Sustainable development from an evolutionary perspective

Abstract

Aim: awareness of the inherent unsustainability of past economic development, the magnitude and multidimensionality of the resulting environmental problems and the urgency of a paradigm shift in politics and economics.
 
 Design / Research methods: reflection on Matthias Glaubrecht´s book “Das Ende der Evolution” (The End of Evolution). Additionally Yuval Harari´s book “Sapiens” and some online sources were used.
 
 Conclusions / findings: An evolutionary developed cognitive superiority has made Homo sapiens not only to the most successful but also the most destructive species ever, which makes a drastic shift towards sustainable development is overdue in the 21st century.
 
 Originality / value of the article: highlighting the slow and merciless mechanisms of evolution and its big cycles, raising more awareness of the vulnerability of mankind and the necessity for a paradigm shift.
 
 Implications of the research (if applicable): urgency of sustainable development in politics, economics and research.
 Keywords: sustainable development, evolution, environmental economics, politics
 JEL: B52, Q01, Q59