Sustainability is often represented diagrammatically. The figure at the top of this page suggests that there are three pillars of sustainability – economic viability, environmental protection and social equity.
Other dimensions could be represented – for example ‘technical feasibility’, ‘political legitimacy’ and ‘institutional capacity’. Our focus in this course is upon the ‘three pillars’. They can help us to look beyond the complexities of contested terms like ‘development’ (is it positive, is it negative?)
World population and associated impacts
Global population has exceeded 7 billion people in 2015. A century ago there were about 1.6 billion people in the world and in the 1960’s there were about half the people there are today. The population is going to keep on growing although the rate at which it does this is disputed. Each person in the world requires resources to survive and so the strain on the earth to supply these resources will also grow.
Want to keep learning?This content is taken from The University of Nottingham online course, Sustainability, Society and YouView Course
Although a bigger population generally means more mouths to feed, there is not an even distribution of consumption patterns throughout the world. One of the biggest indicators of unsustainability is in the misdistribution of wealth. Over a third of the world still live in poverty with limited access to energy, water or food.
In 2006, a team of scholars with the United Nations University’s World Institute for Development Economics Research published the first paper to tally, for the entire world, all the major elements of household wealth, everything from financial assets and debts to land, homes, and other tangible property.
This research, based on year 2000 data, found that the richest 1% of the world’s adult population, individuals worth at least $514,512, owned 39.9 % of the world’s household wealth, a total greater than the wealth of the world’s poorest 95%, those adults worth under $150,145 who hold, together, just 29.4% of the world’s wealth.
Personal wealth is distributed so unevenly across the world that the richest 2% of adults own more than 50% of the world’s assets while the poorest half hold only 1% of wealth. The USA consumes 25% of the world’s energy with a share of the world population of 4.5%. The figures for material, water and food consumption between the richest nations and the poorest display a similar level of disparity.
Population growth is much higher in developing countries, while resource consumption and pollution is higher in developed countries. The gap between the ends of the spectrum has been increasing in a similar exponential fashion.
The focus of sustainability is as much on humanity (the social corner of the sustainability triangle) as it is on nature (the ecological), and to reduce this inequality and provide a basic standard of living conditions for the earth’s inhabitants is paramount to the sustainability challenge.
Viewpoints for sustainability
Let’s just consider motivations for exploring sustainability – these can be different depending on your world view: logic, emotion or instinct can be the drivers. Generally they are based around concepts of humanity inherently striving for survival. The following are three viewpoints for sustainability:
The Ecologist doesn’t see the human race as a separate entity from the planet and its resources, but part of it. Their motivations for preserving the planet are that nature and humanity have an inherent value and should be protected because of that.
The Environmentalist sees nature or the planet as separate from the human race. It is there for humans, and as such humans should have stewardship over the world. They see the planet as something to be preserved so that humans can survive and evolve.
The Economist understands the measures of unsustainability arising from a consumer led culture treating finite resources as an income, but has faith that market forces and a “business as usual” approach will result in a natural crisis aversion occurring; that the system will sort itself out through technological advances if left to its own devices.
It is helpful to ask ourselves what our motivations are for seeking sustainability. This can help us in articulating our understanding of sustainability and our commitment (or not) to achieving it.
Think about: what are your motivations for taking this course? What drives your interest – economic viability, environmental protection, social equity? Which viewpoint is closest to yours?
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Want to keep learning?This content is taken from The University of Nottingham online courseSustainability, Society and YouView Course
FAQs
The 3 pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. Sustainability is an essential part of facing current and future global challenges, not only those related to the environment.
What are 3 pillars of sustainability? ›
Sustainability's three main pillars represent environmental concerns, socially responsible practices, and economic cooperation. These three pillars are also informally referred to as people, planet, purpose, and profits.
What are the 3 P's of sustainability? ›
The 3Ps of sustainability are a well-known and accepted business concept. The Ps refer to People, Planet, and Profit, also often referred to as the triple bottom line. Sustainability has the role of protecting and maximising the benefit of the 3Ps.
What are the 3 principles of sustainability explain each? ›
The 3 principles of sustainability are environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. These principles guide us in creating a balanced and sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants.
What are the three pillars of sustainability pdf? ›
The three pillars of sustainable development are popularly known as ecological, social and economic. These pillars are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. They recognize that environmental, social, and economic considerations are interconnected and essential for achieving sustainable development.
What are the three pillars? ›
The definition of sustainable development according to the Brundtland Report. What are the three pillars of sustainable development? Social pillar. Economic pillar. Environmental pillar.
What are the 3 E's of sustainability? ›
While many community dynamics are at work, three are particularly important to building healthy and prosperous communities over the long term: economy, ecology, and equity—the three E's.
What are the 3 primary goals of sustainability? ›
Hence, the primary goals of sustainability include:
- To end poverty and hunger.
- Better standards of education and healthcare - particularly as it pertains to water quality and better sanitation.
- To achieve gender equality.
- Sustainable economic growth while promoting jobs and stronger economies.
By embracing the 3 C's — Conservation, Community, and Circular Economy — we can collectively move towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Let's weave these principles into the fabric of our lifestyles and foster a world where environmental and social responsibility go hand in hand.
What are the 3P sustainable goals? ›
The basis of corporate social responsibility is a strategy that seeks a balance between the social, environmental and economic aspects. These three aspects provide the basis for the 3 Ps: People, Planet & Profit.
The “Big Three” institutional investors, BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard, have significant influence on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and related disclosure for public companies.
What are the 3 priorities of our sustainability framework? ›
Sustainable development is based on three fundamental pillars: social, economic and environmental. The Brundtland report, which sustainable development is gets its name from – delineated the development of human resources in form of extreme poverty reduction, global gender equity, and wealth redistribution.
What are the three fundamentals of sustainability? ›
The figure at the top of this page suggests that there are three pillars of sustainability – economic viability, environmental protection and social equity.
What do the 3 pillars of sustainability mean? ›
One way to look at sustainability is by considering the 3 Pillars of Sustainability. Under this approach, companies target a balanced approach to long-term social, environmental, and economic objectives. Another way to look at this is through the concept of the Triple Bottom Line — People, Planet, and Profit.
What is a major challenge to sustainability? ›
Climate change is widely seen as the biggest challenge of our age. Vast financial and human resources are being mobilized to deal with the causes and effects of climate change, and to bring about an energy transition away from fossil fuels to renewable resources.
What are the three main focuses of sustainable development? ›
For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize three core elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. These elements are interconnected and all are crucial for the well-being of individuals and societies.
What does ESG stand for? ›
ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. This is often called sustainability. In a business context, sustainability is about the company's business model, i.e. how its products and services contribute to sustainable development.
What are the three pillars of ESG? ›
If you're new to the term, 'ESG' stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. ESG speaks of the triple bottom line – profit, people, and the planet. It's about assessing how your company's operations impact the world and ensuring these actions are aligned with your values and the values of society at large.
What are the three main principles within strong sustainability? ›
What is sustainability? The principles of sustainability are the foundations of what this concept represents. Therefore, sustainability is made up of three pillars: the economy, society, and the environment. These principles are also informally used as profit, people and planet.
What are the three pillars of sustainability and explain why they are important in the tourism industry? ›
Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
