In general, there are three pillars of Sustainable Development that are used by many companies and organisations to ensure that they are engaging within sustainable practices. Whilst they are presented separately, ‘true’ sustainable development encompasses all three.
Environmental Sustainability
Social Sustainability
Economic Sustainability
Economic Sustainability, whilst this pillar may be seen as driven towards a company or organisations profit throughout its lifetime, it is quite different. An economically sustainable company or organisation is one that can generate income and maintain long-term growth as a business without negatively impacting the community, environment or health & wellbeing of its employees.
Environmental Sustainability is the ability to maintain ecological balance within the planet's natural environment and to conserve resources to support the wellbeing of current and future generations. For nearly two millennia, we have been carbonising our planet, burning fossil fuels and natural resources which has contributed to global warming and climate change.
Fossil fuels such as coal and oil contain carbon that plants pulled from the earth through photosynthesis millions of years ago. When we burn these fuels, we release this carbon as carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere and enhances the greenhouse effect that contributes to Global Warming.
Social Sustainability focuses on how individuals contribute to and are impacted by the world around them. It includes health, safety, inclusivity, professional development, work-life balance and everyday interactions. The goal of social sustainability is to understand the positive and negative effects our actions have on ourselves, others, and the environment.
It is argued that there is a fourth pillar which is Cultural Sustainability. It relates to protecting cultural beliefs, traditions, heritage and cultural practices. It emphasises maintaining the diversity of culture, knowledge, artistic traditions and language to ensure that they transcend and adapt to social, economic and environmental changes.
Protecting and supporting cultural heritage allows communities and individuals to celebrate and express their unique identities. By preserving intergenerational knowledge, cultures can pass down practices and values to younger generations.
Promoting sustainable cultural practice allows traditions to adapt and evolve in harmony with modern sustainability goals, whilst respecting their origins.
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