“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” – Robert Swan.
Definitions
Sustainability is a broad term tossed around a lot, especially now in the age of conscious consumers. Sustainability means meeting your own needs without compromising the needs, resources, and abilities of future generations to meet their needs. These needs include but are not limited to social, economic, and environmental resources, making up the three pillars of sustainability.
Three Pillars of Sustainability:
Social:
Social sustainability refers to maintaining access to basic resources.
- Standards of living
- Education
- Employment
- Equal Opportunities
Environmental:
Environmental sustainability is the second pillar and expresses how we ought to be using our natural resources and protecting our ecosystems.
- Natural Resources
- Pollution Prevention and Natural Carbon Sinks
- Biodiversity
Economic:
Economic sustainability is about motivating businesses and organizations to observe and obey sustainability guidelines beyond legislative requirements. It should also inspire everyone to do their part wherever possible; one person rarely achieves much, but we can change anything as a group!
- Growth
- Profit
- Cost Savings
- Research & Development
- Financial Capital
Together these pillars help shape and hold up our society. If any one of the pillars is weak, then the system as a whole can become unsustainable.
Why is sustainability important?
The true motivation behind sustainability can be considered a selfish act of human self-preservation. However, at the end of the day, sustainability comes down to the future we as a society wish to leave for future generations.
Sustainability is a value shared by individuals, groups, and organizations to influence policies and alter behavior. The people who came before us shaped the world we live in today and handed our current climate situation down from one generation to another.
Now the people of today and future generations must solve the problems passed down. We need to adapt and change for the sake of a world worth living in.
Let’s start creating the world we want to live in for us and humanity’s future.
Pledge to bring your own reusable container to pack leftovers and start making a difference today!