Sustainability means meeting the needs of our present generation while ensuring future generations have the means to meet their needs. The three branches of sustainability are examined: environment, society, and economy.
There isn’t a better time to achieve economic sustainability than now. But what is it, and why is it important? We must work to meet our needs while ensuring that our descendants have the means to meet their needs.
The United States emits greenhouse gases at a rate greater than any nation on Earth except China. Although much smaller in population — the US has just over 332 million to China’s nearly 1.4 billion — the US emits greenhouse gases at a rate roughly half of that of China.
Early summer 2021 brought record highs to the normally temperate northwestern US and southwestern Canada. Portland, Oregon reported a high of 116 degrees Fahrenheit. A region in Washington’s Pacific Coast reported a temperature of 110 degrees, four degrees higher than the all-time high in Las Vegas. Climate scientists report global temperatures are now higher than they were in the late 1800s.
You may think the concept of sustainability is new. However, history tells us otherwise …
Environmental sustainability: perhaps the most important leg of the thrice-pronged sustainability equation. Without a healthy environment, social and economic equity become irrelevant. Life as we know it is threatened, even impossible in some cases.
The World Bank defines social sustainability as being “about inclusive and resilient societies where citizens have a voice and governments respond.” It hinges on people understanding, accepting, and supporting one another.
Some say the term “sustainability” is used so often for so many different activities, that it has become meaningless. I, for one, don’t think so. Millions of people in these times don’t only think sustainability is a viable concept; they’re also working toward its achievement. Indeed, sustainability may be the greatest need of life today.
Sustainability is usually divided into three sectors: the environment, society, and economy. A look at the four major types of economies: traditional, market-based, command-based, and mixed. And three new ones: circular, global, and green.