Unit One

Defining Sustainability

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

 What does
Sustainability
mean?

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

 Sustainability means meeting
the needs of the present
without compromising the
ability to meet future needs.

World Commission on Environment

and Development

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

 “Sustainability means
Basic Human Needs meeting the needs of the
What are people’s basic needs? present without
Do all people have the same needs? compromising the ability to
Will a person living 100 years from now have the same
meet future needs”
needs as you do today?
World Commission on Environment
and Development

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

Our basic needs fall into three categories

Environment Society Economy

Good
Clean Air Safety Jobs

Clean Fair
Water Health Wages

Healthy Community Fair

Soil Prices

Nutritious Education Opportunity

Food
 Sustainability

Environment Society Economy

Safety Good
Clean Air
Jobs
Clean Health
Water Fair Sustainability
Community Wages
Healthy
Soil
rests on
Education Fair
Nutritious Prices Three Pillars
Food
 Sustainability means meeting
Present and Future the needs of the present
How can our present actions affect our future? without compromising the
Give one example of how something you do today can make ability to meet future needs.
the future better.

World Commission on Environment

and Development

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

What do you want
your future
To be like?

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

 Your Vision
How would you improve this vacant lot to
help achieve the future you want?

At your table discuss:

• How will this space be used?
• How will it support the needs of the
community now and in the future?
• How will it promote the economy,
environment, and society?

Use a whiteboard to draw out your plan for

this vacant lot. Make sure your plan includes
each of the Three Pillars of Sustainability.
Photograph from Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy

National Sustainability Teachers’ Academy