Sustainability: a definition

What follows is the Qualicum Institute's working definition of "sustainability." It defines the concept in terms of both human sustainability and ecological sustainability, the latter of which humanity cannot do without and, unlike the Bruntland definition¹, includes indicators that can be measured.

Human Sustainability

Long-term social and economic well-being requires our choosing to live in a just and equitable way that ensures the viability and subsistence of all living species and their places. This means living within the limits of ecological sustainability, which is the maintenance of ecological processes so that the biological productivity of the Earth endures without dependence on non-renewable resources².

Definition notesHere, Long-term, Sustainability, and Endures mean forever and within the bounds of natural variation are timeless. Just means conformity with what is morally decent or the right action. Equitable means freedom from bias or favouritism: dealing fairly and impartially with all life. Viability means capable of existence and development as an independent unit: capable of working, functioning or developing adequately. Subsistence means the condition of remaining in existence, a continuity or persistence. Maintenance of processes requires that the rates of change occur on a time scale that is similar to the natural variation in the system without humans. Knowledge and understanding of ecological processes and rates are important to their maintenance. Plans for sustainable use should not require human interventions to ‘speed up’ ecological processes. Dependence means the relation of having existence conditional on the existence of something else. Resource use is based on ecology, not economics.

¹ Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, Chapter 2 – Towards Sustainable Development. Note: this link opens a new window.

² The definition of ecological sustainability and some of the definition notes were adapted from Voller, J. and S. Harrison (Eds.) 1998. Conservation Biology Principles for Forested Landscapes. UBC Press, Vancouver.

Sustainability: a definition

Human Sustainability

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