Connecting Sustainability
and the Environment to Society

Today, many communities struggle to provide adequate wellbeing and make decisions that weaken the future of the next generation. Often communities over consume their natural resources, establish farmland by eliminating natural habitat, isolate neighbours through home designs, and promote economic growth through short-term industries. However, sustainability means finding innovative ways of living today to improve our wellbeing that does not impair the future. If we are to respond proactively to the challenges communities face, how do we live and make decisions that support sustainability.

Image Credit: Science @ Cal.

To navigate these challenges, we must consider the three spheres of sustainability: Environment, Economy, and Society.

Environment is our natural systems, our ecosystems, and our ecological heritage. It includes plants, animals, insects, oceans, rivers, lands, and considers decisions that result in pollution, deforestation, extinction, climate change and so on.

Economy is our economic and capital created systems. It includes the vitality of individuations, the wealth of society, and the prosperity of actions for individuals and businesses. It considers decisions that impact employment, pricing, trade, markets, industries, fair trade, affordable housing and food and so on.

Society is our social institutions and relations between them. It includes how communities can be strengthened and more liveable. It considers decisions that impact government, friends, social groups, sport activities, tourism, volunteerism, political issues, equity, justice, racism, war, marginalized social groups and so on.

Making decisions that support sustainability means we must consider all three spheres equally and holistically. We must consider each in our science, our design and engineering, our policies, and our education.