Chapter 9

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.

Economic sustainability

Ensuring that the average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs, into the future.

Economic characteristics

Job creation

Economic growth

Trade

Innovation and diversity of industries

Social sustainability

Creating an equitable society where all people can access social resources, both now and into the future.

Aim of Social Sustainability - underlying

1.      Have their human rights upheld.

2.      Can participate in the society in which they live, including establishing and maintaining community cohesion.

3.      Can participate in the decisions affecting their lives, including political empowerment.

4.      Experience equal access to social resources such as education and healthcare.

Social sustainability characteristics

Peace and security, gender equality

Promotion of political and legal rights

Access to safe and decent working conditions

Promote equality through the elimination of poverty and the provision of social protection systems.

Environmental sustainability

Ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources, into the future.

Biodiversity

Refers to the variety of all life forms - plants, animals, microorganisms, their genes and ecosystems.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in global temperature and weather patterns, resulting in consequences for global temperature.

Relationship between the three dimensions of sustainability

Environmental Sustainability Is the Foundation:

•       It's often seen as the most important dimension, because:

1.      Without natural resources, people can't survive

2.      Economic and social sustainability depend on the environment