ENVS 100 Module 1: What is Sustainability?

Sustainability?

refers to the ability to maintain or support processes in a way that does not deplete natural resources, ensuring that future generations can meet their own needs

Brundtland Report

publication released in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) that introduced the concept of sustainable development and described how it could be achieved

3 Pillars of Sustainability: Environment

this pillar focuses on the conservation and management of natural resources to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations

3 Pillars of Sustanability: Economy

requires businesses to balance profit with environmental and social considerations

3 Pillars of Sustainability: Equity

guide sustainable development and influence global sustainability goals

Environmental Justice

the idea that people of all cultures, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds deserve fair protection from environmental and health hazards

Degrowth

a concept that challenges the traditional economic growth model by advocating for a planned and democratic reduction in production and consumption, it aims to create economies that respect the planet’s limits and improve the overall well-being of society

Justice

the concept of fairness, equality, and moral behavior within a society

Resilience

the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant stress

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

represent an ambitious global framework, which goal is peace and prosperity for people and the planet

2030 Agenda

• no poverty

• zero hunger

• good health and well-being

• quality education

Circular Economy

an economic model that aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible

Life-Cycle Thinking

going beyond the traditional focus on production site and manufacturing processes to include environmental, social and economic impacts of a product over its entire life cycle

How do the three pillars of sustainability complement and sometimes conflict with one another?

Environmental sustainability may conflict with social equity if it prioritizes environmental protection over social justice, leading to inequalities in access to resources and opportunities.

Social equity can conflict with economic development if it prioritizes social justice over economic growth, which is essential for lifting people out of poverty.

Economic development may conflict with environmental protection if it prioritizes economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability, leading to degradation of the environment.

What trade-offs emerge when pursuing growth, equity, and environmental protection simultaneously?

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Why has the Brundtland definition of sustainable development been so influential?

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Can economic growth be decoupled from environmental harm, or are degrowth approaches necessary?

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How is justice different from equity?

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What does a just transition require for workers, industries, and communities?

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How does SDG implementation work in countries and corporations that are the most serious about meeting these goals?

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Why are some SDGs progressing faster than others, and what challenges persist?

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How does circular economy thinking differ from traditional models of production and consumption?

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What barriers—political, economic, cultural—limit the adoption of circularity?

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How is the U.S. doing in its pursuit of sustainability compared to other countries?

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What role should individuals play in advancing sustainability compared to governments and corporations?

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