What does ‘Sustainable’ mean?
‘Sustainability’ is used so widely it might have lost all meaning, but we still need it
It wasn’t always this way, Google’s ngram shows that the word sustainability only took off after 1980. What is more, it is only since the early 1990s that sustainability developed from a predominantly economics term, concerned with continued agricultural yields, and grew into its current meaning of ‘environmental friendliness’. Unlike ‘organic’, sustainable is not a protected term and can be used for anything, but that doesn’t make it meaningless. So what are we talking about?
Defining Sustainability
The most commonly cited definition of sustainable development comes from the 1987 report from the World Commission on Environment and Development called Our Common Future (also known as the Brundtland report)
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
This definition includes the main aspects that are associated with sustainability today, particularly the idea of finding a kind of steady state of economic development. The report also described sustainability as having three main parts, the three E’s; Environment, Economy and Equity (more commonly called ‘Social Sustainability’ now). These three aspects are often described as three pillars or concentric circles of sustainability. The idea is that sustainability can only be achieved when all three aspects of environmental protection, economic growth and social good are fulfilled. It is the basis of other schemas of sustainability, such as the ‘triple bottom line’ that is seen in business; ‘People, planet and profit’.
Economy and/or Environment
Naturally, this is too simple to be true and the debate continues about what it truly means to be sustainable. People often fall into one of two camps, emphasising either that the economy needs to grow first and then we can consider the environment, or the environment must be considered the priority. What is often called weak sustainability is the idea that environmental damage may be justifiable because it contributes to human development. By employing this idea of weak sustainability, some of the world’s worst polluters appear to have extensive commitments to ‘sustainability’ (for instance see here). Common sense might suggest that mining is an inherently unsustainable activity (you dig it out the ground, then it is gone) but ‘sustainable mining’ is now a commonly used phrase by mining companies.
A central criticism of weak sustainability and the ‘Three E’s’ approach is that it smooths over the tensions between economic development and environmental protection. The idea of sustainable development may even promote the kind of unconstrained capitalism that it seemed to replace, suggesting economic growth and continual consumption without consequences. The strong sustainability model rather sees the economy and society as dependent on the environment. Therefore, human activities must work within the earth’s ‘carrying capacity’, and seek to conserve a minimum level of the natural environment in order for it to thrive. This may include protecting species of plants and animals that we cannot use for our own gain (or do not know how to yet).
Sustainability as a Donut
Social sustainability is harder to define and measure, and in practice it is often left out of studies on sustainability. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that ‘living well’ ought to be a part of the sustainability concept, especially having basic needs and human rights met . From this emphasis there have grown many ideas and initiatives, such as sustainable cities, which emphasises that cities are often at the forefront of sustainability policies and are responsible for the well-being of increasing numbers of people. Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics model explicitly includes this idea that our consumption should be between a ceiling of the Earth’s capacities, and a floor that ensures all people have their basic needs met.
Definitions of sustainability will undoubtedly continue to change and develop in response to world events and politics. Whereas fossil fuels were once considered unsustainable because they will run out, we now consider their environmental impact the more serious issue. The concept of sustainability is widely used in politics and business, from the UN Sustainable Development Goals to the clothes we wear, but means different things to different actors. At its worst, sustainability is a cynical mask used to green-wash harmful activities, but at its best, sustainability is an attainable ideal for a peaceful and prosperous future.
