An Introduction to Sustainability and Sustainable Development

info@CircularEcology.com

@CircularEcology

Definition of Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development is an apparently simple concept

• But one that is surprisingly difficult to articulate

• This is demonstrated well by the research of Sara Parkins back in the year 2000

• She found that there were over 200 definitions of sustainability…

Sustainable Development

However, the most common definition today is the one below:

“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs”

Brundtland Report, 1987

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

The Three Pillars

• Sustainability may also be defined through the three pillars of sustainability

• The three pillars are:

– Environmental sustainability

– Economic sustainability

– Social sustainability

• Only when all 3 pillars are in balance is true sustainability achieved…

Sustainability – The 3 Pillars

Only this bit is true

sustainability

The Three Pillars

• What happens when only 2 out of the 3 pillars are achieved?

– Social + Economic = Equitable

– Social + Environmental = Bearable

– Economic + Environmental = Viable

• Note: none of the above are true sustainability

Is it real sustainability?

Sustainability

• Too often the word ‘sustainability’ is used when it shouldn’t be:

– Environmental improvement is not synonymous with true sustainability

• Economic and social factors must also be considered in sustainability

– Likewise carbon reduction is not full environmental improvement

• Carbon is an important part but there are a larger range of environmental issues to consider– e.g. toxicity, acidification, eutrophication, smog…etc

Is it truly sustainable?

• Think about an organisation and place them on the sustainability Venn diagram

• Where are they operating?

• You may also do this for products, countries or continents

Summary

• True sustainability requires the balance of environmental, economic and social factors

• This is not a simple task

• Sustainable development may be considered as the pathway to sustainability

• To read more please visit our site

– www.circularecology.com/sustainability-and-sustainable-development.html