ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Lesson 13

Group 13
What is Sustainability?

Sustainability means meeting

our own needs without
compromising the ability of
future generations to meet
their their own needs.
Where does the term come
from?

The movement as a whole has

roots in social justice,
conservationism,
internationalism and other past
movement with rich histories
 Brundtland Commision
In 1983, The UN tapped former Norwegian prime
minister Gro Harlem Brundtland to run the new
World Commision on Environment and Development
The aim of the Brundtland Commission was to help
direct the nations of the world towards the goal of
sustainable development.
The commission is also known as the World
Commission on Environment and Development
(WCED). It operated from 1984 to 1987. The
commission published its results in the Brundtland
report in 1987.
 Brundtland Commision
After four years, the “Brundtland Commission” released its
final report, Our Common Future. It famously defines
sustainable development as:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
The Commission successfully unified environmentalism
with social and economic concerns on the world’s
development agenda.
Sustainability is a holistic approach that considers
ecological, social and economic dimensions, recognizing
that all must be considered together to find lasting
prosperity.
 The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Environmental Economic Social

Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability
 Economic Sustainability

Economic sustainability refers to practices designed to create

the long-term economic development of a company or nation
while also managing the environmental, social, and cultural
aspects of its activities. It is about balancing economic growth
and generating profit with the impact on the environment
and people.
 Environmental Sustainability

Economic sustainability refers to practices designed to create

the long-term economic development of a company or nation
while also managing the environmental, social, and cultural
aspects of its activities. It is about balancing economic growth
and generating profit with the impact on the environment
and people.
 Social Sustainability

Social sustainability is a process for creating sustainable

successful places that promote wellbeing, by understanding what
people need from the places they live and work. Social
sustainability combines design of the physical realm with design of
the social world – infrastructure to support social and cultural
life, social amenities, systems for citizen engagement, and space
for people and places to evolve.
 Social Sustainability in
Business

From a business perspective, social sustainability is about

understanding the impacts of corporations on people and society.
In the triple bottom line (TBL) model, social sustainability is
the least quantifiable part of sustainability. The TBL is an
accounting framework of three parts: social, environmental and
financial. The TBL framework has been adopted by organizations
to evaluate performance. The three aspects interrelate to
determine a corporation’s performance.
 TBL Model

In economics, the triple bottom line (TBL) maintains that

companies should commit to focusing as much on social and
environmental concerns as they do on profits.
TBL theory posits that instead of one bottom line, there
should be three: profit, people, and the planet.
A TBL seeks to gauge a corporation's level of commitment to
corporate social responsibility and its impact on the
environment over time.
 TBL Model

In 1994, John Elkington—the famed British management

consultant and sustainability guru—coined the phrase "triple
bottom line" as his way of measuring performance in
corporate America.
The idea was that a company can be managed in a way that
not only makes money but which also improves people's lives
and the well-being of the planet.
 In corporations, social sustainability performance issues include
human rights, fair labor practices, living conditions, health, safety,
wellness, diversity, equity, work-life balance, empowerment,
community engagement, philanthropy, volunteerism, and more.
Though social impact, or social sustainability, issues are not easily
quantifiable or measurable, they are easier to identify
Four dimensions and Principles of Social
Sustainability

Equity
Diversity
Social Cohesion
Quality of life
Why Is Social Sustainability Important?

Builds a more productive workforce

Positive consumer reputation
Creates a more secure supply chain
Improves risk management
Lays the groundwork for other aspects of
sustainability
How to Practice Social Sustainability in Your
Organization?

Cultivate a healthy work-life balance

Donate to a social cause
Emphasize the importance of health and
safety
Give back to your local community
Partner with advocacy groups
Prioritize employee rights
The Three Pillars of Sustainability
Why Sustainability?
The Motivation behind sustainability is often complex,
personal and diverse. It is unrealistic to create a list of
reasons why so many individuals, groups and communities
are working towards this goal.
Sustainability as a value is shared by many individuals and
organizations who demonstrate this value in their policies,
everyday activities and behaviors
Sustainability is important for a
number of reasons.
Here are a few:
1. Protecting the environment: Sustainable practices help to protect
our planet's natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
2. Social responsibility: Sustainability is also important for social
reasons. By adopting sustainable practices, businesses can help to
create jobs, promote economic growth, and improve the standard of
living for people in their communities.
Sustainability is important for a
number of reasons.
Here are a few:
3. Future generations: By adopting sustainable practices, we can
ensure that future generations inherit a healthy and thriving planet,
with access to the resources they need to live fulfilling lives.
4. Global challenges: Sustainability is increasingly important as we
face global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion,
and social inequality. By adopting sustainable practices, we can work
towards a more resilient and equitable future..