Words without meaning? Examining sustainable development terminology through small states and territories

Abstract

Small states and territories have plenty of examples to offer of sustainable development as well as for analysing the terminology used in sustainable development. This paper uses conceptual discussion supported by specific examples from small states and territories to explore these issues, demonstrating limitations and improvements to contemporary sustainable development terminology. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) frequently illustrate the points, for which this paper examines water, waste, and energy. These three are built on for examining climate change through a slightly polemical discussion which mirrors the polemics of sustainable development terminology. Small states and territories are shown to contribute to indicating how and why sustainable development terminology can inhibit practicalities of sustainable development, through detracting and distracting from realities faced, pragmatic decisions which need to be made, and fruitful enactment of desired and desirable pathways.