Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Front

What is sustainability?

Back

Sustainability is the extent to which there is long-term viability of a system with no reduction in conditions for future generations. It involves improving conditions for future generations.

Front

What are the three domains of sustainability?

Back

The three domains of sustainability are environmental, social (equity), and economic (financial).

Front

How does the weak model of sustainability view the domains?

Back

The weak model of sustainability shows that domains can be separated from each other and that only in the overlap do we achieve sustainability.

Front

What is the relationship between the environment, society, and economy in sustainability?

Back

In sustainability, the environment holds society, and the economy is embedded within society, emphasizing that everything is embedded and held within the natural environment.

Front

What is environmental sustainability?

Back

Environmental sustainability involves using and managing natural resources sustainably, allowing ecosystems to recover and regenerate, and focusing on reducing resource depletion, pollution, and promoting biodiversity conservation.

Front

What is social sustainability?

Back

Social sustainability includes equity, health, education, community, and other social factors contributing to human wellbeing. It involves culture, language, beliefs, and spiritual practices.

Front

What is economic sustainability?

Back

Economic sustainability involves creating structures and systems to support the production and consumption of goods and services that will support human needs in the future, considering environmental sustainability.

Front

What is the definition of sustainable development introduced in 1987?

Back

Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as introduced by Gro Harlem Brundtland in the report 'Our Common Future'.

Front

What can unsustainable use of resources lead to?

Back

Unsustainable use of resources can lead to ecosystem collapse, as illustrated by the North Atlantic Cod Fisheries case, which led to the near extinction of the species and the collapse of the fishing society in Aveiro, Portugal.

Front

What is environmental justice?

Back

Environmental justice is the right of all people to live in a pollution-free environment and have equitable access to natural resources, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or nationality.