1. Introduction to Sustainability
Sustainability, as the main goal of the present, reflects a responsive human lifecycle approach to protect the natural resources of air, water, soil, and organisms that provide the ecological, chemical, physical, biological, and psychological support for the life, health, and economy of present and future generations. Our global ecological and environmental footprint has continued to increase and reached an imbalance between our needs and natural resources available, determining the introduction of the concept of ecological care, used synonymously with environmental care or earth care to emphasize the caring and nurturing dimensions of humanity and ecological actions necessary to diminish the impact on the ecosystem, to maintain a natural balance between all forms of life, including the preservation of biodiversity as an important factor in protecting the ecological unity of the plants and animals that are considered virgin species that do not require artificial support to maintain their genotype and phenotype for present and future generations in their capacity as global stewards, especially with respect to avoiding harm and preserving the continuity of the life forms with whom we share the same womb of the world.
Work and research, as they are continuously evolving, have determined the emphasis from sustainability to sustainable development, greatly influenced by the comprehension of the perception of the concept for the increasing global challenges and needs of the collective conscience that became more and more complex and multidimensional with the simultaneous and bottom-up necessity of “plus responsibility” in the form of corporate social responsibility to be adopted by all public and private organizations of the world and methods for implementing solutions.
1.1. Definition and Concepts
Despite significant differences in perspectives about sustainability, it has become an integral part of our daily lives as a basic goal to be achieved. Sustain means to maintain under a given set of conditions. Sustainability, in the contexts of society and the environment, is about maintaining under favorable conditions, not just keeping from collapse. Sustainability, thus, denotes not only consistency—providing a firm basis for society and the environment, neither of which is overwhelmed or destroyed—but also adaptability, the capacity to make gradual adjustments or sudden stress responses. The essence of sustainability is very simple: our society and economy are supposed to be in a favorable condition for future generations. This simple idea has become a massive issue in just a very few years. Think of it: the idea of limiting development, of keeping matters from getting out of hand, was a part of the fabric of ancient thinking. A concept of sustainability has been advocated not just as a virtue but as a necessity essentially since the beginning of human society. It underlay religious and social teachings in all times and places and was frequently the basis for the rules of court that were evolved.
1.2. Historical Background
The main challenges faced by the international community in the 21st century are increasingly becoming global challenges. The disparities in economic and human development levels between the world’s regions are intensifying. The rich and the poor are coexisting in a world of considerable wealth. The share of the world population not sharing the fruits of globalization is larger than it was 15 years ago, with the majority in rural areas and a significant percentage living in countries experiencing situations of conflict or political instability. The well-known traditional dimensions of sustainable development – poverty, health, environment, inequality – remain acute and demand efforts in both developed and developing countries. The current global crisis adds new challenges to these efforts.
Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the international community has adopted different goals and targets in the fields of climate, environment, health, and poverty. However, the different components and aspects of the global challenges are increasingly interlinked, and the implementation of positive measures in one field is not neutral; often it will generate costs and not address all the negative side effects.
“sustainability” can be found at the beginning of written history. Classic Chinese and Greek philosophers reflected on lasting success and the eudemonistic way of life. In recent years, long-term issues like energy, environmental pollution, climate change, biodiversity, and resource concerns have become a focal point for scientists. The impacts of increasing economic and human growth have been a concern since the last century, in documents such as in 1900, when only 220 million people lived on the Earth versus seven billion people today, or in 1968, when a significant publication highlighted population issues. The most well-known early work on ecological economics is a book published in 1972. This essay was considered one of the key references, citing that mankind is using up all the natural resources on the planet and is eventually causing the death of the ecosystem to which it belongs.
The Brundtland Commission attempted to define “sustainable development” environmentally. In its final report, it stated that economic development was the main strategy to improve human well-being, but that development should be in line with protecting resources for future generations. It accordingly defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Therefore, the potential and constraints of history are reflected in a time horizon that encompasses economic, social, and ecological dimensions without jeopardizing the functionality of one of these dimensions. Sustainable development should also be seen as a possible bridge between ecology and economy. Therefore, sustainable development is a goal, a direction, a rationale, and a model of human development.
