Sustainability: Understanding the Basics

What Is Sustainability

Sustainability simply means using resources efficiently, to meet the needs of both present and future generations. It involves avoiding wastage as much as possible by reducing, reusing or, recycling resources to make the most out of it.

sustainability the ability of current generation to meet their need without compromising the ability of future generations to also meet their need.

United Nations

Sustainability works by integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into our activities. It’s essentially about finding balance—a balance between the needs of people, the health of the planet, and the prosperity of economies. Sustainability is therefore based on three (3) pillars; environmental, social and economic.

Pillars of Sustainability

Environmental Pillar

At the heart of sustainability lies a deep respect for the natural world. Environmental sustainability focuses on management of the planet’s natural resources. It involvespreserving ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, and minimizing pollution and waste. This involves practices like using renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting natural habitats, and promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry.

Social Pillar

Sustainability is also about equity and social justice. Social sustainability aims to ensure that all people, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. This includes promoting fair labor practices, supporting community development initiatives, advocating for human rights, and addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

Economic Pillar

Sustainable development must be economically viable in the long term. Economic sustainability involves making smart investments in green technologies, renewable energy infrastructure, and sustainable businesses. It also means accounting for the true costs of goods and services, including their environmental and social impacts, and pursuing policies that promote prosperity without sacrificing environmental or social well-being.

So, in practice, sustainability works by taking a holistic approach to decision-making. Whether it’s designing a new product, implementing a policy, or planning a community development project, sustainability requires considering the full spectrum of impacts—environmental, social, and economic—and striving to find solutions that benefit all three.

For example, let’s say a company wants to build a new manufacturing facility. A sustainable approach would involve conducting an environmental impact assessment to minimize harm to local ecosystems, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for employees, and investing in energy-efficient technologies to reduce carbon emissions and operational costs. By taking these factors into account, the company can create a facility that not only generates profit but also contributes to the well-being of people and the planet.

Ultimately, sustainability is about making choices that align with our values and priorities as individuals, communities, and societies. It’s about recognizing that we are all interconnected—that the health of the environment, the prosperity of economies, and the well-being of people are inseparable—and working together to create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

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