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There are many definitions of sustainability and approaches to achieving it. Broadly, sustainability can be considered as:
The balance between environmental, social, and economic systems so that we can meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future while improving well-being for individuals and communities.
Sustainability can be represented in many ways that depict the interconnected nature of these different systems.
Some examples of different models of sustainability are show below.
Making progress towards sustainability requires both individual and societal change in order to address issues such as climate change, social injustice, biodiversity loss, and a host of other complex challenges. The United Nations has outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that can help guide action to create a more sustainable future. There are also educational resources for teaching at all levels that can help to link learning and action to the SDGs.
If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, you can review videos created by ASU educators and students on: an introduction to sustainability, definitions and models of sustainability, and themes in sustainability.
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