What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the capacity to keep something going or preserve it through time. The ability to use natural resources in a way that meets present needs without endangering the ability or potential of future generations to meet their own needs is referred to as sustainability in the environmental context.

Environmental methods that aim to protect natural resources like soil, water, and forests are frequently referred to as sustainable. It is also used to describe economic and social practices that are intended to promote long-term stability and well-being.

The concept of sustainability is often associated with the “three pillars” of sustainability, which are:

1. Environmental sustainability: This refers to the ability to use natural resources in a way that does not harm the environment or deplete these resources.
2. Economic sustainability: This refers to the ability to generate income and create wealth in a way that does not deplete natural resources or harm the environment.
3. The capacity or strength to meet the demands of the present and future generations while advancing social justice and well-being is referred to as social sustainability.

Sustainability is an important concept in many fields, including environmental science, economics, and public policy. It is often used as a guiding principle in decision-making and is a key consideration in the development of policies and practices related to natural resources, economic development, and social well-being.

The effectiveness of the three main principles as a whole, and in particular, a balanced approach to all three, is evaluated in order to determine sustainability. Although the Triple Bottom Line’s three guiding principles lack a measurement system of their own, more recent approaches to assessing sustainability have made an effort to do so. Although there is no standardised method for measuring sustainability, numerous organisations are creating industry-specific tools and procedures to assess how social, environmental, and economic values operate within an organisation.