- "Experts often describe sustainability as having three dimensions (or pillars): environmental, economic, and social"
The study of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Science: An interdisciplinary field that focuses on the natural processes and systems of the environment and how they interact with human activities.
Climate Change: The long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.
Energy Management: An approach of improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact by managing energy resources.
Environmental Law: The collection of laws, regulations, agreements and practices that govern how humans interact with the natural environment.
Ethical Consumption: A conscious and responsible approach to purchasing and consuming goods that minimize the environmental impact.
Sustainable Agriculture: A method of farming that focuses on balancing the needs of the environment, society and economy.
Green Buildings: A practice of designing and constructing buildings that are resource-efficient and environmentally responsible.
Waste Management: The collection, transportation, disposal, or recycling and monitoring of waste materials.
Social Responsibility: The idea that individuals and organizations have an ethical obligation to behave in a way that benefits society as a whole.
Life Cycle Analysis: A method for assessing the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle.
Water Management: The management of water resources to ensure safe and sustainable use, allocation and conservation.
Environmental Economics: The study of the economic impact of environmental policies and practices.
Corporate Social Responsibility: A commitment by organizations to conduct business in an ethical and socially responsible manner.
Biodiversity: The variety of life on earth and the interaction between different species.
Sustainable Transportation: A method of transportation that focuses on reducing environmental impact, improving health and promoting social and economic equity.
Green Marketing: A practice of promoting products and services based on their environmental attributes.
Renewable Energy: Energy derived from sources that can be replenished in a relatively short period of time.
Sustainable Tourism: A responsible and ethical approach to tourism that seeks to minimize negative environmental and cultural impacts and maximize economic benefits for local communities.
Environmental Ethics: The study of ethical issues related to the natural environment and human relationship with it.
Ecological Footprint: A tool for measuring the impact of human activities on the natural environment.
Environmental sustainability: Environmental sustainability focuses on preserving natural resources and ecosystems to ensure their long-term survival. It involves minimizing pollution, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Economic sustainability: Economic sustainability aims to create economic growth and prosperity that benefits both current and future generations. It involves the efficient use of resources to maintain a healthy economy.
Social sustainability: Social sustainability focuses on improving societal well-being and ensuring social equity. It involves promoting social responsibility and equality while ensuring that communities thrive and grow.
Cultural sustainability: Cultural sustainability involves preserving cultural heritage and traditions as a way of promoting cultural diversity and identity. It also focuses on promoting intercultural understanding and respect.
Political sustainability: Political sustainability involves ensuring the longevity of political systems and governance structures. It involves promoting democracy, transparency, and accountability.
Institutional sustainability: Institutional sustainability involves ensuring the longevity of institutions and organizations. It involves having strong systems of governance and management that promote accountability, transparency, and good decision-making.
Technological sustainability: Technological sustainability focuses on developing technologies that promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact. It involves the development of clean, renewable energy sources and the promotion of energy-efficient technologies.
Urban sustainability: Urban sustainability involves promoting sustainable cities and communities. It involves creating environmentally friendly infrastructure and promoting sustainable modes of transportation, waste management, and urban planning.
Operational sustainability: Operational sustainability involves creating sustainable business practices and supply chain management. It involves reducing waste, promoting sustainable sourcing of raw materials, and reducing energy consumption.
Energy sustainability: Energy sustainability involves promoting and developing renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. It involves promoting energy efficiency and reducing energy waste.
- "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."