Final answer:
Sustainable development is the level of development that does not deplete resources, ensuring that future generations can meet their own needs, and includes living within the Earth's capacity to replenish its resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The level of development that can be maintained without depleting resources is called sustainable development. This concept is about balancing current societal needs with the need to preserve the environment and resources for future generations. Sustainable development aims for a stable consumption of materials and energy at a level that keeps resources intact for future use. It encompasses strategies like maximising local food production, maintaining a supply of clean water, and introducing new economic systems that do not result in ever-increasing consumption of natural resources.
The philosophy of sustainability holds that humanity should live on the 'annual income' provided by Earth's natural renewable flows, rather than depleting one-time endowments of finite resources. To ensure that future generations are not deprived of the resources enjoyed by previous ones, human society needs to operate within nature's capacity to replenish itself. This includes sustainable use of natural resources in a manner that meets present needs while preserving those resources for future generations.