“持续发展”的概念自1987年世界环境与发展委员会发表的《我们共同的未来》报告中首次提出以来，已被国际学术界普遍接受。这个报告给“持续发展”下的定义是：“满足当代需求又不损害后代满足其未来需求之能力的发展”。中国有句故话：“民以食为天”，人类最基本的需求之一 The concept of “sustainable development” has been universally accepted by the international academic community since it was first proposed in the 1987 report entitled “Our Common Future” published by the World Commission on Environment and Development. The report defines “sustainable development” as “the development that meets contemporary needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their future needs.” One of the most basic needs of mankind is China’s saying that “the people live on their own’s food.”