Along with human activities, each of us creates both negative and positive impact through our actions - by our consumption, organisational activities, discussions and advocacy within our communities and investment patterns. Sustainability requires continuous improvement. This is the ImpactImperative. Moving towards sustainability is a journey that starts with awareness and then takes progressive steps towards an overall positive impact. 

A standard definition of sustainability is important in order for people to speak the same language and ensure they are all working to achieve the same goals. 

Sustainability as a term has evolved from defining biological systems to a fine balancing act between people and planet. The most recognised definition of sustainable development originates from Our Common Future, written in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment & Development, also known as Brundtland Report. 

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

• United Nations (UN) definition of Sustainable Development The Brundtland Commission Report, 1987 pg 41

• The many definitions of sustainability and sustainable development 
• A brief journey to the origins of sustainability

Sustainability is the long-term goal and Sustainable Development is the many pathways and processes to achieving sustainability.

The Three pillars of Sustainability
The UN and many global organisations quote the concept of three pillars of Sustainable Development – the Environment, Society, and Economy. 

• Environmental sustainability is to reduce the negative externalities (such as pollution in air, soil, and water) from human activities and to live within the means of the natural ecosystems. 
• Social sustainability is to continuously be able to provide society with people’s well-being that can be maintained in criteria such as health, safety, education, and employment for the long term. 
• Economic sustainability is to be able to make operational profits, create and maintain jobs for citizens in society to meet their needs. 

• Economy and Society: Lacking environmental protection
• Economy and Environment: Lacking social equity
• Society and Environment: Lacking economical viability

The  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged as an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio De Janeiro in 2012 (Rio +20). In the conference, the committed countries agreed on releasing a new set of 17 goals, replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), that were launched in 2000 with an aim to address extreme poverty and hunger. These include gender equality, clean water and sanitation, clean energy, industry innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action as seen above. 

The official declaration of the Rio+20 “The Future We Want” (para 246) formulated the Sustainable Development Goals so as to “renew our commitment to sustainable development and to ensuring the promotion of an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations”.

In 2015, 193 Member countries formally adopted the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . The Agenda defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets with a main focus on “people, planet and prosperity”.

SDGs are a bold commitment addressing the greatest challenges facing the world. They aim to be transformative to move the world onto a more sustainable path. And they aim to ensure no one is left behind. These SDGs are used as important criteria for organizations to make sure we keep moving in the right direction with urgency and coordination.

Historically, the concept of ‘development’, as a way to improve the living conditions of humans, has been closely associated with the idea of economic growth. When environmental concerns started being taken seriously in the public debate at the end of the 20th century and in the beginning of the 21st century, the mainstream answer has focused on sustainable development, and green growth. The majority opinion was that our societies need to invest in new technologies (especially renewable energies) to limit the use of fossil fuels, and limit global warming. Sustainable development was often branded as an opportunity for businesses, as well as a need to adapt to a changing world, where people are more concerned about it. 

Since the Club of Rome’s Limits to Growth report was published in 1972, focusing on the impossibility of having infinite growth with finite supply of resources, several authors have criticised the concept of growth being the main purpose of the economy.  This is a large field, with different focus on the availability of raw materials, social justice and many other environmental issues.

Doughnut Economics is a recent and popular framework, invented by Kate Raworth in 2012. It aims at describing what a purposeful economy would be: one which puts human interests in the centre of the agenda, meeting their needs without degrading the environment. It is named after the visual representation of the concept: a doughnut-shaped diagram, where human needs are in the centre. It has a social foundation, with minimum thresholds of what is necessary for humans (water, food, health, education etc), similar to the Sustainable Development Goals. The doughnut also has an upper limit: the ecological ceiling. These are environmental thresholds above which the economy isn’t sustainable. 

(Source: Doughnut Economics Action Lab)

A dynamic global movement has been built around this concept, and how to turn it into action, supported by the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). It is a very flexible model that powerfully establishes links between global and high level issues on one side with local, actionable and relatable issues on the other side. 

However, some thinkers pointed out that while this model provides a positive framework it doesn’t go far enough to critique the concept of growth. Other postgrowth alternative models exist which address this issue, often with a more technocriticism background.

Post-growth, degrowth, the doughnut and circular economy: a short guide provides an interesting introduction to some of these concepts, what issues they try to address and how actionable they are. 

