HNRS-120 | Beyond Sustainability

Full Title: Beyond Sustainability

Topic Description:

Sustainable development asks that we find a balance between the often-competing goals of environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and social equity (the 5 Ps of people, planet, peace, partnership, and prosperity). At its most fundamental level, sustainability implies persistence over time and the ability to meet today’s needs without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Yet, this vision of sustainability suggests that we both know what needs to be sustained and that there is some stable baseline towards which we can direct our efforts. On a planet where climate and the fundamental cycles of the Earth itself are shirting-where continual change has become the new normal-are these viable goals? Or is it possible to push our thinking beyond sustainability and innovate pathways forward that support ecological function, promote resilience, and enhance our ability to respond and adapt to changing conditions?

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: December 2017