Relationship between Democracy, Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Relación entre Democracia, Desarrollo Sustentable y Cambio Climático

Abstract

Politics and development are structurally associated terms. Development is an ascending process of man through multiple dimensions, in search of his well-being. One of those dimensions is the sustainability of his physical-natural environment, which in turn marks his commitment to future generations. When development is lasting, it is called sustainable and it can be assured that to achieve it it is necessary to enjoy freedom. The political system of government that has been shown to best guarantee freedom is the democratic one. Hence its importance for development and sustainability. However, not all democracies have the same quality in terms of fulfilling attributes that are inherent to them. Democracies in Latin America show multiple flaws that make it difficult for them to approach sustainable development. The fight against climate change to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions demands global governance that until now has not proven to be efficient. This poses a challenge to world democracies. In Venezuela, achieving sustainable development currently involves reestablishing the interrupted democratic thread. This will imply multiple political, institutional, economic and cultural reforms; and among them, the need for a new economic model to overcome rentism and all its consequences stands out.