Course: BIS 105 Environmental Biology

Unit 1 Learning Module

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability

Sustainability is derived from two Latin words: sus which means up and tenere which means to hold. In its modern form it is a concept born out of the desire of humanity to continue to exist on planet Earth for a very long time, perhaps the indefinite future. Sustainability is, hence, essentially and almost literally about holding up human existence.

There is not one universally accepted definition of sustainability, yet there are several themes that emerge from most definitions. These include living within certain limits and the interconnectedness of the environment, the economy, and society.

Possibly, the most succinct articulation of the issue can be found in the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The report entitled “Our Common Future” primarily addressed the closely related issue of Sustainable Development. The report, commonly know as the Brundtland Report after the Commission Chair Gro Harlem Brundtland, stated

Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

As previously mentioned, environmental, economic, and societal dimensions are common factors in many definitions. This is commonly referred to as the triple bottom line. The World Business Council on Sustainable Development states "sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. Companies aiming for sustainability need to perform not against a single, financial bottom line but against the triple bottom line."

While this graphic has been widely used in discussions regarding sustainability, not everyone agrees with this depiction. One of the main crtiques is the depiction of society or the economy existing separate from nature. A nested approach can be used to illustrate the economy exists within human society, which in turn exists within the natural environment.

Regardless of which version you prefer, most can agree we need to transition to a more sustainble way of life. We must become better stewards of our planet to ensure we endure.

A transition to sustainability involves moving from linear to cyclical processes and technologies. The only processes we can rely on indefinitely are cyclical; all linear processes must eventually come to an end. - Dr. Karl Henrik-Robert