A Non-Boring Definition Sustainable Development | SUSTAINABILITY
Summary
TLDRIn this inaugural video, Kaylee delves into the foundational concepts of sustainability and sustainable development, highlighting their importance in addressing global challenges. She emphasizes the modern definition's roots in indigenous wisdom and the 1987 Brundtland Commission report. Kaylee outlines the definition of sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' abilities, underscoring its simplicity, focus on intergenerational equity, and balance between people and planet. She distinguishes between sustainability as the end goal and sustainable development as the journey, advocating for transformative solutions to achieve a harmonious balance among social, environmental, and economic aspects.
Takeaways
- đ± The term 'sustainability' is rooted in traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous cultures, predating modern definitions by thousands of years.
- đ The modern definition of sustainable development was first introduced in the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, 'Our Common Future', emphasizing meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.
- đ The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was pivotal in popularizing the concept of sustainable development, where the term began to gain global recognition.
- đ The definition of sustainable development is appreciated for its simplicity, focusing on intergenerational equity, and balancing the needs of people with the health of the planet.
- đ The distinction between 'sustainability' and 'sustainable development' is crucial: sustainability as the end goal of a balanced state, and sustainable development as the journey and actions taken to achieve that state.
- đ€ Some critics argue that sustainable development is an oxymoron, suggesting that growth and sustainability are inherently at odds, but the video presenter remains optimistic about transformative solutions.
- đ Sustainability is a systemic concept, meaning changes in one area can have widespread impacts, necessitating a holistic approach to address global challenges.
- đż The 'Our Common Future' report highlights the interconnectedness of global crises, showing that environmental, developmental, and energy issues are not separate but part of a larger, complex system.
- đ Sustainability encompasses three dimensions: social (meeting basic human needs), environmental (maintaining planetary boundaries and biodiversity), and economic (sustaining financial and marketplace health).
- đ The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's diagram illustrates the need to balance social, environmental, and economic aspects to achieve true sustainability.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Kaylee's channel 'Ipina Suit'?
-The main focus of Kaylee's channel 'Ipina Suit' is sustainability, discussing topics such as climate change, gender equality, human rights, and decent work.
Why is the first video significant for Kaylee?
-The first video is significant because it marks the beginning of her journey on the channel, and she goes back to the basics to discuss the definitions of sustainability and sustainable development.
What is the modern definition of sustainable development used in policy, academia, and media?
-The modern definition of sustainable development is 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'
When was the term 'sustainable development' first used in a modern context?
-The term 'sustainable development' was first used in a modern context in a 1987 report titled 'Our Common Future' published by the Brundtland Commission.
What is the importance of the 1992 Earth Summit in the context of sustainable development?
-The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was significant as it was where the term 'sustainable development' really started to take root and gain global recognition.
What are the three reasons Kaylee likes the definition of sustainable development?
-Kaylee likes the definition because it is simple, focuses on intergenerational equity, and balances people and planet.
How does Kaylee differentiate between 'sustainability' and 'sustainable development'?
-Kaylee differentiates between the two terms by considering 'sustainability' as the end goal or destination, and 'sustainable development' as the journey or the pathways and actions taken to reach that goal.
What does Kaylee believe is necessary for achieving sustainability?
-Kaylee believes that transformative solutions and policies are necessary for achieving sustainability, allowing for development within the constraints of our planetary boundaries.
Why is sustainability considered a systemic concept?
-Sustainability is considered a systemic concept because actions in one industry, sector, or region impact others, and achieving sustainability requires looking at the entire system.
What are the three major facets of society that sustainable development encompasses?
-Sustainable development encompasses the social, environmental, and economic facets of society, focusing on people's basic needs, the planet's capacity to sustain life, and the economy's ability to support people financially.
What is the significance of the Venn diagram showing the intersection of social, environmental, and economic aspects?
-The Venn diagram is significant because it illustrates that a livable and equitable society can only be achieved by balancing all three dimensions: social, environmental, and economic, which is essential for sustainability.
Outlines
đ± Introduction to Sustainability
Kaley introduces the concept of sustainability and sustainable development, emphasizing their importance for understanding broader issues like climate change, gender equality, and human rights. She highlights the historical roots of sustainability in indigenous cultures and acknowledges the modern definition's origin in the 1987 Brundtland Commission report. The report's definition focuses on meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs, a concept that Kaley appreciates for its simplicity and emphasis on intergenerational equity. She also appreciates how the definition balances human needs with the planet's constraints.
đ The Journey vs. The Destination: Sustainability vs. Sustainable Development
Kaley discusses the nuanced difference between sustainability and sustainable development, likening them to a journey and a destination, respectively. Sustainability represents the end goal of living in harmony with the planet and its resources, while sustainable development encompasses the actions and policies that guide us towards that goal. She addresses the paradoxical nature of combining 'sustainable' with 'development' and expresses optimism about the possibility of growth that is also sustainable. Kaley emphasizes the systemic nature of sustainability, noting that changes in one sector can affect others, and refers to the interconnected crises of environment, development, and energy as evidence of this.
