- "Experts often describe sustainability as having three dimensions (or pillars): environmental, economic, and social"
Explores how humans can live within the limits of the natural world without degrading it, emphasizing the need to balance economic, social, and environmental considerations for long-term well-being.
Climate change: Study of the changes in the Earth's climate and their impacts on the environment and human societies.
Sustainable development: The balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social development.
Renewable energy: Energy sources that are replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.
Biodiversity conservation: Preserving the variety of species and their ecosystems to maintain environmental stability.
Green economy: Economic activities that promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
Ecological footprint: Measuring the impact of human activities on the environment.
Environmental policy: The rules and regulations that govern environmental practices.
Pollution control: Prevention or reduction of harmful pollutants in the air, water, and soil.
Natural resource management: Sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, such as water, forests, and minerals.
Sustainable agriculture: Farming practices that promote ecological sustainability.
Sustainable transportation: Modes of transportation that reduce fossil fuel emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
Environmental justice: Fair and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across all communities.
Circular economy: An economic system that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency.
Sustainable cities: Urban planning and development that promotes environmental sustainability and livability.
Carbon footprint: Measuring the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual, organization, or nation.
Ecological sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the preservation and protection of ecological systems, maintaining a balance between humans and nature. It aims to minimize the negative impact of human activities on the environment and promote sustainable practices.
Social sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the well-being of humans, ensuring their basic needs are met and that they have access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. It also aims to address issues of inequality, social justice, and human rights.
Economic sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on maintaining a healthy and stable economy that meets the needs of present and future generations. It aims to promote sustainable economic growth, reduce poverty, and ensure that resources are distributed equitably.
Cultural sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage and diversity, ensuring that traditional knowledge, skills, and practices are passed down to future generations. It aims to promote cultural identity and encourage a sense of community among people.
Political sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on promoting democratic governance, ensuring that political systems are transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens. It aims to promote peace, security, and stability in society.
Technological sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the development and adoption of technologies that can help reduce negative impacts on the environment and promote sustainable practices. It aims to promote innovation and the use of technology for sustainable development.
Biophysical sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the interrelationships between living organisms and the environment. It aims to understand how natural systems work and to develop ways to maintain the balance between the two for the benefit of all living organisms.
Intergenerational sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on ensuring that resources are managed in such a way that they are available for future generations. It aims to promote the sustainability of ecosystems, cultures, and economies over the long term, rather than just meeting the immediate needs of the present.
Urban sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the sustainability of urban ecosystems, including the built environment, infrastructure, and natural systems, to promote sustainable development in cities and towns.
Biodiversity sustainability: This type of sustainability focuses on the conservation and protection of the diversity of life on Earth. It aims to promote the sustainable use of natural resources while protecting ecosystems and preserving species diversity.
- "sustainability often focuses on countering major environmental problems, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, loss of ecosystem services, land degradation, and air and water pollution"
- "The idea of sustainability can guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels"
- "A related concept is sustainable development, and the terms are often used to mean the same thing."
- "The economic dimension of sustainability is controversial. Scholars have discussed this under the concept of 'weak and strong sustainability.'"
- "maintaining ecosystem services, reducing food waste, promoting dietary shifts towards plant-based foods, promoting new green technologies, and adopting renewable energy sources"
- "The United Nations agreed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. These set a global agenda for sustainable development, with a deadline of 2030."
- "This means using fewer resources per unit of output even while growing the economy. This reduces the environmental impact of economic growth such as pollution."
- "Existing global organizations such as the UN and WTO are inefficient in enforcing current global regulations."
- "Business groups have tried to integrate ecological concerns with economic activity. Religious leaders have stressed the need for caring for nature and environmental stability. Individuals can also live in a more sustainable way."
- "The concept of sustainability has faced various criticisms."
- "One is that the concept is vague and only a buzzword."
- "Some experts have pointed out that 'no country is delivering what its citizens need without transgressing the biophysical planetary boundaries'."
- "Indicators consider environmental, social and economic domains. The metrics are evolving."
- "Some barriers arise from nature and its complexity. Other barriers are extrinsic to the concept of sustainability, such as the dominant institutional frameworks in countries."
- "there will always be tension between the ideas of 'welfare and prosperity for all' and environmental conservation, so trade-offs are necessary."
- "reducing population growth by cutting fertility rates"
- "Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal (i.e. a more sustainable world), while sustainable development refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it."
- "there will always be tension between the ideas of 'welfare and prosperity for all' and environmental conservation"
- "Some experts say there is no evidence that it is happening at the required scale."