The concept of sustainability has gained popularity and importance in recent years. However, it is not a recent issue, not even in the current definition. Discussions about the balance between nature and human society are addressed in the story. The concept, however, has been somewhat distorted, leading to an emphasis on environmental issues and less on the economic and social dimensions. Its origins can be found in different social, ethical, philosophical, and economic theories. However, the term sustainability has its first appearance in the context of environment and development. Following the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm, the United Nations created a commission to propose long-term relationships. Ambitious in social, environmental, and economic issues, the commission said, “Whenever we mention the need for development, we refer to meeting the needs now and establishing the ways to meet their needs in the future.”
2. Three Pillars of Sustainability
The three pillars or principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability, also known as ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance).
These criteria are the standards used for assessing the impact and sustainability of a company’s activities. They have been divided into three main areas: environmental, social and governance.
The environmental criterion analyzes ecological impact, such as CO2 emissions and the use of natural resources. The social criterion considers aspects such as working conditions, human rights and the inclusion of people. The governance criterion, on the other hand, evaluates transparency, business ethics and management. The adoption of ESG criteria helps promote responsible and sustainable business practices.
2.1. What is environmental sustainability?
Environmental sustainability is the ability to preserve and protect the natural environment over time through appropriate practices and policies, meeting present needs without compromising the availability of resources in the future.
🔶️ Factors influencing environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability is influenced by several factors that can have a significant impact on the ecological balance and the planet’s ability to sustain life.
Some of the main ones include:
air, water and soil pollution;
climate change, caused by the excessive amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to human activities;
The loss of biodiversity;
The overexploitation of natural resources;
Economic models that involve unsustainable consumption.
🔶️ What goals should we aim to achieve?
1 To achieve environmental sustainability, a number of key goals must be achieved, including:
2 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in crucial sectors such as power generation, industry, agriculture and transportation.
3 Increasing the production and use of energy from renewable sources.
4 Implementing policies to conserve biodiversity by addressing its causes.
5 Adopting sustainable practices in agriculture and the food chain, such as precision agriculture strategies, optimizing and increasing soil quality and productivity through a series of targeted interventions using technology, regenerative agriculture and agrivoltaics, non-soil cultivation methods such as hydroponic or aeroponic systems, and reducing food waste.
6 Raising awareness and engaging communities on the issue of environmental sustainability.
7 Promoting the circular economy.
8 Among the practices of great importance for sustainability, it is essential to conserve and sustainably manage natural resources, including water, soil, forests, wildlife and natural habitats, to ensure the ecological balance of the planet and the availability of these resources for future generations.
2. What is social sustainability?
Social sustainability involves a focus on the well-being of people and communities.
It’s about promoting equity, human rights, access to education and health care, and decent work.
Social sustainability aims to create inclusive societies, reduce inequality, and ensure long-term well-being for all people while preserving social cohesion and justice.
🔶️ To achieve sustainability, it is necessary to overcome:
1 Poverty and socioeconomic inequality.
Discrimination, prejudice and social exclusion.
2 Lack of access to resources.
Insecurity and conflict, locally, regionally and globally.
3 Poor governance, which includes phenomena such as corruption and institutional inefficiency.
In the path to social sustainability, the promotion of systems and policies that can reduce social and economic inequalities play a particularly important role in ensuring equitable access to opportunities and resources for all members of society.
🔶️ In addition to the fight against inequality, the goals to be achieved in terms of social sustainability include:
🎯 The promotion of policies to respect basic human rights, such as the right to health and education.
🎯 The adoption of practices that value and include people of diverse backgrounds, gender, ethnicity, ability, and sexual orientation.
🎯 The creation of safer living environments with more efficient administration of justice.
🎯 The improvement of people’s health and mental and physical well-being through quality health services.
3. What is economic sustainability?
Economic sustainability is the approach whereby economic activities are conducted in such a way as to preserve and promote long-term economic well-being. In practice, it aims to create a balance between economic growth, resource efficiency, social equity and financial stability.
🔶️ Factors influencing economic sustainability
Factors influencing economic sustainability include:
1 The responsible management of resources.
2 The capacity for efficiency and innovation of economic systems and enterprises.
3 Financial stability at the macro level.
4 States’ level of social innovation, that is, each country’s commitment to promoting policies, programs and initiatives that address crucial social issues such as poverty, gender equality, access to education and health care, environmental sustainability, and other social issues.