Among the most noteworthy points raised by degrowth theories, one is the strong correlation between economic growth and GHG emissions. Although we have seen a decrease of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with economic growth in some western countries, there is still no strong evidence that it is possible to have absolute decoupling of growth from carbon emissions. 

Another strong issue of technological solutions to climate change without a change in our economic models is the rebound effect. This is the fact that when a new technology permits efficiency gains and decrease of raw material, the wide adoption of this technology and the new uses it allows wipes down the gains. As an example, even if car engines are much more efficient than in the 1950s, the overall impact of the car industry is much bigger, because it made cars much more widespread, and allowed them to become bigger, heavier, and more complex.

(Source: Wikipedia)

The linear model of products and materials that has predominated since the industrial revolution is that resources are mined, made into products, and then become waste. A circular economy keeps materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. A circular economy reduces material use, redesigns materials, products, and services to be less resource intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.

Alexander Magrin offers a simple definition video with examples here.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) illuminates the impact of the circular economy on equity and social justice. The circular economy, when designed in a thoughtful and inclusive manner, has the potential to protect the environment, improve economics, and elevate social justice. Sustainability from its foundation requires social equity. How we extract, use, and dispose of our resources can affect already vulnerable communities disproportionately.

Underserved communities across this nation have been overburdened with the negative environmental and health impacts caused by a non-circular economy. Many landfills and manufacturing and processing facilities are located in close proximity to low-income communities. The US EPA’s circular economy for all aims to reduce waste and toxic materials and reuse critical minerals during manufacture and processing. Safe jobs and healthy communities are the goals.

A global thought leader on Circular Economy is the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, who outline 3 principles:

1) Eliminate waste and pollution
2) Circulate products and materials at their highest value
3) Regenerate nature

So far, transformation to sustainability has been mainly looked at from the modern perspective of western culture whether it be scientists, governments, academics, or businesses. In the last few years, there have been more call-to-actions to include a broad global perspective from local and indigenous voices when attempting to reverse global climate change and bringing back natural systems closer to pre-industrial times. In recent years, the indigenous peoples' practices have been looked at as the key pillars to sustainability.

(Image Credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

In the past, the voices of local indigenous peoples have been excluded from sustainability discussions due to their lack of economic and political power. 

Historically, and even presently, indigenous peoples’ voices are disregarded, with land being taken away by wealthy capitalists  whether it be in the US, Africa, Asia or Australia. Now globally, indigenous peoples’ territories and livelihoods are often threatened by industrial development, and it is critical to protect their land rights equitably so that they can manage their lands sustainably as they have done so in the past.

(Image Credit: Olga Bast on Unsplash)

What inspires the sustainability journey? 

• Amazing actions of people and organisations?

• A sense of place, or a desire to achieve profit through purpose?  

• Is it about right and wrong, a desire to make a difference to others, or the ability to empathise?  

• Maybe it is a sense of urgency or learning the facts and developing understanding?

What’s Possible, narrated by Morgan Freeman
The 2014 United Nations Climate Summit in New York made a sensational opening with this inspirational video. The video is a call for action: “We have everything we need to wake up to a different kind of world; we have every reason to act in the world. We can’t wait until tomorrow. This is our only home. You can choose today to make a world of difference.”  

My Wish: Manufactured landscapes and green education
His pictures talk a thousand words. Edward Burtynsky, 2005 TED Prize winner, documents in this video human's impact on the planet and wishes that his images inspire millions to raise the voice on sustainability.

What’s Your 2040?
“If we embrace the best of what we can do today, we can have optimism about the future”.  Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau sets out a positive vision of the future in 2040, imagining what the world would look like in 20 years’ time if we adopted the technology and thinking already available to lower the carbon present in our atmosphere. Gameau calls it “fact-based dreaming”; something we can surely all get on board with and be inspired by. See the trailer of his documentary.

Sports and Sustainability
Sustainability is central to the Olympic Movement’s vision of “building a better world through sport”. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) systematically embeds sustainability across its 3 spheres of responsibility: as an organisation, owner of the Olympic games  and as the leader of the Olympic Movement. If the power of sport inspires you to raise awareness about today’s sustainability challenges then have a look at the IOC’s guide entitled “How to be a Sustainable Champion” that has practical ideas to help athletes and sports fans live a planet-friendlier and healthier life”.

