedicated to the transformation of the concept of sustainable development in the context of the escalating ecological and civilizational crisis. It discusses key stages of institutionalizing the concept, including the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and analyzes new approaches to understanding sustainability, such as the theory of planetary boundaries and the doughnut economy model. Special attention is paid to the contradiction between the institutionalized system of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contemporary geopolitical realities. The author analyzes the evolution of the concept from the classical model of balancing economic, social, and environmental interests to modern interpretations that include planetary boundaries, doughnut economics, and regenerative development principles, as well as the transformation of the timeframe for responsibility—from abstract care for future generations to the imperative of survival in the present. The research, conducted using an interdisciplinary approach with historical-legal, comparative, and systemic methods, reveals several key shifts in understanding sustainability. First, the ecological component has ceased to be an equal pillar, transforming into a critical condition for the existence of the economy and society. Second, there has been a shift from quantitative indicators to an anthropological dimension that includes subjective well-being, conscious consumption, and eco-sufficiency. Third, the concept has acquired a political dimension, facing conflicts of interest, the necessity for a “just transition,” and demands for technological sovereignty for developing countries. The author concludes that the escalation of armed conflicts, attacks on critical infrastructure (oil tankers, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric stations), and the breakdown of the global legal order can nullify efforts to preserve the biosphere. Sustainable development in the 21st century represents not an abstract concern for the future but an imperative for human survival, the realization of which faces a fundamental civilizational challenge.