Chapter 1: What Is Sustainability?

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 1 notes on sustainability.

Sustainability

The enduring viability of ecological, social, and economic systems that allows present needs to be met without compromising future generations.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; integrates ecological sustainability, economic opportunity, and social inclusion.

Triple Bottom Line

Three interconnected pillars of sustainability: Equity (social), Environment, and Economy.

Systems

Interconnected parts whose interactions create a whole greater than the sum of the parts; systems are nested within larger systems.

Emergent properties

Characteristics that arise from interactions among system components and are not predictable from the components alone.

Carrying capacity

Maximum number of individuals a given environment can support indefinitely.

Overshoot

When consumption or population temporarily exceeds the environment’s capacity to replenish resources.

Ecological Footprint

The demand placed on nature for resources consumed and wastes absorbed, expressed as land area.

Natural Capital

The stock of natural resources and ecosystem services that underpin human well-being; a planetary savings account.

Resilience

Capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and retain its basic function and structure.

Diversity

Variety of components and interactions in a system that enhances resilience.

Redundancy

Backup components or processes that maintain function if others fail.

Modularity

Organization into semi-autonomous modules that can limit the spread of shocks.

Connectivity

Degree to which components are linked, enabling flows of information, energy, or matter.

Complex Adaptive Systems

Systems with emergent properties; outcomes cannot be predicted; can have more than one stable state.

Stable state

A persistent configuration of a system; may change only through significant disturbance.

Tipping point

A point at which small changes cause a system to shift to a different state or regime.

Critical threshold

A value or condition at which a system undergoes a state change.

Anthropocene

The current geological epoch characterized by large-scale human impacts on Earth’s geology and ecosystems; under study for official designation.

Planetary boundaries

Nine global limits defining a safe operating space for humanity to maintain a Holocene-like state.

Safe operating space

The range within planetary boundaries where human activity can thrive without destabilizing Earth systems.

Holocene-like state

A relatively stable climate and ecological regime similar to the Holocene, used as a reference for sustainability.

Earthrise

Iconic 1968 Apollo 8 photo symbolizing Earth's fragility and unity, used to illustrate sustainability.