Follow this link for information about:
GH101D: Dreaming Large - Sustainable
Development in the 21st Century
Facets of Sustainability
"Meeting the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" is one widely
accepted definition of sustainability. Stated differently, it involves
reorganizing our life support systems - agriculture, transportation, energy
production, etc. - so that life on Earth can be sustained indefinitely.
With approximately 6.7 billion people on Earth now and
a projected 9 billion by mid-century, we must find ways of reducing
consumption of resources if we are to avoid dramatic environmental
degradation and the potential of global ecosystem collapse. This is a
particularly important challenge for Americans who consume more per person
than any other people on the planet. If everyone on Earth (just the current
population) consumed as much as the average American, we would need four
more Earths just to harvest for resources! We have the knowledge and
technology to change, but we also require the will to make it happen.

Sustainability does not just consider the environmental
dimension; the social and economic dimensions are what round out the “triple
bottom line,” a standard of ethical responsibility many corporations,
institutions, and governments have adopted as a guiding principle. The fact
is, if we want our and future generations to enjoy a healthy, equitable, and
prosperous Earth, then we must correct our behaviors and policies now to
reframe the way we live.
Environmental awareness is all about taking pride in our campus, taking
responsibility for keeping it clean and taking action to help sustain the
environment for a better future.