Environmental sustainability for human well-being in the Post-2015 development agenda

A new post-2015 development agenda demands a new vision and a responsive framework with
sustainable development at its core. The “business as usual” scenario is not affordable, either socially or environmentally, or, in the long run, economically. The integration of economic growth, social protection and justice, and environmental stewardship should be at the core of the sustainable development goals and the post- 2015 development agenda. Addressing issues in silos will not lead humankind along a pathway towards sustainable development. Increasing agricultural productivity, including through the efficient use of water, diversity of species and varieties, and healthy ecosystem services, is possible while in parallel halting and reversing land degradation, drought and desertification. Theoretically, restoring the 2 billion hectares of degraded agricultural land could boost food production by up to 79 per cent – or feed up to 2.25 billion people.