Sustainability

THE LANGUAGE OF sustainability emerged during the 1970s, though the concept was introduced as sustainable development in 1980 in the World Conservation Strategy and was popularized in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland Commission after its Norwegian chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland). Today there are numerous definitions of sustainability, but the important question to ask is, What is to be sustained? Is it the planet, particular environments, individual species, current lifestyles, certain rates of economic growth, a specific level of profit?

Sustainability, especially as constructed in mainstream definitions of sustainable development, is very similar to the concept of conservation espoused by the American forester, Gifford Pinchot, in the late 19th century. Conservation emphasized using natural resources wisely, not depleting nonrenewable resources, ensuring that all American men received a fair share of the distribution of benefits, and that consideration be given to the needs of their descendents. Sustainable development globalizes the discourse. The World Commission on Environment and Development report in 1987 defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition [Page 940]is used today in many parts of the world by governments, businesses, environmental groups, and educators. The history of the concept, and the specific term, mean that it may be interpreted as a repackaging of environmental management. The managerial focus and faith in technological progress evident in this definition of sustainability mean that it is critiqued by more radical sustainability advocates.

In Australia, the term ecologically sustainable development emerged as a unique approach as a result of the power of major environmental groups in Australia in the early 1990s. In 1992, ecologically sustainable development was defined as “using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.” This terminology and definition, which arose as a result of the political power of environmental groups in the early 1990s in Australia, highlights the dependence of all life on ecological processes (thermodynamics, hydrological cycles, nutrient cycles, and so on).

The Australian definition leans toward what has been termed strong sustainability, meaning that humans should not be substituting human-made capital for natural capital. In contrast, weak sustainability advocates substitution provided the total store of capital is not diminished. Critics of the weak sustainability approach point out that this is what has been happening for thousands of years, leading to the destruction of the environment. Other critics reject the notion of turning nature into “natural capital” and therefore do not engage in the strong versus weak sustainability debates.