We hear the term “sustainability” a lot, but do we really know what it means?
Sustainability
The concept of sustainable development was introduced in 1987 by the United Nations (UN) to provide a unified vision for the future. Specifically, it was defined as:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – UN Brundtland Commission
This definition has since been used for the creation of common goals to achieve, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and within global treaties like the Paris Agreement for climate change.
While many think about sustainability from solely an environmental perspective, sustainability should be seen from a wholistic view that includes other important factors of our lives. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of sustainability, why they are important, and which fields of study contribute to them.
Environmental Sustainability
Arguably the most well-known pillar of sustainability, environmental sustainability is the conservation and preservation of natural resources and systems. Some of the global issues environmental sustainability addresses are climate change, deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Economic Sustainability
Economic sustainability seeks to achieve stable long-term economic growth that does not harm the environment or infringe on human health. Circular economies, market growth, job creation, and carbon credits are some examples of economic sustainability.
Social Sustainability
Social sustainability promotes the equity, inclusivity, and well-being of human beings within society. This includes having equal access to opportunities, public programs, community engagement, human rights, and basic needs of survival.
Cultural Sustainability
Cultural sustainability is an important dimension of sustainability, as future generations should be able to partake in and enjoy the customs, traditions, and heritage sites we have today.
“A sustainable society depends upon a sustainable culture. If a society’s culture disintegrates, so will everything else.” – Jon Hawkes, Cultural Analyst
It’s All Connected
None of the sustainability pillars discussed above can exist on their own without affecting or being affected by each other. This can this be seen through SDGs that relate to more than one type of sustainability, but also through current real-world examples.
Global heritage sites (cultural) are threatened by climate change (environmental) and human conflict (social).
- Increasing global temperatures (environmental) can inequitably affect low-income households (social) and their energy bills (economic).
Traditional Hawaiian farming practices (cultural) are restoring native crops and ecosystems (environmental), reducing dependency on imports (economic), and ensuring food security (social).
- Carpooling can reduce carbon dioxide emissions (environmental), improve air quality for citizens (social), and reduce spending on gas (economic).
Careers and Sustainability
Some majors have direct links to sustainability, such as Environmental Science, Sustainability Studies, and Environmental Engineering, but most fields of study can contribute to sustainability in some way or form.
- Economists and those in financial industries achieve sustainable economic growth through resource valuation, environmental policy creation, and benefit-cost analyses.
- The healthcare industry can increase the social sustainability of an area through community engagement, providing opportunities for underserved areas, and having a culturally diverse workforce.
- Urban Planners make cities more sustainable through the development of safe bike lanes, efficient public transportation, public parks, and strategic land use planning.
- Careers in government, politics, and law are drivers in the research, development, and implementation of policies that address environmental issues.
- Historians, curators, and archivists keep records of our relationship with the environment, offer lessons and perspectives from the past, and actively preserve our cultural heritage.
- Marketing, advertising, and art can be used to inform the public, raise awareness, shape positive views of sustainability, and promote sustainable practices.