đ The Three Pillars of Sustainability
In the final paragraph, Kaley clarifies that sustainability is not solely an environmental issue but also includes social and economic dimensions. She references a diagram by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to illustrate how social, environmental, and economic factors must be balanced for true sustainability. Kaley stresses the importance of systemic change across all sectors to achieve sustainability and highlights the need for transformative solutions and policies. She concludes by inviting viewers to engage with the content, seek further information, and support organizations working towards sustainability.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄSustainability
đĄSustainable Development
đĄIntergenerational Equity
đĄPlanetary Boundaries
đĄClimate Change
đĄGender Equality
đĄHuman Rights
đĄDecent Work
đĄIndigenous Cultures
đĄSystemic
đĄOur Common Future
Highlights
Introduction to the concept of sustainability and sustainable development.
Emphasis on the importance of understanding sustainability's basic definitions.
The historical roots of sustainability in indigenous cultures.
The modern definition of sustainable development from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report.
The 1992 Earth Summit as a pivotal moment for the term 'sustainable development'.
Definition of sustainable development: Meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Three reasons why the given definition of sustainable development is favored.
Intergenerational equity as a crucial aspect of sustainable development.
Balancing people's needs and the planet's boundaries as part of sustainable development.
The difference between sustainability as a destination and sustainable development as the journey.
The paradox of sustainable development and the challenge of growth within sustainability.
Sustainability as a systemic concept affecting multiple sectors and communities.
The importance of considering the entire system for achieving sustainability.
Sustainability's three major facets: social, environmental, and economic.
The necessity of balancing social, environmental, and economic dimensions for true sustainability.
The role of transformative solutions and policies in achieving sustainable development.
Encouragement for viewers to engage with the content, ask questions, and support related organizations.
Transcripts
hey guys it's kaylee and welcome to
ipina suit where every week
i talk about sustainability because i
dream of a world where people care more
about the planet than instagram models
i am so so excited because it is my very
first video
and because it is the first one i'm
going back to basics
starting at the very beginning and i'm
going to go over the definitions of the
term sustainability and sustainable
development
understanding these terms will really
help in
understanding the more in-depth concepts
i'll go into later on this channel like
climate change gender equality human
rights decent work
you name it so without further ado let's
kick off
in this video i'm going to focus on the
modern definition
of sustainable development used in
policy
academia and media but i think it's
really important to note
that while this modern definition has
gained popularity in kind of the last
30-ish years
the concept itself way predates that it
goes back
hundreds if not thousands of years and
is very much the root and basis of
indigenous cultures we talk about it
like it's this thing that was invented
in the un but
really it comes from traditional
knowledge and practices and i don't want
us to forget that
as we move forward and talk about what
exactly it is
all right so let's get into the history
of the modern definition
so the first time we saw the definition
of sustainable development in a modern
context was in a 1987 report
titled our common future published by
the bruntland commission
so basically the context at that time
was people were starting to get more
conscious of
poverty and also environmental
destruction and the un
assembled this group of 22 global
experts
under the leadership of grow harlem
bruntland who was the former
prime minister of norway to come
together and to start to
explore how we could address
multiple crises at once they published
their report in 1987 and the definition
was included there
but really where it started to gain
steam was at the 1992
earth summit which was quite a famous
event so you might have heard of it
it took place in rio de janeiro and
there was another one 20 years later rio
plus 20
but the first one in 1992 was where the
term sustainable development really
started to take
root and the definition as
found in that report and at that summit
was as follows
meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own
needs
as with any definition or big concept i
think
people will probably write in the
comments or say oh no
that's not the definition i use or
there's a better definition
or it needs more nuance and and that
could totally be true but i see this
definition as the most widely used
generally accepted definition of
sustainable development that's kind of
withstood the test of time so it may not
be completely comprehensive or
everything but it really gets at the
idea and that's why i'm
focusing on that particular definition i
also really happen to like this
definition and there's three reasons why
first thing i really like about it is
it's simple it doesn't use big
words and jargon it boils it down into a
concept i think most people can
understand
it reminds me a lot of that gandhi quote
the world has enough for everyone's
needs but not everyone's greed
to me that is really what this
definition encompasses and that's a
simple thing for people to understand
and grasp so i really like that the
second thing i like and
this to me is is crucial is that it
focuses on
intergenerational equity so i just
finished saying
i like it because it doesn't include
jargon and then i put throw in this big
word that makes no sense
but let me explain intergenerational
equity is essentially
fairness between generations and
right now and for the last few years
with the fridays for the future
campaign led by greta tunberg we have
absolutely seen
this idea of intergenerational equity we
see young people around the world
saying to their leaders you are making
decisions that are going to make our
lives harder
in the future and this definition
encompasses that idea
that intergenerational equity idea which
i think is is so
beautiful and important the third thing
i really like is
that it balances people and planet there
are kind of two schools of thought in
sustainability or
kind of factions that go against each
other which is
you know humans are ruining everything
and we need to
pair everything back or you know we have
