What is sustainability?
Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs.
Why do we need to think about sustainability?
Our current world economy is dominantly based on infinite growth, on a planet with finite resources. It is geared for short-term profit at the expense of society and the environment. This business model is failing and evidence for the failure can be seen in the increasing scarcity of once-abundant resources, the bulging landfills, economic instability, social malaise, environmental contamination and the collapse of environmental systems.
What does being more sustainable mean?
Building a environmentally sustainable global society means adjusting business and economic practices to account for resource limitations and the actual value of resources, as part of the planets life support system that we humans depend on. It also means creating efficient systems and behaviors, sometimes modeled after nature, that enable humans to consume less energy and resources, generate less waste, and turn waste into resources. This results in a steady state, in which resources used are replenished at a balanced rate. By not overburdening the planets life support system, we enable it to continue to provide humans with a hospitable, healthy, environment to live in. Maintaining resources at a steady state means that the jobs dependent on those resources are also maintained at a steady state. The result is a sturdy, more stable, economy that is conducive to human innovation and better social conditions.
What can I do to be more sustainable?
Here are 24 easy things that you can do to be more sustainable, save money and change the world:
- Carpooling – save vehicle expenses, reduce pollution
- Busing – save vehicle expenses, reduce pollution
- Biking – save vehicle expenses, reduce pollution
- Buying used goods – pay less, reduce landfill costs
- Swapping used goods – pay nothing, reduce landfill costs
- Trading services – pay nothing
- Going paperless – pay less for paper and ink, reduce recycling costs and energy, reduce pollution
- Weather proofing home – pay less on energy bills, reduce pollution
- Using more energy efficient appliances, vehicles and products – lower utilities, pay less, reduce pollution
- Cleaning with baking soda, vinegar and home-made cleaners – pay less, reduce recycling and landfill costs, reduce pollution
- Buying goods produced sustainably – create demand which leads to more suppliers and lower prices, reduce pollution
- Buying products that produce less waste – create demand which leads to more suppliers and lower prices, reduce landfill costs, reduce pollution
- Buying only what you need – pay less, reduce landfill costs
- Buying locally – support local industry, create demand which leads to more suppliers and lower prices, reduce pollution
- Growing your own vegetables – pay less
- Earth wise gardening – less maintenance, lower utilities, reduce pollution
- Sharing merchandise – pay less
- Supporting suitability
conscious businesses – support local industry, create demand which leads to more suppliers and lower prices - Getting involved with local community initiatives – support community
- Donating used goods – reduce landfill costs, support community
- Consigning used goods – make money, reduce landfill costs, support local industry
- Composting – reduce landfill costs, create fertilizer for garden
- Recycling – get money back, support local industry, reduce landfill costs
- Educating Others – support community
