What Is Sustainability?

This video provides a basic definition of sustainability.

You’ve probably heard the term “sustainability” in some context or another. It is likely that you’ve used some product or service that was labeled as sustainable, or perhaps you are aware of a campus or civic organization that focuses on sustainability. You may recognize that sustainability has to do with preserving or maintaining resources—we often associate sustainability with things like recycling, using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, and preserving natural spaces like rainforests and coral reefs. However, unless you have an inherent interest in sustainability, you probably haven’t thought much about what the term actually means.

Simply put, sustainability is the capacity to endure or continue. If a product or activity is sustainable, it can be reused, recycled, or repeated in some way because it has not exhausted all of the resources or energy required to create it. Sustainability can be broadly defined as the ability of something to maintain itself. Biological systems such as wetlands or forests are good examples of sustainability since they remain diverse and productive over long periods of time. Seen in this way, sustainability has to do with preserving resources and energy over the long term rather than exhausting them quickly to meet short-term needs or goals.

The term sustainability first appeared in forestry studies in Germany in the 1800s, when forest overseers began to manage timber harvesting for continued use as a resource. In 1804, German forestry researcher Georg Hartig described sustainability as “utilizing forests to the greatest possible extent, but still in a way that future generations will have as much benefit as the living generation” (Schmutzenhofer 1992). While our current definitions are quite different and much expanded from Hartig’s, sustainability still accounts for the need to preserve natural spaces, to use resources wisely, and to maintain them in an equitable manner for all human beings, both now and in the future.

Sustainability seeks new ways of addressing the relationship between societal growth and environmental degradation, which would allow human societies and economies to grow without destroying or overexploiting the environment or ecosystems in which those societies exist. The most widely quoted definition of sustainability comes from the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations in 1987, which defined sustainability as meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

But sustainability is about more than just the economic benefits of recycling materials and resources. While the economic factors are important, sustainability also accounts for the social and environmental consequences of human activity. This concept is referred to as the “three pillars of sustainability,” which asserts that true sustainability depends upon three interlocking factors: environmental preservation, social equity, and economic viability.

First, sustainable human activities must protect the earth’s environment. Second, people and communities must be treated fairly and equally—particularly in regard to eradicating global poverty and the environmental exploitation of poor countries and communities. And third, sustainability must be economically feasible—human development depends upon the long-term production, use, and management of resources as part of a global economy. Only when all three of these pillars are incorporated can an activity or enterprise be described as sustainable. Some describe this three-part model as: Planet, People and Profit.

From pollution, to resource depletion, to loss of biodiversity, to climate change, a growing human footprint is evident. This is not sustainable. We need to act differently if the world and its human and non-human inhabitants are to thrive in the future. Sustainability is about how we can preserve the earth and ensure the continued survival and nourishment of future generations. You and everyone you know will be affected in some way by the choices our society makes in the future regarding the earth and its resources. In fact, your very life may well depend upon those choices.

This video is available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

[erictoyin]

Even a novice will easily have a proper understanding through this video. Very good for learners in elementary and high schools.

[sharmeen.salman]

I find sustainability to be a very emotional topic, especially after watching this video. It is sad how the limited resources we have in this world are decreasing, while demands are increasing. It's sad because, for example, here in Pakistan, many miners have to mine without proper equipment and health facilities, resulting in deaths or lives filled with despair. Yet we waste all the materials someone must have struggled alot to help us get it to us. This happens everywhere, such as wasting water. Millions of currencies are spent to ensure that us humans are drinking safe and pure water, and also the water we use in general to be clean, yet we waste it. Water is limited. It's very sad. I feel so guilty after watching this video. I hope to live in a world where everyone ensures to sustain the resources they possess.

[thomasspiegel]

A very interesting sight on sustainability. This video shows and describes the concept of sustainability form the very beginning in the 19th century to nowaday concerns. Even the Bruntland Report is mentioned which stands for the modern understanding of sustainability. I will show this video to my highschool students in Austria. They will benefit from the clear and comprehensive speeche and the thoroughly explanation of sustainablity.
Thomas, Austria

[shagunsoni]

GREAT Job making every people aware of sustanaible living and sustaniblity in such a good and explorive way thank you so much it helped a lot

[moondust]

can we say 'sustainability' is doing good through human activities, to the mankind and to the environment! And also the concept 'sustainability' is making our world gradually better living place for now and for long years to come. I really want some comments from you guys as I am preparing an exam and wanted to see if I am close to the idea - regards

[youssefbadawy]

The montage is very nice, i am a student watching you from my school, and you are very good, CONTINUE !!! :)

[tonyvillarama]

Cheers for sharing.keep safe and healthy.

[gracegana]

this video isa must to watch.i learned so much from it.thank you very much.

[snakeskinrug]

I am your 318th subscriber. I also have the notification bell on.

[zainsaeed]

very comprehensive definition and elaboration

[fovbvjo]

good introduction, easy to understand!

[MariaKoroleva.Realtor]

This is an excellent video as an introductory to the basic concepts of sustainability.

[saudiyakassim]

This is very helpful. Thank you very much

[JohnGalt]

We must all live in population zones. No more rural living. We are all in this together.

[Heretagain]

Thanks elot please i will really need your guidance through geography please

[CC-ytwk]

We need to pay attention before it's too late

[qgqhtsz]

I'm watching the lecture for my school assignment

[GraceMcGrathEnvironment]

Great job on the video. Sustainability was explained well.

[snakeskinrug]

I strongly agree with your statements.

[nataliapl.]

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