a lot of people in poverty
and they need to develop regardless of
what this means for
the planet and that's a little bit
simplistic but you get the idea
the cool thing about this definition is
that i think it brings in this idea of
people's needs but also what's possible
within the constraints of our planetary
boundaries
and so for me that is a really crucial
part because it brings both dimensions
together as opposed to pitting them
against each other so now that you have
the big picture of the definition and
why i think it's a good definition
that has stood the test of time let's go
into the difference between
sustainability and sustainable
development
because these terms are often used quite
interchangeably which
is okay but they are slightly different
and for me the way i think about them
differently
is one as the journey one as the
destination
so i think of sustainability as the end
goal
what we're trying to reach to be
sustainable is to be in a state
that can be sustained forever so
that we could continue in that fashion
which means that we would be living in
harmony with each other and with the
planet and with what
resources can be replenished that's the
idea of reaching a sustainable
state so that's sustainability the other
side is the journey
how we get there the pathways the
policies the actions that we take that
allow us to get there and that's
sustainable development one thing i
should say here
is that there are people who believe the
idea of sustainable and development
being brought together in one term is is
completely
uh contrary it doesn't work it's a
paradox
and they say this because they say
there's no way to develop
to grow to to build in a way that is
sustainable
and while i see the point because if you
look at our systems right now and
you know even just what we experienced
in 2020 with going into lockdowns and
everything shutting down
we really saw that a huge amount of
economic activity needed to cease for
you know a seven percent emission
reduction i think it's hard to envision
how we could grow
and develop as a society without having
massive implications on the planet
but me i'm an optimist i do believe with
transformative
solutions and policies we can find
new ways of thinking through our systems
that allow us to develop
in a sustainable way all right i
promised this definition would be
non-boring so i'm gonna start to wrap it
up but i just have two more
really quick things to touch on i wanted
to note that sustainability
is an inherently systemic concept
and what i mean by that is that
anything that's done in one industry
sector community city province
state country region impacts others
and this is something where i think
we're not set up as a society to deal
with very well
because we're very much in silos in many
forms of the word whether that be
government ministries
or different countries and to truly
achieve sustainability we need to look
at the entire system
the our common future report has a
really great quote that i think is worth
just reading here really quick because
it very much encapsulates this
systemic idea it says until
recently the planet was a large world in
which human activities and their effects
were neatly compartmentalized within
nations within sectors
and within broad areas of concern these
compartments have begun to dissolve
this applies in particular to the
various global crises
that have seized public concern
particularly over the past decade
these are not separate crises an
environmental crisis a development
crisis
an energy crisis they are all one
what i think is so interesting is this
was written in 1987
and if you think about just what we've
experienced in 2020 we saw a
global health crisis completely rock our
world and
create a global economic crisis
completely
change the way so many of us live
and work and everything
i think this goes to show just how
systemic these issues really are
and how much one impact can have a
ripple effect across
entire systems and the very final thing
that i wanted to mention
about understanding the definition of
sustainability
is that it is not strictly an
environmental concept and i've touched
on this previously when i was talking
about balancing people and planet
but i want to come back to it
sustainability as we know it today
sustainable development is about three
major facets of society the social
the environmental and the economic the
social being people's ability to meet
their basic needs
such as shelter food education
health environmental being what our
planet can hold and sustain
the planetary boundaries our
biodiversity the climate etc
and the third one being economic our
economy our global marketplace
how we trade goods receive goods how we
work
how we sustain ourselves financially
that's another part of sustainability
so again the concept of sustainability
it's systemic and it balances multiple
dimensions
not just environmentalism it's about
social environment and economic and
there's this great
diagram that was done by the
international union for the conservation
of nature i'm just going to pop it up
here
that shows how these three things work
together you might have
a livable society you might have an
equitable society a bearable one
but without balancing all three of those
dimensions you
you don't have a sustainable one you
don't have one that can continue in
perpetuity
this is a really important concept
because i think a lot of governments for
example
will take sustainability or hear the
word and say okay that's with the
environment ministry
but it's not it's about balancing all
those dimensions if we don't
fundamentally transform the way our
economies work
we won't achieve environmental
sustainability or
create an equitable future for so many
people where there's not poverty
where they have good health care etc so
you can see how all three of these
things really do need to be balanced
to create a sustainable world and that's
it
that's all i've got for you today thank
you so much for tuning in to my first
video i really hope you learned
something in this video and if you have
any questions or comments
please pop them in the box below and i
will do my best to respond and provide
resources where i can
i also always prepare a blog post that
summarizes this concept in writing
and includes links to my research and
places you can go to
learn more and i include one to two
charities
or organizations that work on this topic
if you're interested in supporting them
or knowing more
about their work i post content here
every single wednesday related to
sustainability
so if that interests you please do
subscribe to the channel and give this
video a like it helps me out a ton
thank you so much for watching keep
fighting the good fight and i'll see you
soon bye
[Music]
bye
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