Robertson (2017) defines sustainability as “enduring into the long-term future; it refers to systems and processes that are able to operate and persist on their own over long periods of time (p. 3). In other words, as the population grows throughout the globe, we must come up with ways of sustainable development in order to preserve natural resources while continuing to grow. I see this as a balance between sustainability and growth.
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
As Keith Arnold stated during the Colloquium Video, Florida Gulf Coast University wanted to be a university that focused on the environment. Keith mentioned that, “FGCU should have an environmental component and a focus of growth management, a focus on environmental quality issues that would help define and distinguish it from the other universities in the state of Florida”.
As we all know, change and population growth is inevitable, however, we must construct the future in a responsible manner without impacting our ecosystems and the future of the generations coming forward. One of the concepts that Robertson (2017) writes about is resilience. “Sustainability and resilience are not synonymous but are interrelated concepts. They provide complementary frameworks that are employed toward the same goal: to enable social-ecological systems to continue into the long-term future” (Robertson, 2017, p. 4).
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
After the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act became the law of the land (Jackson, Nunes-Zaller, Salmond and Thomas, 2018, p. 1)
Jackson, S.B., Nunes-Zaller., A, Salmond, J., and Thomas, B. (2018). A Sustainable Future: Equality, Ecology and Economy. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.
One of the major challenges for sustainability to prosper at a global scale is that education is not feasible for everyone due to high poverty levels. Another challenge that deters sustainability in certain parts of the world is equality. Inequality is most often seen to affect women, especially for cultural reasons. If inequality exists then a sustainable environment will not exist. As Jackson, Nunes-Zeller, Salmond, and Thomas (2018) mentioned “A stable and sustainable society will respect equality in all of its forms, supporting community members and ensuring equal treatment and representation. If a society fails to rectify inequalities it is establishing the basis for future and enduring conflict” (p. 3). Lastly, a struggling economy can be detrimental to achieving sustainability. If a country, state, or city is unable to invest in social sustainability then there will not be any advancements in having sustainable progress. In contrast, that will lead to the destruction of the environment.
References
Arnold, K. (2013, January 11). Colloquium Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HD1X_Y25w.
Jackson, S.B., Nunes-Zaller., A, Salmond, J., and Thomas, B. (2018). A Sustainable Future: Equality, Ecology and Economy. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
What Is Sustainability? 