User:Nick carson/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sustainability, in the broadest sense, is the ability to sustain a certain process or state at a certain rate or level. The term carries multiple definitions depending on the context in which it is applied, the most common contexts being; ecological, social and economic. In recent years the term has been applied in a holistic sense, focussing on how these contexts interrelate. Due to factors such as overpopulation, lack of education, inadequate financial circumstances and the actions of past generations, sustainability can be difficult to achieve.[1][2]
When applied in the ecological context, it is defined as the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity into the future.[3] When applied in the social context, sustainability is expressed as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.[4] And when applied in an economic context, it is defined as the qualification and viable continuity of interaction, inter and intra entreprise, and is used as a synonym for supporting business practices, processes and systems enabling the long term development and growth of an activity.[citation needed]
To be sustainable, regardless of context, the Earth's resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally, thus in the broad definition of Sustainability, greatest importance is placed on the ecological context as all other contexts are dependent on the sustainable use of the Earth's resources, without which they would not exist. There is now clear scientific evidence that humanity is living unsustainably, and that an unprecedented collective effort is needed to manage resources sustainably.[5][6] Sustainability is a concept that affects a wide range of subjects, particularly; different levels of biological organization (e.g. wetlands, prairies, forests), human organization (e.g. ecovillages, eco-municipalities, sustainable cities) and human activities and disciplines (e.g. sustainable agriculture, sustainable architecture).[citation needed]
Definition
In the broadest sense, sustainability is defined as the ability to sustain a certain process or state at a certain rate or level. The term carries a variety of definitions depending on the context in which it is applied, the most common contexts being; ecological, social, economic and holistic. To be sustainable, regardless of context, the Earth's resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally, thus in the broad definition of Sustainability, greatest importance is placed on the ecological context as all other contexts are dependent on the sustainable use of the Earth's resources
Difficulty in defining sustainability stems in part from its complexity, in that it can be seen to encompass all human activity. Although science forms the basis of sustainability concepts, it is sometimes also perceived as a general concept like liberty or justice, which is accepted as being of critical importance to humanity and life in general, and can also be viewed as a "dialogue of values"[7] that defies consensual definition.[8] Like many other terms, "sustainability" is also open to various political interpretations.
Social
When applied in the social context, sustainability is expressed as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.[9] Social sustainability is also seen as being an umbrella term encompassing various other social systems and concepts such as social justice, environmentalism, community ownership, etc. It is applied to various socially sustainable practices and concepts such as; ecovillages, eco-municipalities, sustainable cities, sustainable building, etc. This definition relies on the sustainable use of the Earth's resources, to sustain the human population and its social systems.
Economic
When applied in an economic context, it is defined as the qualification and viable continuity of interaction, inter and intra entreprise, and is used as a synonym for supporting business practices, processes and systems enabling the long term development and growth of an activity.[citation needed] Economic sustainability remains a contentious, debated issue as many believe that current economic systems are inherently unsustainable and thus progressions incorporating elements of social sustainability must take their place. Economic sustainability relies on the sustainable use of the Earth's resources, without which, economic, financial and business matters could not exist.
Ecological
When applied in the ecological context, sustainability is defined as the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity into the future.[10] This definition is most often applied to the way human beings use and manage the Earth's resources, and is most often applied to the various sustainable resource management disciplines such as; Tree farms, sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, renewable sources of energy such as the wind, sun, etc. Ecological sustainability encompasses the most important definition of sustainability, as without the Earth's resources, humanity and all of its social and economic systems could not exist.
Holistic
The holistic context focusses on how all of the above mentioned definitions interrelate as part of the greater planetary or global system, and tries to achieve a balance between them. This definition is sometimes a point of contention as some representatives of each definition feel that more or less importance should be placed on certain definitions than others. The unavoidable constant in this case is that all sub-definitions rely on the sustained management and use of the Earth's resources, thus Ecological Sustainability is regarded as the most important, holding priority above other definitions. It is exemplified in the field of systems ecology, a cross-disciplinary field influenced by general systems theory. Holistic Sustainability encompasses every aspect of how human beings interact with life and resources on Earth. As such, it is seen as the highest priority definition, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainability for all life and their systems on Earth.