Sustainable Agriculture
If agriculture inspires you, then sustainability today means meeting society’s food and textile needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Wiki Farmer have a great website full of resources on sustainability in agriculture including a useful Thesaurus of Sustainability.

Education
Leading organisations from across the further and higher education sector have joined forces to create the  Sustainability Exchange. Combining resources and experience from top sustainable development and education bodies, the Sustainability Exchange is the number one resource for sustainability in tertiary education, sharing a wealth of information that is available to everyone.

(Image Credit: Tom Mossholder on Unsplash)

OCEAN CONSERVATION: Hilo, Hawaii
Surfer and scientist, Cliff Kapono, shares the beauty of Hawaii's beaches and the importance of taking care of the ocean as we cannot live in isolation of the ocean.

There are other easily accessible places to go for information including websites and social media channels.  Below are just a few that may inspire and inform.  Each of them offer various ways to receive updates through social media options or subscribing to the site.

Websites:

Impact Hub Network and Blog
This is a network focused on building entrepreneurial communities for impact at scale — home to the innovators, the dreamers and the entrepreneurs who are creating tangible solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

Year of Green Action

The Year of Green Action (YoGA) was a year-long drive in 2019 connecting people with nature, and showing how we can all take positive action to protect and enhance our environment – in our own gardens, schools or workplaces, and as consumers. This website provides an overview of the activities. Others could set up a similar initiative.

Network for Business Sustainability
They share evidence- based sustainability guidance for leaders thinking ahead.

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development
Addresses matters related to environment and sustainable development, paying special attention to relevant issues in developing countries while reporting on the latest environmental trends in industrialised nations. Its range of themes encompasses ecological studies, field research, empirical work and descriptive analyses on topics such as environmental systems, environmental policies and politics, environmental legislation, environmental impact assessment, water and energy related issues, and sustainability. 

World Wildlife Fund 
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a leading conservation organisation, working in 100 countries and supported by more than one million members in the United States and close to five million globally.  WWF’s work has evolved from saving species and landscapes to addressing the larger global threats and forces that impact them. They have an ambitious new strategy which puts people at the centre and organises their work around six key areas: forests, marine, freshwater, wildlife, food and climate. 

BBC Science and Environment
This site offers science news and information on numerous news worthy topics relating to the environment.

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
Leading global environmental authority of the UN system with sustainability contact points that coordinate greening initiatives.

UNSDG:Learn 

(Image Credit: Learn (Facebook page banner))

The UN provides a number of free courses on Sustainability and much more. Simply search for sustainability and get a host of online courses that allow you to focus on your interests and needs.

Documentaries to Watch

These sustainability documentaries won’t just pull at your heartstrings - they’ll inspire you to take action.

Here are ten to start with.  The list includes Our Planet, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. A beautiful documentary showcasing the world’s natural wonders, iconic species and wildlife spectacles that still remain. 

Podcasts:

These have become incredibly useful tools for learning, allowing for user friendly access to education on sustainability.  A simple search on your preferred platform (e.g Spotify) provides a large number of Sustainability podcasts that focus on different aspects through business, nature etc

Sustainability Magazine investigates the top 10 podcasts that offer a wide scope of learning. See the list here.  

University College London has a list of their top sustainability podcasts that are more eco-friendly and give eco-inspiration wherever you are.

Videos:

TedX on Sustainability  
In these TED talks, scientists and inventors offer visionary solutions for a greener future.

World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum has a bank of videos on sustainability.   

Books to read
There are hundreds of books that are thought - provoking, inspirational and insightful covering sustainability, climate change, green living and sustainable business. The best books will depend on your interest and preferences and with so many to choose, there is definitely something out there for everyone.

A few curated book lists we enjoyed were:

The Sustainable Agency
- 5 Books to learn more about sustainability

Ecocation
- Top 20 Sustainability Books in 2023

Live Frankly
- The best books on sustainability to read in 2023 according to sustainability thought-leaders

The Technological Society
-  Jacques Ellul. A pioneer work on how technology affects our world laying the groundwork for many other studies on society and technology.

