wk9: alt definition of sustainability

scientific definition of sustainability

Sustainability: capacity of our human society to continue indefinitely within these natural cycles

4 root causes of unsustainability

1. Extract large flows of material from crust

2. Accumulation of substance created by society

3. Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles

4. We create barriers to ppl meeting their basic needs worldwide

rules of nature

• biosphere is fragile, works in quick cycles

• system is open with respect to energy

• system is closed with respect to matter

• everything has a tendency to disperse

• photosynthesis pays the bills

• slow geological cycles

rules of nature — nested systems

biggest to smallest : environment, society, economy

guiding principles for becoming a sustainably society

• reduce and eventually eliminate our contributions to:

1. systematic accumulation of materials from earths crust

2. accumulation of substances produced by society

3. ongoing physical degradation of nature

4. conditions that undermine ppls ability to meet basic needs

taking action towards suitability: ABCD

• A: awareness

  • if ppl don’t know of problem they will not be motivated to solve it

• B: baseline analysis

  • look at root causes, current practices to contribute to degradation of earth?

• C: compelling vision

  • decide where we want to be

• D: down to action