What does sustainable development mean to you?
Everyone talks about sustainable living and sustainable development. But what does this really mean?
In the press & in international politics people mostly refer to a very old and basic definition: ‘Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future’ (Bruntland, G. 1987)
The Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) recognizes today that ‘global co-operation is required to achieve sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions worldwide.’ (OECD, 2006)
But despite these official ways of describing what sustainability is all about – what does it mean to you? How do you define it for yourself and how far do you really practise it?
Many people start become green with simple actions: They separate their kitchen waste, they try to use public transport, switch off the lights when they don’t need them and buy organic food. Some people even give money to environmental funds. But is this really sustainable living?
There’s much more to it and pioneers all over the world are exploring new ways of living with a low-impact or event to support the environment. They have found ways to live from own energy resources and they form communities that try to showcase the world: A self-sustained life is possible based on simple techniques & principles (one of these concepts is called Permaculture).
Others discover innovative ways to build houses out of waste material (these houses are called ‘Earthships’) and they use solar cookers that work with sunlight and can be used even in remote locations. Some even find ways to rebuild the reefs in our oceans with iron structures and a method to speed up coral growth with low voltage electrical currents through seawater.
Unfortunately many of these solutions are not very known since they are not being promoted. Ideaplants.org is a website developed to collect these innovative ideas and to help people develop projects for sustainable living. With the support of volunteers from all over the world the site is being developed and today the first collection of articles and interviews is online.
For further information please contact Mira Bangel: mira@ideaplants.org or visit www.ideaplants.org
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February 9th, 2008 at 11:14 am
What does sustainability mean to you?
Everyone talks about sustainable living and sustainable development…
But despite these official ways of describing what sustainability is all about – what does it mean to you?
How do you define it for yourself and how far do you really practise it?
July 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
These are great questions that need to be explored. Sustainability should be seen in real terms and practicability and not in theories only.
As much as development sustainability has a meaning,there is more and concrete definition that is real. We most of the time talk of sustainability in relation to wider community.
It is Ok to share the idea of sustainability, but the very individual person sharing it be fully in the picture. ‘If you can treat others, then you should beyond doubt be well’. This will make sustainability more real.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Interesting that the focus is on the individual’s role in sustainability, as in what actions can be done within our own intra- and interpersonal sphere. I agree that these behavioral accommodations need to be implemented, but political scientists are pretty clear that this level of agency does nothing to change institutional systems. THAT is where the changes must occur in order to aggregate a large enough impact to shift the momentum of climate change processes.
Svensonsun is on a similar micro/meso-track, arguing that heightened sensitivity in our mundane, daily interactions with the human beings in shared physical space is a strategy to generate a kind of social foundation that will transcend (magically?) into (I fill in some blanks?) the larger systemic changes we need.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Where are we today? are we satisfied with what we have and who we are? Are we going to harvest, destroy some natural to get what we want? Sustainable development is all about protecting what we have now for the future generation to use. Land, Forest, Water bodies and and valuable natural resources.It is by apply a conscious effort to what we are doing now which may have effect on nature by destroying nature.
Sustainable Development therefore means taking conscious effort to protect nature for future generation to come and meet and also use, in a cycle model.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Where are we today? are we satisfied with what we have and who we are? Are we going to harvest, destroy some natural resources to get what we want? Sustainable development is all about protecting what we have now for the future generation to use. Land, Forest, Water bodies and and valuable natural resources.It is by apply a conscious effort to what we are doing now which may have effect on nature by destroying nature.
Sustainable Development therefore means taking conscious effort to protect nature for future generation to come and meet and also use, in a cycle model.