Factfulness - Humanity’s development goals to live a better life were succeeded in many ways. One of our favourite attestations to the betterment of the world we live in is covered by the wonderful Dr Hans Rosling (RIP) in his book.

(Some of Dr Roslings best TedX talks can be seen here.)

For more classic books that have stood the test of time, click here

Here you can follow our selection of ‘deep dives’ around the topic of sustainability. You will find highly interesting and relevant academic papers, latest reports from sustainability experts and institutions. 

• A brief journey to the origins of sustainability

(Image Credit: Kind and Curious on Unsplash)

Have you ever struggled to give a definition of sustainability, when it’s asked? Or maybe you have a definition of sustainability but just recognised that your perspective on sustainability is far from others. Please read Gulcin’s deep dive into the history…. 

• 3 academic studies to read about the deep meaning of sustainability

1. “Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins”
2. “Reclaiming the Definition of Sustainability”
3. “Defining and predicting sustainability”

• Distinction between sustainability, well-being, welfare

• Theories of change in sustainability science: Understanding how change happens

• Global Sustainability: Toward Definition

• Review of sustainability terms and their definitions

• Connecting climate action with other Sustainable Development Goals

• International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development

• Sustainability - an open access journal

• Nature Sustainability

• The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019

• What People Know and Think About the Sustainable Development Goals

• Future of Sustainability

• The Sustainable Development Report 2019

• The Limits to Growth

• Regenerative Capitalism: How Universal Principles And Patterns Will Shape Our New Economy

• Silent Spring

• Small is Beautiful

• Cannibals with Forks

• Cradle to Cradle

• Sustainability: A Cultural History

(Image Credit: Mike Petrucci on Unsplash)

More and more artists are incorporating environmental and sustainability themes in their messaging as the world experiences increasing extreme weather events with dire consequences and climate change becomes an urgent issue to tackle. Here are some examples from visual arts, music, cinema, and culture.    

Explore the connection between human and sustainability through the eyes of paintings.  ACCIONA and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid came together to present Art and Sustainability: “Reflections on some social challenges through the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection”. You can see the 12 works included in this thematic route.

Cinema Verde is an international film festival that annually celebrates global independent films that are focused on films regarding the environment and sustainability. The trailers are available to watch and the films are available for a fee with streaming online service.  

Chris Jordan is a Seattle-based American artist who critiques through his artworks the environmental damage from human consumption and pollution as well as societal issues related to sustainability. In Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait, he leaves the viewer impressions from images depicting staggering numbers of damages, made through his beautiful digitally enhanced photographs and illustrations.    

Playing For Change 
Playing for Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. The idea for this project came from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. 

Creative Responses to Sustainability
Since 2015, The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) has been publishing country specific guides: “Creative Responses to Sustainability”, through its arts and culture portal. The guides give impressions on the arts organisations  in several countries across Asia and Europe, that addresses sustainability in their artistic works.

There are 7 recent guides available for the following countries and more:  Singapore (2015), Korea (2016), Indonesia (2017), Indonesia (2017), Australia (2018),Portugal (2019) with the spin-off in the series on the city of Berlin (2017) and Spain (2019), UK (2021).

• 7 Major Trends in Sustainability April is Earth Month! Forum for the Future, a global nonprofit organisation advocates for systems change to promote sustainability has recently published a report entitled Driving Systems Change in Turbulent Times. Forum advances seven trends that have major implications for how (or if) we will be able to address current global environmental challenges.


• Top 10 Sustainability Conferences around the world - There are many global conferences that will help you network and get the latest trends and innovation ideas to be up-to-date.  


• UN International Days - “Shaping a Future Together” The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization.

• Explore population growth and its impact on the Earth from 1 C.E. to 2050

• Sustainability Timelines

 1. “Caring for the Earth” elaboration of sustainability terms IUCN, UNEP, WWF (1991)

In 1991 a report was published as a response to Brundtland Report: “Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
(IUCN et al 1991, Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living, p. 10)

2. Sustainability framework according to The Natural Step 

The Natural Step defines 4 conditions to be met in order to reach sustainability. These 4 system conditions, also known as the principles of sustainability, were developed by a group of international scientists: "a sustainable society means that nature is not subject to systematic increases in:

1. concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust;
2. concentrations of substances produced by society;
3. degradation by physical means; and, in that society,
4. people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.” The System Conditions