Pre Write-up # 3 (Course: Water and Equity)

Name: P Shanmugha Priya

Enrollment No.: M2019WPG008

What is sustainability? And why are we talking about it?

The word sustainability word was derived from a latin word “Sustinere”, which means
‘maintain’, ‘support’, ‘uphold’ or ‘endure’. It is the concept of using optimum level of
resources in the present so that there is a resource left for the future generation, i.e., it
promotes intergenerational equity. It attempts to bridge social science with civic engineering
and environmental science with the technology of the future.
The three pillars of sustainability are ‘Economic development’, ‘Social development’ and
‘environmental protection’. It encourages long term decision making in terms of
environmental, social and human impact rather than the short-term gains. In environmental
means, the concept made us to think of fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions, protecting
environments and a way of keeping the delicate ecosystem in balance. As a result, there was a
emergence of management concepts – “Green Marketing Practice” in which the products are
developed and advertised based on their real or assumed environmental sustainability; “Triple
Bottom Line” according to which companies focus on social and environmental issues,
besides financial issues. The other advantage is it promotes Zero-wastage packing and
sourcing products from fair trade organisations.
Also, by definition, does the term sustainability means the promotion of concept of
minimalist? If so, on which and what are the situations or matters we become minimalist? Is
it in terms of consumption pattern or in reducing the cost of the product? Most often,
Sustainability is seen as a synonym of optimum resource allocation and minimum inputs
which includes lesser financial allocation. This results in cost-cutting often results in off-
shoring production for cheap labours. So, the concept is often misused by corporate giants, on
contrary to the belief that sustainability has emerged as a component of corporate ethics in
response to the accusation by public over long-term damage caused by focus on short-term
profits.
This concept was also developed aiming to create a ‘balance’ and ‘justice’. But different
scholars interpret these two terms differently. The interpretation would have historical
character too. For example, in water sector, the sharing of water for particular community
could be justified for present generation and could be viewed as sustainable way of sharing
but the same solution could give rise to problem for generation. So, given the dynamicity of a
problem, the application of this concept could grow more complex and one generation could
not dictate what is right for another generation, in the name of equity.
Thus, the term should also be viewed as an amalgamation of history, cultural issues, a
particular person’s moral, ethical and self-identification.