In 1987, the Brundtland Convention defined sustainability as finding ways to live today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As discussed in Chapter 4, the goal of sustainability was defined by developed, egalitarian-minded, mostly European countries, and the values of the participants impacted how they viewed sustainability. Chapter 4 also discussed that we don’t know what needs will be in the future, therefore we can’t know how sustainable we are in the present.
Think about how you view and define sustainability. How would do those around you define sustainability: ask three people (for example: a parent, a roommate, the TA for calculus office hours, your boss, or a store clerk). Report your answer and the most interesting answer you got from someone else. Did the three people have similar views as you? What surprised you? Is there any overlap with Dr. Allenby's textbook?
Full Answer Section
I asked three people how they define sustainability:
- My mother: She said that sustainability is about living in harmony with nature and using resources wisely.
- My roommate: He said that sustainability is about making sure that we have a planet that is livable for future generations.
- My TA for calculus: She said that sustainability is about finding ways to meet our needs without depleting the resources that future generations will need.
The most interesting answer I got was from my roommate. He said that he thinks sustainability is about more than just environmental protection. He said that it's also about social justice and economic equity. He believes that we need to create a sustainable world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
I think all three of the people I talked to had valid definitions of sustainability. They all emphasized the importance of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. However, they also had different perspectives on what this means in practice. My mother focused on the importance of living in harmony with nature, while my roommate focused on the importance of social justice and economic equity. My TA focused on the importance of finding solutions that are technically feasible and economically viable.
I think there is some overlap between Dr. Allenby's textbook and the definitions that I got from the people I talked to. Dr. Allenby emphasizes the importance of considering the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. He also talks about the need to find solutions that are technically feasible and economically viable.
I think it's important to have a variety of perspectives on sustainability. This is because sustainability is a complex issue with no easy answers. By considering different perspectives, we can come up with more comprehensive and effective solutions.
Sample Answer
Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a complex concept that encompasses a variety of social, economic, and environmental factors.
Here is how I define sustainability:
- Social sustainability: This means ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to live a healthy and fulfilling life. This includes things like food, water, shelter, education, and healthcare.
- Economic sustainability: This means ensuring that the economy is able to provide for the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the economy to function in the future. This includes things like job creation, economic growth, and environmental protection.
- Environmental sustainability: This means ensuring that the environment is able to support life and provide the resources that we need to live. This includes things like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.