Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Sustainability, rooted in balancing ecological integrity, social equity, and economic prosperity, is a multifaceted concept underpinning sustainable development goals. Its contestable nature arises from differing interpretations and priorities, sparking debates on environmental policies and resource management. Contrasts between sustainability and sustainable development lie in their scope, with the former focusing on long-term viability and the latter emphasizing immediate progress. Conflicts over sustainability proposals often stem from ideological disparities regarding governance, ethics, and economic paradigms.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Let s zero in on sustainability. What does it mean? Where does it come from? How is it applied? What makes it a contestable concept? What s the difference between sustainability and sustainable development? How are conflicts over sustainability proposals driven by ideological differences?
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development What is your working definition of sustainability? Write it down
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development On your own: 1. Review the various definitions of sustainability and sustainable development 2. Circle the definitions that you favor most 3. Consider what they have in common 4. Take 10 minutes
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Working as a group: 4. Discuss your favorites definitions 5. Identify the elements of the definitions that you collectively support the most 6. Try to come to consensus on a favored definition, either one on the handout or one of your own making 7. Take note of your disagreements, particularly if you are having difficulty in coming to consensus 8. Be prepared to share your group definition and what you like about it, as well as why you think you have disagreements
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Have a representative of your group write your definition on the whiteboard How did your group come to your definition? What are the important shared elements among the various definitions? Where and why did you have any difficulty or disagreements?
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Shared elements among the various definitions:
Definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Most definitions of sustainability and Most definitions of sustainability and sustainable development tend to sustainable development tend to 1) Be anthropocentric 2) Assume limitations on environmental resource availability and the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities 3) Speak of an ideal process or state. What do we mean by ideal?
The Most Common Definition The Most Common Definition Brundtland Commission definition of Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Brundtland Commission definition of Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs What are the uncertainties associated with this definition? Why might it be difficult or problematic to fulfill?
Brundtland Commission definition of Sustainable Development Some issues with their definition: How determine needs? How far into the future are we talking about? How encompassing is the word generations?
What is Sustainability? What is it that we are ultimately wanting to sustain? What are the big objectives of sustainability?
What is Sustainability Anyway? Prough and Assadourian, 2003. World Watch Magazine, 16(5). Four Dimensions of Sustainability Human Survival
Human Survival Human Survival Is human survival threatened? Is human survival the peak of our ambitions?
What is Sustainability Anyway? Prough and Assadourian Four Dimensions of Sustainability Biodiversity Human Survival
Biodiversity Biodiversity What is it? Why does it matter? Is the loss of biodiversity threatening the carrying capacity of the planet for people?
Biodiversity Biodiversity Our policy toward natural resources in Our policy toward natural resources in relation to future generations must seek to relation to future generations must seek to minimize regrets. minimize regrets. Economist Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen Does that sound reasonable? Expresses the Precautionary Principle What are the challenges and costs of following that principle?
What is Sustainability Anyway? Prough and Assadourian Four Dimensions of Sustainability Equity Biodiversity Human Survival
Equity Equity What is equity? Can you relate some examples of inequities? How about environmental inequities or injustice? How important is equity in the pursuit of sustainability? What kind of equity are we talking about?
Equity Equity Even the narrow notion of physical sustainability implies a concern for social equity between generations, a concern that must logically be extended to equity within each generation. 1 Do you agree with this? What are the ramifications? Does sustainability require an elimination of poverty? Just how much social equity is needed? 1. Dresner, S (2002). Introduction, in Principles of Sustainability.
What is Sustainability Anyway? Prough and Assadourian Four Dimensions of Sustainability Life Quality Equity Biodiversity Human Survival
Life Quality What constitutes high life quality? What promotes it?
Life Quality Life Quality Do you think we are experiencing an increase or decline in societal well-being in the USA? What about globally? What are the prospects?
Life Quality Life Quality Are human well-being, connection and contentment achievable without consumerism, mass advertising, planned obsolescence, heedless and destructive waste, or the endless pursuit of profits ? Prough and Assadourian, 2003. World Watch Magazine, 16(5). How dependent is Life Quality on wealth?
How well correlated is GDP per capita (a measure of wealth per person) to subjective reports of happiness? Leiserowitz, A, Kates, R, and Parris, T (2005). Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development? Environment, 47(9): 22-38.
How well correlated is GDP per capita (a measure of wealth per person) to subjective reports of happiness? Leiserowitz, A, Kates, R, and Parris, T (2005). Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development? Environment, 47(9): 22-38.
How well correlated is GDP per capita (a measure of wealth per person) to subjective reports of happiness? What impact does GDP have over $30,000 per capita? Compare United States to Costa Rica Leiserowitz, A, Kates, R, and Parris, T (2005). Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development? Environment, 47(9): 22-38.
What is the What is the Genuine Progress Indicator? Genuine Progress Indicator?
Genuine Progress Indicator Individual components, that increase (+) and decrease ( ) the value of GPI: + Personal consumption weighted by income distribution index + Value of household work and parenting + Value of higher education + Value of volunteer work + Services of consumer durables + Services of highways and streets - Cost of crime - Loss of leisure time - Cost of unemployment - Cost of consumer durables - Cost of commuting - Cost of household pollution abatement - Cost of automobile accidents - Cost of water pollution - Cost of air pollution - Cost of noise pollution - Loss of wetlands - Loss of farmland -/+ Loss of forest area and damage from logging roads - Depletion of nonrenewable energy resources - Carbon dioxide emissions damage - Cost of ozone depletion +/- Net capital investment +/- Net foreign borrowing
What Makes Sustainability Contestable? There are many different groups pursuing different goals animated by different ideologies
Sustainability as a Controversial Movement How Dresner frames the apparent sustainability debate Economic growth vs. environmental protection Debate between whom? Environmentalists vs. Economists Where are the disagreements?
Sustainability as a Controversial Movement Where are the disagreements? Faith in mastery over nature. Dominion vs. ambivalence over modernity. Precautionary principle vs. invisible hand of the market How do we deal with indeterminate risks?
Sustainability as a Controversial Movement Environmentalists vs. Economists What is missing in this categorization? Are they by necessity at odds? Is there a middle ground? What underlies this tension? Differences in values or ethical priorities, which in turn lead to different political ideologies.
What Do We Mean by Political Ideology? A set of beliefs about the proper order of society and how it can be achieved. Ideologies are the shared framework of mental models that groups of individuals possess that provide both an interpretation of the environment and a prescription as to how that environment should be structured. From Jost, J, Federico, C and Napier, J (2009). Political Ideology: Its Structure, Functions and Elective Affinities. Annual Review of Psychology. Vol. 60: 307-337. http://www.psych.nyu.edu/jost/Political%20Ideology__Its%20structure,%20functio ns,%20and%20elective%20a.pdf
Sustainability as a Movement Sustainability is an idea with a certain amount in common with socialism. 1 Ack!! How so and why the Ack!! response? What ideology embraces the principles and objectives of sustainability? Not all ideologies do. 1. Dresner, S (2002). Introduction, in Principles of Sustainability.
Critiquing Models of Sustainability and Sustainable Development Class discussion What do you think are the big differences between sustainability and sustainable development? Why do many people consider sustainable development to be an oxymoron? Who would those people be?
Reflect How has this activity expanded your understanding of sustainability? What is still murky to you?
Applying Sustainability to Water Resource Management Peter Gleick
Peter Gleicks Take on Water Sustainability
Peter Gleicks Take on Water Sustainability Do you agree with all of these criteria? How do they reflect your understanding of sustainability? Anything missing?
