What Is Sustainability? (And Why Is It Important?)

Sustainability is a long-term goal for society to meet the needs of economic growth at its current speed with the least amount of impact on the environment. But it’s more than preserving the natural world and its fragile ecologies. It’s also about enabling the growth and development of businesses and government entities so that all parts of society work in harmony to ensure that future generations have the natural resources needed to survive.

Explore the concept of sustainability, why it’s necessary across industries, and how different types of sustainability come into play.

What is sustainability?

Sustainability refers to society’s ability to exist and develop without depleting the natural resources necessary to live in the future. Sustainable development supports this long-term goal with the implementation of systems, frameworks, and support from global, national, and local entities.

The concept of sustainability builds on the notion that natural resources on Earth are finite, so supporting sustainable practices helps maintain a balance between environment, economy, and equity [1]. It’s the movement and energy behind ensuring that Earth can continue to be liveable, all the while controlling and reducing resource depletion. 

Why is sustainability important?

Sustainability is important for preserving the planet and natural resources like water and air. Building a sustainable future and cultivating sustainable ways of living can reduce pollution and protect the habitats of plants and animals.

A key part of sustainability involves sustainable business practices and economic development, including green technology, eco-friendly supply chains, and more. When businesses and governments follow sustainable practices, it creates a ripple effect on individuals and communities to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels. All of this contributes to a better quality of life.

Brief history of sustainability

The concept of sustainability sprouted from the movement that grew out of the ideas of social justice, ecological conservation, and globalism toward the end of the 20th century.

In 1983, the United Nations asked former Norwegian prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland to run the World Commission on Environment and Development [2]. Many countries were still in poverty after decades of industrialization, which had come at a cost to social equity and the environment. The Brundtland Commission’s report Our Common Future defines the need for sustainable development, a holistic approach that considers the environment, economy, and equity [3]. 

Sustainability examples across three key pillars

The three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) can help to pave a path toward a sustainable future:

Environmental sustainability: The principle of maintaining ecological integrity and ensuring that Earth’s environmental systems remain balanced as humans consume natural resources such as air, water, soil, forests, and animals.

Economic sustainability: The goal for humans on Earth to maintain independence and be able to get a job or acquire other resources to meet their needs. Economic systems must be in place and accessible to all.

Social sustainability: The principle of ensuring that basic human needs are attainable by all, meaning all community members have enough resources. Strong social systems can ensure healthy, happy communities that respect human rights such as labor, health care, and equality.

What is sustainability in business? Learn more with online courses

To learn where important materials come from and how closed-loop supply chains can repurpose materials to increase sustainability, you can take the Circular Economy - Sustainable Materials Management course from Lund University and Delft University on Coursera. You can also take Strategy and Sustainability, which focuses on the way business strategy and sustainability inform each other.

Building a sustainable future

Beyond preserving the natural world and resources, society can create lasting change and infuse the ethos of sustainability into sustainable practices and everyday actions. While the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals serve as an excellent framework, more can be done.

Truly working toward sustainable development requires continuous and consistent collaboration from global businesses, government entities, nonprofit organizations, and grassroots movements. On an individual level, learning about sustainability can make a difference.

Start learning about sustainability

Sustainability is important to the world at large and at a human level. Consider enrolling in the course Introduction to Sustainability from the University of Illinois for a quick overview of key sustainability concepts, available on Coursera. You’ll have the opportunity to gain interdisciplinary knowledge, pulling from both natural and social science to measure the challenges of sustainability and more.