Development and environment are closely interconnected because every development activity depends upon natural resources and, at the same time, affects the quality and availability of those resources. Development aims to improve human well-being through economic growth, industrialisation, infrastructure, employment, education and better living standards. However, these activities require land, water, forests, minerals and energy. Excessive or unsustainable use of these resources can cause environmental degradation, which ultimately threatens the very foundations of development. The relationship between development and environment can be understood through the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development seeks to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Economic development that ignores environmental limits may initially increase production and income, but it can create long-term costs such as pollution, resource depletion, climate change, loss of biodiversity and health problems. Therefore, effective policy planning must integrate environmental considerations into economic and social development programmes.