For Sustainable SDGs: Righting Through Responsibilities

Sustainability of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are contingent on both ‘weak sustainability’ and ‘strong sustainability.’ Rights-based approach, the most prevalent one in the international policy space towards sustained realization of development goals, is unlikely to ensure either of the sustainability notions. Rather it has to be the (moral) responsibility of the State, communities, and even individuals. After all, adoption of language of responsibility in international environmental law vis-a-vis ‘unidirectional externalities’ has been successful in maintaining the critical natural capital for the ‘sink’ function.