Sustainability shapes our lives, and as a concept that has shown its ability to evolve over time, we are all more or less involved in its realization.
The concept of sustainable development emerged in the mid-1980s, in order to bridge the gap between environmental and socio-political concerns, gaining international recognition in 1987 with the “Brundtland Report.” The ideal of “meeting the needs of current generations, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” has been both criticized and over-utilized. Everyone — from individuals to high level organizations — struggle to identify what would be a sustainable version of their work, often finding difficulty in understanding and defining the actual meaning of now standard term in both community and global projects.
From greater efficiency of resource use and environmental balance to how-to-save-the-world recipes, there are dozens of definitions of sustainable development. The main critique, however, remains the same — the concept is strong and the methodologies are weak. With sustainability meaning so many different things to so many different people, the efforts towards defining it are consequent. But with the recent evident of successful projects, especially in developing countries, a new kind of interpretation of this concept appears, based on outcomes rather than presumptions. From top-down, to goal-oriented, to process-driven, finally a more dynamic approach to sustainable development emerges.
Perhaps it is finally understandable that it doesn’t matter what disciplines define sustainability, since it is clear that all disciplines are involved and taking action. Learning by doing rather than targeting a precise definition proves to be a more productive method, as principles form easily from the outcomes. The so-called three pillars of sustainability — economy, society and environment — are replaced by a more interdisciplinary and integrated way. Sustainable development today is more about resilience than balance — more about adapting and bouncing back than simply being in harmony.
Sustainable projects with the potential for success are inviting and involving, encouraging and engaging, and show obvious advancement in our treatment of environmental problems by recognizing their dynamics and complexity. The numbers stand out as well. More than one million homes in Bangladesh electrified through solar energy; more than 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide avoided annually due to proper waste disposal in Morocco; 200,000 users of the first Bus Rapid Transit in Nigeria; more than 20 million energy efficient light bulbs distributed in Mexico; and billions of dollars mobilized by Climate Investment Funds. As for the other side of the story, it is alive and well, but finally there is proof that it is also avoidable.
Whether it’s the United Nations’ database sharing the successful sustainable development stories from different countries — which is the first of its kind, the recent Rockefeller Foundation initiative titled “100 Resilient Cities” allowing the cities across the globe to compete and become a part of the international network that promotes cities as the leaders; the World Watch Institute blogging for sustainability in the U. S.; Salt Lake City being named one of the top 20 most resilient cities in the nation by Local Governments for Sustainability USA; or the U leading the efforts in using green power, opportunities for participation are visible on all levels. Students and experts play the same role now, and while it is still hard to tell how far we are from our goals, it is not just about definitions anymore — it’s about work too.