The Environmental Challenges of Sustainable Development and Their Impact on Rural Women in East Africa

The environment and its conservation are critical for the survival and well-being of all living creatures. Their importance has gained momentum over the years and now occupies a central position in international fora. A closely related issue that is also at the forefront in international debates is sustainable development, particularly in this period following the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, commonly referred to as Rio + 20. Bearing in mind that the world population is growing at an unprecedented rate and that the earth contains a finite quantity of resources, the concept basically refers to a form of development in which the current generation meets its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. As a result, sustainable development in itself raises a wide number of issues, ranging from socio-economic to political or environmental considerations. The purpose of this research therefore was to gain a better understanding of the challenges of sustainable development in the East African region from an environmental perspective. This research is important because it brought to light the said challenges and generated useful information about their nature, dynamics and consequences on women in East Africa. I collected data through secondary sources of information such as books and journals from the library, as well as online journals and articles from the internet.