5 International cooperation and partnerships between public administration and private enterprises.
The level of equity and social inclusion.
Corporate responsibility.
🔶️ How an economy becomes sustainable
🎯 To make an economic system sustainable, it is necessary to encourage energy generation from renewable sources, to adopt policies and regulations that encourage energy efficiency, and the promotion of economic models based on the circular economy which, as such, are able to reduce waste and contain resource exploitation.
🎯 Achieving these goals requires fostering social and economic inclusion, technological innovation through dedicated investments, promotion of efficient and transparent governance, as well as public awareness and education.
🔶️ Responsible management of economic resources is of paramount importance because it implies and ensures:
🎯 The minimization of environmental impact
🎯 Social and economic equity
🎯 A more resilient and challenge-capable economy
🎯 A more widespread adherence of companies to management based on principles of responsibility and ethics
3. Sustainable Development Goals
The 2018 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were created with the aim of “peace and prosperity for people and the planet…”[– while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests. The SDGs highlight the connections between the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development. Sustainability is at the center of the SDGs.
The short titles of the 17 SDGs are:
- No poverty (SDG 1)
- Zero hunger (SDG 2)
- Good health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Quality education (SDG 4)
- Gender equality (SDG 5)
- Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6)
- Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)
- Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
- Reduced inequalities (SDG 10)
- Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)
- Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Climate action (SDG 13)
- Life below water (SDG 14)
- Life on land (SDG 15)
- Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16)
- Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
These goals are ambitious, and the reports and outcomes to date indicate a challenging path. Most, if not all, of the goals are unlikely to be met by 2030. Rising inequalities, climate change, and biodiversity loss are topics of concerns threatening progress. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 2023 made these challenges worse. The pandemic impacted all 17 goals and emphasized the interconnectedness of global health, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Some regions, such as Asia, have experienced significant setbacks during that time. The global effort for the SDGs calls for prioritizing environmental sustainability, understanding the indivisible nature of the goals, and seeking synergies across sectors.
4. Challenges to sustainable Development
Through a comprehensive understanding of these challenges and collaborative action to address them, we can lay the groundwork for a more sustainable and equitable world for all
4.1. Overutilization of resources and environmental decline
Environmental degradationUnsustainable consumption and production practices place strain on the environment, resulting in deforestation, habitat loss, pollution, and resource exhaustion.
Tackling excessive consumption and embracing sustainable resource management strategies are crucial for fostering sustainable development.
Achieving this entails promoting resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and transitioning to renewable energy sources through collaborative efforts spanning various sectors and societal levels.
4.2. Population Growth and Urbanization
Population growth and urbanizationThe global population continues to expand, accompanied by rapid urbanization in many areas.
This trend burdens infrastructure, services, and resources, leading to challenges such as inadequate housing, congestion, strained transportation networks, and heightened energy demands.
Therefore, prioritizing sustainable urban planning and inclusive development is imperative to address these issues and foster the creation of livable and resilient cities.
4.3. Poverty and Social Disparity
Poverty and inequalityPoverty and inequality pose significant barriers to sustainable development endeavors.
Countless individuals worldwide live below the poverty line, lacking access to essential necessities.
This deprivation extends beyond material wealth, stifling opportunities for personal and economic advancement.
Consequently, mitigating poverty and addressing social disparities are pivotal for promoting social cohesion, economic prosperity, and environmental conservation within sustainable development frameworks.
4.4. Climate Change and Its Ramifications
Climate changeClimate change presents substantial risks to ecosystems, communities, and economies, manifesting in elevated temperatures, extreme weather phenomena, sea-level rise, and ecosystem disruption.
Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change impacts, and transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society are imperative steps in ensuring sustainable development amidst this global challenge.
4.5. Inadequate Access to Fundamental Human Needs
Basic human needsLimited access to fundamental human needs poses a significant hurdle to sustainable development initiatives.
Millions worldwide lack access to essentials such as clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education, impeding both their quality of life and societal contribution potential.
Addressing these basic needs is fundamental to sustainable development, fostering social equity, well-being, and fairness.
By ensuring universal access to basic human needs, societies can cultivate an inclusive and robust future where all individuals have the opportunity to lead dignified and fulfilling lives.