- "Experts often describe sustainability as having three dimensions (or pillars): environmental, economic, and social"
Maintaining a balance between social, economic, and environmental factors to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Climate change: Understanding the causes and effects of changes in global climate patterns, and how to mitigate and adapt to them.
Renewable energy: Learning about sources of energy such as solar, wind, and hydro power, and how to promote their use for a sustainable future.
Sustainable agriculture: Promoting a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity through responsible farming practices.
Waste reduction: Strategies for reducing the amount of waste produced, including recycling, composting, and reducing single-use plastics.
Water conservation: Promoting responsible water management practices, and protecting water resources from pollution and depletion.
Green transportation: Using low or zero-emission alternatives to conventional modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, and public transit.
Sustainable business practices: Adopting environmentally responsible policies and practices within the workplace, including energy efficiency and responsible waste management.
Biodiversity conservation: Protecting natural resources and wildlife, and promoting biodiversity management strategies.
Carbon footprint: Understanding how individual and collective actions contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and how to reduce them to mitigate climate change.
Eco-friendly tourism: Encouraging sustainable tourism and travel practices that are environmentally responsible and socially responsible.
Environmental justice: Understanding the disproportionate environmental impacts on marginalized communities, and working towards equitable and fair distribution of environmental resources and impacts.
Circular economy: Promoting a closed-loop economy where waste is reduced, reused, and recycled, and resources are conserved for future generations.
Ecosystem services: Understanding the benefits humans derive from natural ecosystems, and what can be done to protect these services now and in the future.
Green buildings: Designing and constructing buildings that are energy-efficient, sustainable, and minimize environmental impact.
Sustainable fashion: Encouraging sustainable and ethical practices throughout the fashion industry, from production to disposal of garments.
Environmental Sustainability: The practice of reducing our impact on the natural environment and ensuring that we preserve natural resources for future generations.
Social Sustainability: The ability of society to meet the needs of current and future generations, while improving the well-being of individuals and communities.
Economic Sustainability: The ability of an economy to support long-term growth without depleting or damaging natural resources or compromising the welfare of future generations.
Cultural Sustainability: The preservation and protection of cultural heritage and traditions, including languages, art forms, and historical sites.
Political Sustainability: The ability of political systems to respond effectively to environmental, social, and economic challenges while promoting democratic accountability.
Technological Sustainability: The development and use of sustainable technologies that minimize environmental impact and promote economic growth.
Energy Sustainability: The use of renewable and non-renewable energy resources in a way that ensures their long-term supply.
Water Sustainability: The management and conservation of water resources in a way that ensures their availability and quality for future generations.
Food Sustainability: The development and promotion of sustainable food systems that reduce waste, promote biodiversity, and support local agriculture.
Biodiversity Sustainability: The conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity and ecosystems to preserve their ecological functions and social value.
Climate Sustainability: The mitigation and adaptation to climate change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the negative impacts of climate change on society and the environment.
Urban Sustainability: The development and management of sustainable urban environments that promote social, environmental, and economic well-being.
Transportation Sustainability: The use of sustainable transportation modes and infrastructure that reduce the negative environmental impact of travel while promoting accessibility and mobility.
Waste Sustainability: The sustainable management and reduction of waste to minimize environmental impact and promote resource efficiency.
Health Sustainability: The promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthcare systems that support physical, mental, and social well-being.
- "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."