A simple guide to a vital idea
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is a way of using resources that could continue forever. A sustain-able activity is able to be sustained without running out of resources or causing harm.
If something is unsustainable, it means it’s using up resources faster than they’re being replaced. Eventually the resources will run out and the activity won’t be able to carry on.
The idea of sustainability is used in a few different ways. You’ll sometimes hear about something being financially sustainable or socially sustainable. But this article will focus on environmental sustainability.
Sustainability and the environment
Sustainability is one of the most important concepts when it comes to protecting the environment. Most environmental problems – from overfishing to air pollution – come from using natural resources unsustainably. And the solutions help us move towards a more sustainable way of doing things.
Environment questions answered
A simple example
Imagine there’s a small forest behind your house. You can take wood from the forest to build a fire, repair the roof or add extra rooms if you need more space.
If you get greedy and take wood more quickly than the trees can grow back, the forest will get smaller and eventually disappear. But if you manage the forest sustainably, only taking as much as can naturally regrow, you’ll enjoy a steady supply of wood forever.
Of course, in the real world, sustainability isn’t usually this simple. The most important resources are part of huge, complex systems that are linked in unexpected ways. But the basic idea of staying in balance with nature as it regenerates itself still holds true.
Sustainability as a marketing term
Most people agree that sustainability is a good idea. And because it sounds so positive, companies and governments like to describe things they do as sustainable – even when they’re not. It’s true that some things are more sustainable than others, but even the most efficient oil-fueled car will eventually run out of atmosphere to pollute.
When you see a product or policy being described as sustainable, ask yourself: could they keep doing this forever without causing any harm? If the answer is no, it’s probably not sustainable.
A sustainable system
The truth is, it’s actually quite difficult for something to be truly sustainable, especially if it’s happening on a large scale. For a long time, societies like ours in the UK have been built around unsustainable ways of doing things. It’s not just that everyone’s allowed to take more than their fair share – things are often set up so it’s impossible not to.
Moving to a sustainable system is the greatest challenge of this century. And we’ll only succeed by moving together, with the most powerful taking the lead. That’s why Greenpeace mainly targets governments and big companies with its campaigns. By getting them to stop unsustainable practices and write better rules, we can build a green, peaceful world that’ll last long into the future.
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