中国可持续发展研究会于1991年10月27日由国家民政部批准成立，1992年1月14日在北京人民大会堂召开了成立大会。中国可持续发展研究会成立时，原名为中国社会发展科学研究会；考虑到更充分体现本会的宗旨以及与当时国内外发展形势更紧密结合的需要，进一步突出可持续发展主题并与国际社会通用提法相一致，经民政部批准，1995年5月19日理事会正式决定更名为中国可持续发展研究会。研究会享有联合国经社理事会咨商地位，同时也是联合国新闻部联系单位，在国际社会以及联合国系统享有名副其实的影响力。研究会2010年和2021年被民政部授予全国先进社会组织称号，2012年和2018年被民政部评定为4A等级的中国社会组织。
中国可持续发展研究会是由拥护中国共产党领导、以国家宪法为根本活动准则，关心中国社会、经济、资源与环境等领域可持续发展问题的专家学者、社会管理工作者以及企业家组成的全国性社会团体。本团体严格遵守宪法、法律、法规和国家有关方针政策，严格遵守社会道德风尚；始终以普及和宣传可持续发展理念、促进可持续发展实践为基本出发点，以实现人与自然和谐为最高目标，大力弘扬“天人合一”的中华文化，积极探索和推广多样化的可持续发展模式；按照“尊重知识、尊重人才”，“百花齐放、百家争鸣”，“民主自律、民主办会”的原则，以实事求是的科学态度和脚踏实地的工作作风，积极开展与社会需求一致的各项活动，发挥并提升本社团全方位服务于社会的能力；以全面贯彻落实“创新驱动发展”、“生态文明建设”等国家战略为己任，充分开展学术的自由讨论、可持续发展实践模式的多样化探索，努力促进可持续发展战略的理论创新、知识普及、技术经验模式的推广和各类人才培养，为各级政府相关部门提供决策依据、为行业发展与企业成长提供技术支持，为推进社会主义生态文明的建设发挥作用，努力为实现中华民族伟大复兴的“中国梦”和人类可持续发展的目标做出积极贡献。
中国可持续发展研究会在理事会的领导下，根据工作需要设学术、咨询、可持续发展实验示范、国际交流合作、气候变化、绿色经典读书会六个工作委员会和一个编辑部；根据学术工作需要成立人居环境、水问题、减灾、生态环境、可持续农业和创新与绿色发展六个专业委员会，组织学术力量重点解决关系到我国可持续发展的重大理论问题。中国可持续发展研究会的会刊为《中国人口·资源与环境》期刊，是由邓小平同志题写刊名的政策指导性学术刊物。
2016年12月21日，中国可持续发展研究会在北京科技会堂召开第五届会员代表大会，选举产生第五届理事会以及研究会领导班子。研究会第五届理事会由77位理事构成，其中常务理事16名。第五届领导班子由6位成员构成：理事长王浩院士；副理事长曲久辉院士；副理事长郭日生巡视员；副理事长赵清总经理；副理事长黄晶主任；秘书长周海林研究员。
Chinese Society for Sustainable
Development (CSSD), formerly known as Chinese Society for Social Development,
was founded on October 27, 1991 under the approval of Ministry of Civil Affairs
of the People’s Republic of China. The foundation ceremony was held in
Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on January 14, 1992. In consideration of
emphasizing sustainable development and keeping pace with global trends, the
CSSD council decided to change the name to current CSSD on May 10, 1995, after
getting the approval from Ministry of Civil Affairs. CSSD possesses a
consultative status in the UN’s Economic and Social Council as well as a
contact member organization by the UN’s press office. In 2010, CSSD was awarded
the National Outstanding Social Organization by Ministry of Civil Affairs. In
2012 and 2018, CSSD was evaluated the Grade 4A of China Social Organizations by
Ministry of Civil Affairs.
CSSD is a national academic social
organization consisting of experts, scholars, civil society workers and some
entrepreneurs who are in support of the Community Party’s leadership and are
concerned about issues regarding sustainable development such as Chinese
population, economy, resources, environment, etc. CSSD aims at promoting
technology development and innovation, fostering the implementation of
sustainable development strategy, and making contribution to China’s
sustainable development through researching on theory and launching practical
activities primarily in the way of strategy research, academic exchange and
consulting services. CSSD firmly adheres to the democracy principle in its
internal management, and shows respect for different fellow organizations and
their propositions, thus CSSD manages to unite people from scientific, economic
and other different sectors, and fully carry out free discussions on an
academic level. Besides, CSSD has also been making great efforts on the theory
innovation, dissemination, and promotion of sustainable development strategy,
the education and training of more qualified people, and the providing of
theoretic evidence for government decision-making, contributing to the
development of socialist material and spiritual civilization and the overall
implementation of the China’s Agenda 21.
Under the leadership of the council,
the CSSD comprises an editorial department，5 work groups and 6
academic committees. The work groups are for: the academy, the consulting, the
experimental communities and innovation zones for Sustainable Development
Goals, the international exchange and cooperation, and the climate change.
Under the academic committee, there are 6 specialized committees themed on
habitat, water resource, disaster mitigation, ecology, sustainable agriculture,
and innovation & green development while all of which focus on resolving
major theoretic problems regarding sustainable development. The periodical
journal Chinese Population, Resources and Environment, with the name inscribed
by Mr. Deng Xiaoping, is CSSD’s internal journal and serves as the academic
guidance.
The fourth council of CSSD was made up
of 131 members including 30 executive directors. In Dec.2009, Mdm. Deng Nan was
authorized by the Organization Department of CPC Central Government to continue
at Chairperson of CSSD. Vice Chairmen included Mr. WANG Weizhong, Mr. WANG Hao,
Mr. HE Jiankun, Mr. QU Jiuhui and the Secretary General was Mr. GUO Risheng.
The current council (fifth council) of
CSSD was elected on December 21, 2016, which is made up of 77 members including
16 executive directors. The Chairperson is Mr. WANG Hao. The Vice Chairmen are
Mr. GUO Risheng, Mr. QU Jiuhui, Mr. ZHAO Qing and Mr.Huang Jing. The Secretary General is Mr.
ZHOU Hailin.
Currently CSSD owns a membership of 70
organizations.