1. Sustainability Principles and Practice
Chapter 1
What Is Sustainability?

2. Chapter Topics What is sustainability? Challenges and responses
Sustainability as a discipline

3. Sustainability – definitions
Able to continue for a long time
Needs of each member of the biosphere are met without compromising ability of future generations to meet their needs

4. Fundamental concepts Systems Sustainability Triple bottom line
Natural capital
Triple bottom line

5. Systems Interconnected parts Whole greater than sum of its parts
U.S. Global Change Research Program

6. Systems Closed loops – no waste Networks and connections Diversity
Constant flows
National Park Service

7. Natural capital Plants, animals, soil, water, air Ecosystem services
Planetary “savings account”
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

8. Triple bottom line Three pillars of sustainability are connected
Equity
Environment
Economy

9. Triple bottom line Alternative model Environment Equity Economy
Economy as wholly owned subsidiary of environment

10. Challenges Responses Extinction Population Overshoot Pollution
Climate change
Individual contributions  cumulative solutions
Regenerative era
Better quality of life

11. What is a discipline? Coherent body of knowledge
Criteria for defining new knowledge
Education programs
Community of scholars
Professional literature with peer review

12. Sustainability as a discipline
Still forming
Interdisciplinary
Sustainability
Knowledge and Skills

13. Preparing to work in the field
Broadest education possible
Become a Renaissance man or woman
Practice lifelong learning
Develop critical thinking skills
Learn to work with people

14. Chapter Summary What is sustainability? Challenges and responses
Persists over the long term
Involves systems
Includes triple bottom line
Challenges and responses
Planetary situation is dire
Pieces of solutions can be seen
Sustainability as a discipline
Interdisciplinary field still forming
Practitioners need broad education, critical thinking skills, people skills