Sustainability Principles and Practice Chapter 1 What Is

Sustainability Principles and Practice Chapter 1 What Is Sustainability? © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Chapter Topics • What is sustainability? • Challenges and responses • Sustainability as a discipline © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Sustainability – definitions • Able to continue for a long time • Needs of each member of the biosphere are met without compromising ability of future generations to meet their needs © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Fundamental concepts Systems Sustainability Triple bottom line Natural capital © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Systems U. S. Global Change Research Program • Interconnected parts • Whole greater than sum of its parts © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Systems • Closed loops – no waste • Networks and connections National Park Service • Diversity • Constant flows © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Natural capital U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Plants, animals, soil, water, air • Ecosystem services • Planetary “savings account” © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Triple bottom line Three pillars of sustainability are connected Environment Equity Economy © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Triple bottom line Alternative model Environment Equity Economy as wholly owned subsidiary of environment © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Challenges Extinction Population Overshoot Responses • Individual contributions cumulative solutions • Regenerative era • Better quality of life Pollution Climate change © 2014 Margaret Robertson

What is a discipline? • • • Coherent body of knowledge Criteria for defining new knowledge Education programs Community of scholars Professional literature with peer review © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Sustainability as a discipline • Still forming • Interdisciplinary Sustainability Knowledge and Skills © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Preparing to work in the field • Broadest education possible • Become a Renaissance man or woman • Practice lifelong learning • Develop critical thinking skills • Learn to work with people © 2014 Margaret Robertson

Chapter Summary • What is sustainability? • Persists over the long term • Involves systems • Includes triple bottom line • Challenges and responses • Planetary situation is dire • Pieces of solutions can be seen • Sustainability as a discipline • Interdisciplinary field still forming • Practitioners need broad education, critical thinking skills, people skills © 2014 Margaret Robertson