What is sustainablity?
There are numerous definitions of sustainability, from the Bruntland Commission definition of:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
To the simple idea of
"using the revenue of the planet without eroding the capital of the planet".
My view and understanding of sustainability has evolved over time. Beginning with the idea that sustainability is the small area where environmental, social and economic issues overlap - the three legged stool approach.
To my more recent understanding of sustainability, that it is where the economic system is subservient to the social structures, which is in turn subservient to the environment or nature. This in turn may then be subservient to the spiritual side, although, depending on how you consider spirituality, it may be that spirituality is subservient to the environment or nature.
This is based on the premise that we have only one planet to live on, and if we destroy that then the social and cultural infrastructure degrades. If that happens, the financial and economic infrastructure and systems are then likely to collapse. By taking nature and environment as the most important factor, and learning how to work with, and as part of it, we can create social and cultural institutions that will stand the test of time. This will ensure that the financial and economic infrastructure and systems support, respect and enhance nature, the environment, society and community.
How we address sustainability and to what depth does depend on where we are now. Yes, we need to address these issues quickly and effectively if we wish to continue to live the type of lives we have recently (at least in the developed world). However, we need to speak to people in a way they can understand, that fits in with where they are now, their world view. What makes sense for the indigenous people may not to those in the developing world or in westernised societies. Yet we all have a part to play.
My simple way of illustrating my starting point on sustainability is the diagram below. What each aspect means, and the level of importance perhaps changes in different situations.
I have been interested in how values affect our approach to sustainability for a number of years, and am working on a paper addressing this. Even when it is published, it will remain a document which is open to evolving.
For more information on how I work in the different areas, please go to:
- Sustainability in Business - describing how I work with small groups or companies to create an approach to sustainability which works for them.
- Sustainability in the built environment - shows how I work with land owners, developers and occupiers to create more sustainable communities.
- Sustainability for individuals - describing how I might work with individuals to create an approach which works for them, and allows them to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."
Richard Bach
