What is Sustainability and Why is it Important

Today, sustainability is a crucial global trend.

It refers to “sustainable development,” which is the ability of the environment to withstand human impact. In ecology, the term refers to the ability of biological systems to maintain and develop.

Humans are part of the ecosystem, and our daily actions determine the future of the entire planet.

The main impact humans have on Earth is the destruction of biophysical resources and, particularly, the ecosystems of the Earth. The cumulative impact of humanity depends on the Earth’s population, which in turn depends on the resources used (renewable and non-renewable) and the scale of human activity in relation to the ability of ecosystems to withstand external influence.

The term “sustainability” has been actively used since the 1980s.

The system for assessing the negative impact of any product on the environment, measured in eco-points, was developed in Switzerland. It was first described by the Swiss scientist Rudi Müller-Wenk in 1978. The “harmfulness” rating of a product is calculated as the sum of all the negative impacts on the environment that occur at all stages, from production to disposal.

According to this system, all the products consumed by an average European in a year account for 20 million eco-points, with 5.6 million (28%) of these points coming from food: 2.5 million from meat, 600,000 from coffee, and 390,000 from wine.

Why is it Important

Numerous studies show that humanity is already consuming more resources than the planet can regenerate, and the forecasts are not optimistic.

The ecological footprint measures human consumption in terms of biologically productive land that provides the necessary resources for humans and absorbs the waste produced by the average Earth resident.

Read also: What is the Philosophy of Slow Living

There are two main ways to reduce the negative impact of humanity and improve ecosystems.

The first is environmental management. This approach is based on information gathered through geosciences, applied ecology, and conservation biology.

The second approach is managing humanity’s resource consumption, which is based on information collected through economic sciences.

The economy of sustainable development, where ecology is one of the most important aspects, is a modern challenge not only for the world as a whole — in terms of legislation, urban planning, reducing emissions into the atmosphere, optimizing energy consumption, reducing environmental pollution, etc. — but also for each individual, in terms of conscious consumption and lifestyle.

Living more sustainably can be achieved by reorganizing human habitats — building “smart” eco-cities and eco-villages, using new “green” technologies and renewable energy sources. It also involves developing sustainable agriculture and sustainable production, where businesses must support ecosystem health, use water and other crucial resources wisely, and think about future generations. It also involves the development of sustainable consumption, promoting ethical fashion, etc.

At the same time, it is important not only to use resources efficiently but also to preserve the environment and biosphere.