Sustainability is not a simple concept to grasp, even a CBC program has recently referred to it as a “squishy” term. Literally translated from it’s Latin origins it means ableness & support/bear or the ability to support! Enter the squishy, to support what exactly?
The most common and consistent definition around the world today is a result of the Brundtland Report ("Our Common Future" - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)
“Development that meets the needs of today's generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
This is a fantastic jumping point for getting your head around sustainability because from here many other definitions have been triggered each with a slightly different take on the cause and most just as valid as they different. At the very least you will no doubt be seeking further clarification on:
“development”
“meets”
“needs”
“future generations”
Sustainability definitions can vary from one extreme to the other like the IUCN/UNEP/WWF. Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. (Gland, Switzerland: 1991):
“Improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems”
New Media Alliance “Decade of Sustainable Development: Marxist indoctrination of children”.(Shelton, Connecticut: 2006):
“Sustainable development is key to the destruction of American culture, values, ethics and foundational principles”
It is, however, becoming more widely accepted that our environment, our economy and our society are interdependent, albeit, the degree to which is an immediate priority is still hotly debated. A recently noted soundbite highlights this debate:
Politician: “When our economy picks up, we hope to have more money for environmental programs”
Environmental Activist: “You do realize that without an environment, we don’t have an economy?”
A paradigm shift regarding the interconnectedness of environment, economy and society has started. Even hard core environmental activists are accepting that they must work with and not against big industry and other economic engines. A team approach (with personal interests not at the forefront) can help diffuse the “Tragedy of the Commons” situation we are increasingly finding our globe in.
I see a plasma ball meeting a three-ringed circus. The circus - our planet. The three rings (1) Environment - maintaining biodiversity and living within the carrying capacity of our natural systems. (2) Society - successful democratic governance maintaining the sustainable values by which we wish to live. (3) Economy - all citizens of earth living with the most basic of needs.
Like chaos and chemical equations, sustainability will most always be in a state of flux, forever trying to reach a sense of equilibrium…. a sense of peace. Any input or output from anywhere on the sphere effects the almost gyroscopic flow.
There may be a brief moment when all rings are aligned - this will be known as destination Sustainability - when that moment passes efforts and resources must once again ignite and work towards the common aligning goals.
