Defining Sustainability A summary of the Sustainable Toronto

Defining Sustainability A summary of the Sustainable Toronto Working Paper on defining sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable communities Daniella Molnar, MES I, York University Alexis Morgan, MSc II, University of Toronto Wednesday, December 12 th, 2001.

Presentation ¬ Purpose of paper ¬ May 9 th revisited ¬ Methodology ¬ Conclusions ¬ Recommendations ¬ Discussion

Purpose of the paper ¬ To provide an overview of the terms: - Sustainability - Sustainable Development - Sustainable Community ¬ Based on the literature, provide ST with a recommendation of a definition that all partners would feel comfortable adopting

The reason behind the paper ¬Sustainable Toronto uses the term “sustainable” in its name as well as its vision /mission statements. ¬Worthwhile to try to develop a common understanding of the meaning of these sustainability terms and their historical usages. ¬For ST to arrive at a commonly accepted definition for our project

May th 9 , 2001… ¬“Sustainability is a new paradigm of decision making for all sectors of society based on a better appreciation of the complex interconnections between economic, social and environmental issues, and the impact of today’s decisions on future generations. Sustainability favours decision making processes that are participatory, transparent, equitable, and accountable. ” (Macdonald, 2001)

Methodology ¬ Began with some noted works ¬ Searched the internet, UTCAT, abstract databases and recommended works using the terms as search phrases ¬ Relatively unstructured ¬ Compiled definitions, summarized and then synthesized information to provide the conclusions and recommendations

Conclusions ¬ 1) Governments tend to stick to the definition of sustainable development that was created by the Brundtland Commission (Our Common Future). ¬ 2) Businesses initially tended towards definitions that included such terms as eco-efficiency, innovation, and new markets with a focus on economics over social and environmental considerations. ¬ 3) Few businesses have engaged in the discussion over the definition for sustainable communities. ¬ 4) Government, business, and civil society, in general, use sustainable development and sustainability interchangeably, whereas academia is more sensitive to this distinction.

Conclusions (continued) ¬ 5) Government and especially civil society are more interested in action (measuring SD and using indicators) than engaging in a debate over the definitions. ¬ 6) Academia and civil society both have a fairly large diversity in terms of the three definitions; business tends to be the most focused. ¬ 7) The greatest amount of work (in terms of providing definitions) has been done on the term “sustainable development” rather than “sustainability” or “sustainable communities”

Conclusions (continued) ¬Sustainability terminology: – lacks singularly accepted definitions – is an “essentially contested concept” – has acted as a call to action and a new paradigm of thinking in light of the environmental, social and economic concerns of the late 20 th and early 21 st century – has allowed environmentalists to engage developers

Conclusions (continued) In general however, sustainability involves: • The notion of long term thinking • Recognition that the health of the planet as a provider of life systems for humanity and human systems must be balanced if both are to continue • Acknowledgement of the complexity and interconnectedness of all systems • Action at all levels of government to be successfully implemented

Recommendations ¬ Sustainability: “Sustainability is an approach to decision making that considers the interconnections and impacts of economic, social and environmental factors on today’s and future generations’ quality of life. It is a dynamic and evolving notion, and as a process, it strives to be participatory, transparent, equitable, informed, and accountable. ” ¬ We feel that the notions of sustainable development and sustainability are interchangeable and therefore the two definitions below (SD & SC) derive from the first (S).

Recommendations ¬ In conclusion, we feel that the Sustainable Toronto Project should apply this definition of sustainability to bring together community members in collaborative projects to improve decision making (governance), enhance skills and capacity, and increase both citizens’ and government officials’ understanding of and commitment to sustainability.

Discussion ¬Over to David Bell…