What Is Sustainability?
Sustainability: Can Our Society Endure?
Among the many ways that sustainability has been defined, the simplest and most fundamental is: "the ability to sustain" or, put another way, "the capacity to endure."
Today, it is by no means certain our society has the capacity to endure – at least not in such a way that the nine billion people on Earth, expected by 2050, can achieve a basic quality of life. The planet's ecosystems are deteriorating, and the climate is changing. We are consuming so much and so quickly that we are already living far beyond the earth's capacity to support us. And yet nearly a sixth of our fellow humans go to bed hungry each day: an unnecessary tragedy and a source of social and political unrest. Meanwhile, our globalized world is more interconnected and volatile than ever, making us all more vulnerable.
While sustainability is about the future of our society, for today's industries and businesses, it is also about commercial success. The mandate to transform businesses to respect environmental limits while fulfilling social wants and needs has become an unparalleled platform for strategy, design, manufacturing, and brand innovation, offering massive opportunities to compete and adapt to a rapidly evolving world.
The Change We Need
To endure, we as a society must transform our markets – how we produce, consume, define and measure value and progress.
This is a big challenge, and not just for business and economics. It is a call for massive social, political, technological, cultural, and behavioral transitions. We will need government to set incentives, targets, and rules for a level playing field. And civil society actors to account for and experiment with new ways of delivering social impact. Each of us must take action in our own lives to reward sustainable business models, and to eat, work, travel, and play more sustainably.
Local Climate Organizations
San Diego Coastkeeper
The San Diego Coastkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the marine environment along the coast of San Diego County. They work on various fronts, including advocating for clean water policies, monitoring water quality, conducting research, engaging in community education and outreach, and participating in legal actions to enforce environmental laws. Their goal is to ensure that the coastal waters of San Diego remain healthy and accessible for both people and wildlife.
Environmental Health Coalition
The Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego focuses on environmental justice and community empowerment. They work to address environmental and social issues that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color in the San Diego region. Their activities include advocating for policies that promote clean air, clean water, and safe neighborhoods, conducting research to inform decision-making, organizing grassroots campaigns, providing community education and training, and collaborating with partners to achieve systemic change. Overall, they aim to create healthier and more sustainable communities for all residents of San Diego.
San Diego Climate Hub
The San Diego Climate Hub serves as a collaborative platform for stakeholders to address climate change challenges and implement solutions in the San Diego region. It works to facilitate coordination among various organizations, government agencies, businesses, and community groups to advance climate resilience and sustainability initiatives. The hub engages in activities such as research, data sharing, policy advocacy, community outreach, and capacity building to support climate action efforts. Its goal is to foster resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote equitable adaptation strategies to protect the region's environment and communities from the impacts of climate change.
