The authors determine the features of the introduction of the concept of sustainable development into the socio-political discourse. The research methodology is based on the political analysis of various views of researchers concerning mechanisms and ways for implementing sustainable development. As a result of the study, the authors made conclusion that the implementation of the concept of sustainable development carry out non-linearly and requires a radical revision of relations with the natural system, finding new mutually beneficial models of cooperation between business, civil society and a state, increasing their environmental responsibility, developing innovations and overcoming the problem of the glass ceiling of environmental modernization. The reverse side of the introduction of the concept of sustainable development in the interests of the West and large financial alliances through the mechanism of creating debt of developing countries, putting them in a deliberately losing position and leading to economic stagnation, is analyzed. The authors present own vision of the transformation and implementation trends of this concept in the world. The present research can be used as a theoretical basis in the
development of effective mechanisms for the realization of the concept of sustainable development in the Russia.