Definition of SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY Noun
Sustainability as a noun refers to the capacity to maintain or endure over time without causing depletion or degradation of essential resources, ecosystems, or social systems. It embodies principles and practices aimed at meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Preservation: Sustainability encompasses efforts to preserve and protect natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity to ensure their continued availability and functionality for future generations. It involves practices such as conservation, renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, and ecosystem restoration to mitigate environmental degradation and promote long-term ecological balance.
Social Equity and Justice: In addition to environmental concerns, sustainability addresses social equity and justice by striving to meet the needs of all people, particularly those in marginalized or vulnerable communities, without compromising the well-being of future generations. It promotes fair distribution of resources, access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and social inclusion to create resilient and thriving societies.
Economic Viability: Sustainability also encompasses economic viability by fostering long-term prosperity and stability through responsible resource management, innovation, and equitable economic development. It involves adopting sustainable business practices, investing in green technologies, and promoting circular economy models that minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.
Global Collaboration: Achieving sustainability requires global collaboration and collective action to address interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges. It involves partnerships between governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and individuals to develop and implement sustainable policies, practices, and solutions at local, national, and international levels.
Examples: Examples of sustainability initiatives include renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power, sustainable agriculture practices like organic farming and permaculture, green building design and construction techniques, public transportation systems to reduce carbon emissions, and initiatives to promote social justice, gender equality, and inclusive economic growth.
Sustainability encompasses efforts to ensure the long-term well-being of people and the planet by balancing environmental preservation, social equity, and economic prosperity. It involves adopting practices and policies that promote resource conservation, social inclusion, and economic resilience to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Examples of SUSTAINABILITY in a sentence
- The company’s new packaging design aimed to improve sustainability by using recycled materials.
- The government implemented policies to promote sustainability in agriculture, aiming to protect the environment for future generations.
- They invested in renewable energy sources as part of their commitment to environmental sustainability.
- The architect’s design prioritized sustainability, incorporating energy-efficient features and materials.
- The conference focused on discussing strategies for achieving economic growth while maintaining environmental sustainability.
- The organization’s mission statement emphasized the importance of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
- The city council passed ordinances to promote sustainability practices, such as banning single-use plastics.
- Individuals can contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting eco-friendly habits.
Etymology of SUSTAINABILITY
The term sustainability embarks on a journey through environmental consciousness, social responsibility, and economic viability, encapsulating the pursuit of a harmonious balance between human activities and the natural world. Rooted in environmental movements and economic theory, it has evolved into a principle and practice that seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- Environmental Movements and Awareness: Sustainability emerges from the environmental movements of the 20th century, which highlighted the interconnectedness of human activities with ecological systems and the finite nature of natural resources. It reflects growing awareness of environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss, prompting calls for more sustainable approaches to development and resource management.
- Triple Bottom Line Approach: Sustainability is often conceptualized within the framework of the triple bottom line, which considers environmental, social, and economic dimensions. It seeks to balance environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic prosperity to create a more resilient and equitable society.
- Environmental Conservation: At its core, sustainability emphasizes the conservation and responsible stewardship of natural resources, including air, water, land, and biodiversity. It advocates for practices that minimize pollution, reduce waste, and mitigate the impacts of human activities on ecosystems and habitats.
- Social Equity and Justice: Sustainability encompasses principles of social equity and justice, recognizing that environmental degradation often disproportionately affects marginalized communities and future generations. It promotes inclusive and participatory decision-making processes, equitable access to resources, and the protection of human rights and cultural diversity.
- Economic Resilience and Innovation: Sustainability encourages economic systems that are resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible. It fosters innovation in renewable energy, green technology, and sustainable business practices, recognizing that long-term economic prosperity depends on the health and integrity of natural ecosystems.
Sustainability stands as a guiding principle and collective aspiration for building a more resilient, equitable, and regenerative world. From its origins in environmental activism to its integration into policy, business, and everyday life, the term embodies humanity’s ongoing quest to live in harmony with nature and create a future where people and planet thrive together.
Synonyms
- Conservation
- Preservation
- Renewable
- Longevity
- Durability
- Viability
- Resilience
- Continuity
Antonyms
- Unsustainability
- Exploitation
- Depletion
- Degradation
- Wastefulness
- Instability
- Waste
- Pollution
Related
- Renewable Energy
- Carbon Footprint
- Circular Economy
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change
- Green Technology
- Eco-Friendly
- Green Economy
🌐 🇬🇧 SUSTAINABILITY in other languages
Spanish 🇪🇸 | Sostenibilidad |
French 🇫🇷 | Durabilité |
German 🇩🇪 | Nachhaltigkeit |
Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 可持续发展 |
Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 永續發展 |
Italian 🇮🇹 | Sostenibilità |
Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Sustentabilidade |
Dutch 🇳🇱 | Duurzaamheid |
Swedish 🇸🇪 | Hållbarhet |
Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Bærekraft |
Finnish 🇫🇮 | Kestävyys |
Romanian 🇷🇴 | Durabilitate |
Polish 🇵🇱 | Zrównoważony rozwój |
Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Fenntarthatóság |
Czech 🇨🇿 | Udržitelnost |
Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | устойчивост |
Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Стійкість |
Russian 🇷🇺 | Устойчивое развитие |
Turkish 🇹🇷 | Sürdürülebilirlik |
Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Davamlılıq |
Armenian 🇦🇲 | Կայունություն |
Arabic 🇸🇦 | الاستدامة |
Hebrew 🇮🇱 | קיימות |
Urdu 🇵🇰 | پائیداری |
Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | پایداری |
Hindi 🇮🇳 | वहनीयता |
Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | স্থায়িত্ব |
Marathi 🇮🇳 | शाश्वतता |
Telugu 🇮🇳 | స్థిరత్వం |
Tamil 🇮🇳 | நிலைத்தன்மை |
Gujarati 🇮🇳 | ટકાઉપણું |
Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಸಮರ್ಥನೀಯತೆ |
Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ସ୍ଥିରତା |
Malayalam 🇮🇳 | സുസ്ഥിരത |
Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਸਥਿਰਤਾ |
Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | තිරසාර බව |
Nepali 🇳🇵 | दिगोपन |
Burmese 🇲🇲 | ညီလေး |
Thai 🇹🇭 | ความยั่งยืน |
Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Sự bền vững |
Malay 🇲🇾 | Kelestarian |
Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Keberlanjutan |
Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Pagpapanatili |
Japanese 🇯🇵 | 持続可能性 |
Korean 🇰🇷 | 지속 가능성 |
Oromo 🇪🇹 | Tursiifamu |
Somali 🇸🇴 | Waarta |
Amharic 🇪🇹 | ዘላቂነት |
Swahili 🇹🇿 | Uendelevu |
Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Iduroṣinṣin |
Popular Searches
• social structure sociology definition • what is the meaning of quantities • flashy definition • what does the word adolescence mean • memoir etymology • exotic pictures meaning • ancient french language • market penetration synonym • definition of self centeredness • define considerate person • proactive adjective • yarn def •