The concept of sustainable development has gained great relevance in recent years, especially in the context of fighting climate change and balancing the need of the present and future generations. This concept has become such a marketable component for companies, associating their products and services with the idea of caring for the planet and people. However, limiting the concept of sustainability solely to the environmental approach impedes the very advancement of what the concept of sustainable development has proposed from the outset. Focusing only on environmental perception, while important, means omitting two fundamental pillars: the social and the economic.
A misunderstanding?
The emphasis on environmental sustainability, especially in public discourse and the media, has led to this aspect being the most visible and, in many cases, the only one recognized by the public. We cannot deny that we are experiencing a climate and environmental crisis that affects us all. The constant flood of images depicting burning forests, endangered species, and the dramatic impacts of climate change has led to a reductionist view of sustainable development, focusing solely on environmental degradation. This oversimplifies the broader, multidimensional concept, which encompasses not only environmental sustainability but also social equity and economic growth.
Sustainable development cannot be understood solely from the perspective of environmental conservation. This partial interpretation ignores the fact that human interactions with the environment are also social and economic. In 1987, the Brundtland Commission, through the report “Our Common Future”, popularized the term sustainable development, defining it as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Although this definition was created with the idea of proposing long-term environmental strategies to achieve sustainable development by the year 2000, it itself underlines the importance of considering not only the environment, but also social welfare and economic growth.
Social Inclusion
Social sustainability refers to the creation of equitable, fair and inclusive societies, where all individuals have access to basic resources and development opportunities, focusing on the human being. In this sense, a sustainable society is one that promotes social inclusion, combats poverty and inequality, and strengthens the social fabric.
The importance of social sustainability lies in the fact that a society that does not take care of its people, that perpetuates inequality, that does not recognize diversity and does not offer equitable opportunities, is not viable.
Without social inclusion, even the best environmental or economic policies are doomed to fail.
For example, in many regions of the world, poverty and marginalization push people to exploit natural resources in unsustainable ways, such as illegal logging or overfishing, in a desperate attempt to survive. On the other hand, we cannot forget the forced displacement of people after suffering environmental consequences (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.).
It is crucial to recognize that the social dimension of sustainable development cannot be treated as an appendix to the environmental issue, as it is a central component that forms the three pillars of sustainability-environmental, social and economic. Social justice, human rights, gender equality and equitable access to resources and opportunities are fundamental to achieving sustainable societies.
Economic Sustainability
Economic sustainability refers to a society's ability to generate wealth in a balanced and fair manner, distributing the benefits of growth equitably and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. Economic sustainability requires that growth should not be at the expense of the environment or people but should be inclusive and long-term.
The current economic model, based on mass consumption and intensive use of resources, has proven to be unsustainable. Today we find ourselves with alarming levels of inequality, where a minority concentrates most of the resources and wealth, while a large majority suffers the consequences of the lack of access to basic goods. It is in this context that considering economic development as a tool for sustainable development does not mean distancing it from the environmental pillar. The creation of green jobs, innovation in clean technologies and the promotion of the circular economy seek not only to ensure efficiency in the use of resources, but also equity in their distribution and sustainability. An economic system that leaves large sectors of the population behind, that depletes natural resources without a view to the future and that is based on uncontrolled growth is unsustainable.
Towards integral sustainability
The pillars that make up the sustainability triangle cannot be considered in isolation. In fact, they are intrinsically connected and interdependent. For example, an economic policy that encourages the creation of green jobs not only benefits the environment, but also has a positive impact on social equity, as it generates employment opportunities. Similarly, the preservation of natural resources is not only important for biodiversity, but also for ensuring sustainable livelihoods for communities that depend directly on these resources.
Thinking of sustainable development only as environmental preservation is like trying to complete a puzzle with missing pieces.
It is important that we bring these conversations to the table, that when we say “I am dedicated to the area of sustainability” we do not encapsulate ourselves only in environmental care practices, but that we go beyond and understand that sustainability is much more than that; economic policies, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies are also part of sustainability and play a very special role in building fairer and more resilient societies.
Written by: Alexa Madrid, co-founder of INSPIRA Latam & Strategic Partnerships Specialist.
References:
United Nations. (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development "Our Common Future". United Nations.
United Nations. (2024). Sustainable Development Goals. Obtenido de https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Red de Educación Continua de Latinoamérica y Europa. (2023). Sostenibilidad Social: Transformando Comunidades y Fortaleciendo el Futuro. Obtenido de https://recla.org/blog/sostenibilidad-social/