- "Experts often describe sustainability as having three dimensions (or pillars): environmental, economic, and social"
Sustainability refers to the ability of cities and towns to maintain and improve their quality of life while minimizing negative environmental impacts and preserving natural resources.
Sustainable Development Goals: The United Nations' SDGs are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets that aim to address social, economic, and environmental issues, which are essential for sustainable development.
Circular Economy: A circular economy is an economic system that focuses on reducing waste and using resources efficiently, by designing products that can be reused, repaired, or recycled.
Environmental Policies: Policies and regulations that aim to regulate and manage environmental impacts and pollutant emissions, such as air and water pollution.
Renewable Energy: Energy sources that are replenished by the natural environment, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, which are critical for achieving sustainable energy transition.
Green Infrastructure: Designing cities and urban areas in ways that enhance natural resources and ecosystems while minimizing environmental and societal impacts.
Sustainable Transportation: Developing sustainable transportation systems, including public transportation options, walking, and biking infrastructures.
Urbanization: The process of population growth and the development of cities, which impacts and often overburdens natural resources and the surrounding environment.
Climate Change: A global phenomenon of climate change caused by increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, resulting in rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions, and sea-level rise.
Resource Management: The management of natural resources, waste, and energy flows, to ensure efficient and sustainable use and proper disposal.
Social and Equity Issues: The consideration of social and equity issues, such as poverty, access to education, and health care, in sustainability planning and efforts.
Environmental sustainability: Focuses on the protection and preservation of natural resources, reducing pollution, and promoting sustainable land use.
Social sustainability: Aims to improve the quality of life and well-being of the community, providing equal access to basic services and promoting social justice.
Economic sustainability: Seeks to maintain a healthy and stable economy, diversifying local economies, supporting small businesses, promoting job creation, and ensuring access to basic financial services.
Cultural sustainability: Involves preserving cultural heritage and traditions, promoting cultural diversity, and encouraging community participation and engagement.
Governance sustainability: Involves promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making processes.
Infrastructure sustainability: Aims to create infrastructure that is resilient, adaptable, and able to meet the needs of the community.
Energy sustainability: Focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of cities, promoting energy efficiency, and encouraging the use of renewable energies.
Transport sustainability: Involves promoting sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling, and public transportation, reducing dependence on private vehicles and promoting alternative forms of mobility.
Water sustainability: Aims to ensure the sustainable use and management of water resources, reducing water consumption, and preventing pollution.
Resilience sustainability: Involves preparing for and adapting to potential risks and threats, improving disaster preparedness and response planning, and promoting long-term development and resilience.
- "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."