Sustainability 2025

Sustainability 

The ability to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, typically relating to environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

Natural resource

Materials or substances found in nature that people use to meet their needs, such as water, minerals, and forests.

Renewable resource

A natural resource that can be replenished naturally over short periods of time, such as solar or wind energy.

Nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that cannot be replenished at the same rate it is consumed, such as fossil fuels and minerals.

Renewable energy

Energy derived from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. It is sustainable and generates little to no greenhouse gas emissions.

Nonrenewable energy

Energy derived from nonrenewable resources that cannot be replenished, typically including fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, encompassing different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. Ecosystems can be large, like forests or oceans, or small, like a pond or a patch of soil.

Biodiversity index

A quantitative measure that reflects the variety of species in a given area, calculated by dividing the # of species by the # of organisms

Species richness

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community. 

Species abundance

The number of individuals present in each group relative to the total number of individuals, calculated by dividing the number of individuals by the total number for all groups

Geothermal power

Energy derived from the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, used for electricity generation and direct heating applications.

Hydroelectricity

Energy generated from the movement of water, typically through dams, to produce electricity.

Nuclear power

Energy produced from nuclear reactions, primarily fission, to generate electricity or heat. 

Biomass

Energy produced from organic materials, such as plant and animal matter, used for heat or electricity generation.