What is Sustainability?

“We are part of linked systems of humans and nature, so the study of sustainability goes beyond environmentalism.”

“The planet faces many problems that are connected, including poverty, political instability, and the destruction of the life support systems we all depend on.”

“We cannot fix one problem in isolation because they are all connected.”

Sustainability means meeting the needs of people now without compromising the needs of the generations that will come after us. When we don’t take care of our planet and use resources in a sustainable manner, we risk destroying the planet and making future generations suffer. This sounds dramatic, but it’s true. People often misunderstand what sustainability is and don’t realize just how ecology, economy, and society are all linked together. We rely on nature for many things: food, water, air, materials for building and technology, medicines, and ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.

Is sustainability just about helping the environment? It’s not. It’s comprised of three elements: ecological sustainability, economic opportunity, and social inclusion. The video above explains these principles in a very clear manner.

Most of us are familiar with sustainability as it relates to the environment. It means that we take care of the planet. We use resources, but do so in a way that ensures there will be enough left for future generations. We ensure that ecosystems will be viable for many years to come. It’s taking care to provide clean water, air, and food to the entirety of humanity. We protect wildlife and don’t take over vital habitats. It means we have a long term perspective. We’re not just thinking about making money, we’re thinking about what this means for future generations, and how we can be successful while protecting the planet.

To have a truly sustainable society, we need to decrease the huge gap in income. This is not a sustainable practice. Everybody should have an opportunity to succeed, and as this gap increases, it becomes more and more difficult for people who aren’t in the top tiers of income to have success in life. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. Economic sustainability is about finding balance so that there can be economic growth without depleting resources and causing damage to the environment. A healthy economy will take into account the needs of future generations and function in such a way as to allow everybody to have the same kind of opportunity for success.

A healthy and sustainable society functions in a way that will promote the well-being of its people now and into the future. It’s about providing equal access to resources and creating opportunities for everyone. Social sustainability is also about inclusion and belonging. Nobody in a healthy and sustainable society should feel like they don’t belong! Social isolation is a very big problem in a society that isn’t sustainable. Another part of social sustainability is ensuring that everyone has an equal voice when it comes to policy and decisions that affect their lives. It’s also important that those in a healthy, sustainable society have access to healthcare and education. The main idea of a sustainable society is that in it, everybody has an opportunity to thrive now and into the future.

Sustainability isn’t just about saving trees and animals, though this too is a big part of it. It’s about protecting and conserving all of our resources so we can all continue to live and thrive for generations to come. It’s all about living in harmony with nature.

References:

Robertson, M. (2017). What is Sustainability? In Sustainability Principles and Practices (2nd ed., pp. 3–3), Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

Images courtesty of Robin Hagan