We hear a lot lately about “sustainability” – but what does it really mean?
Sustainability means different things to different people. To illustrate its meaning, here are some frequently quoted definitions and uses of this word –
“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Brundtland Report, World Commission on
Environment and Development (1987)
“Economic development that takes full account of the environmental consequences of economic activity and is based on the use of resources that can be replaced or renewed and therefore are not depleted.”
U.S. Geologic Survey
“Sustainable development is concerned with the development of a society where the costs of development are not transferred to future generations, or at least an attempt is made to compensate for such costs.”
D.W. Pearce (1993)
“A sustainable business addresses the problems of tomorrow today. A sustainable business is more efficient in its use of all resources. A sustainable business is more efficient and therefore is more competitive in a global marketplace.”
GE CEO Jeffery Immelt, announcing GE’s “Ecomagination” campaign in 2005
Last Updated on: 10-21-08
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